The "Maniac Mount" (well it's a -Scythe-!)

[lad]

In creating a backplate mount for my plastic-peg Scythe Infinity, I discovered that I also had interference with the cpu clamping hardware. The following pics illustrate the problem and my fix.

Pic 1: A - capacitor. B,C - clamping hardware interference points. I have already ground away the HS base in this pic. You can see what's left, just below the five heatsink pipes.

Pics 2, 3, 4 and 5 are additional views. In the last pic, you can also see that I reversed the position of the mounting screw. I have 'ventilated' the backside of my case, so I can un/bolt the HSF without taking the mobo out.

[lad]

In the first pic, you can see how I used a high-speed air grinder to make room for the cpu clamp hardware, and any capacitors that might be in the way. There were actually 4 deep scratches at the four corners of the HS base that clued me into the interference I was having. Note how I used electrical tape to hold the inverted screws in place, for an easy install.

In the second pic, you can see that x-clamps can actually be quite frightening and ugly, but still do a fantastic job of securing your hardware. Why try to impress your friends with beauty, when you can scare them into submission!?

[enz660]

WOW, i never knew that the clamps would get in the way! I should try to mod my scythe to fix that issue...

good work my friend..

[lad]

It's been a day since I installed my new mobo, and I've been running tests to check how my base and mount mod have worked.

The pressure mount/x-back-bracket was installed to apply more mount pressure to the cpu, to prevent the massive amount of mobo flexing that actually permanently deformed the old mobo, and to make for a more secure mounting.

The BeaverTooth mod (which so many Xtreme Forum posters have adored) was applied after I discovered 4 actual dents in the heatsink base, left by the cpu retaining clamp bracket, and to avoid crushing the capacitors surrounding the cpu, and to allow the mount pressure to be applied to the cpu, not the cpu clamp bracket.

The new mobo allowed me to overclock right back to 399 FSB, 3.6 GHz, at 1.4 vcore. vFSB is 1.275, and vMCH is 1.550. vDroop is 1.39, whereas before it was 1.37. In both cases, Enhanced Power Slope was enabled.

I've been keeping a very detailed log of my results, and was able to compare runs from old mount to new, each withing 24 hours of mounting the Infinity. Fan speeds may be off 100 rpm between runs, but all fans are running noiseless with the two exhaust fans mounted to the Infinity running at ~1000 rpm. The rear case fan is at 1100 rpm, and the two front panel exhaust fans are running at 950 rpm. Cold intake air is brought in the side panel, and blows right on the Infinity, the NB, the video card, and the ram.

And the result of all this? Orthos: Speedfan Cpu went from 63 to 64, mobo1 from 38 to 37, mobo2 from 32 to 31. Coretemp: 55/56 to 55/55.

So, .02 more vcore, and exactly, or nearly-exactly the same temps. Although there's been a great deal of whining about a rough lap job, the cpu is actually smoother and flatter than before, and the Infinity is flatter than before, with much higher mounting pressure. I can drop 5c by running one Infinity fan at 2300 rpm (the other has no speed control).

So it's my belief that if you lap your cpu and Infinity, properly applying TIM, and properly installing those goofy push-pins will work just fine, unless you are pushing your OC to the limits.

As always, YMMV, and I'd love to see others' results.

[SaII]

The BeaverTooth mod (which so many Xtreme Forum posters have adored) was applied after I discovered 4 actual dents in the heatsink base, left by the cpu retaining clamp bracket, and to avoid crushing the capacitors surrounding the cpu, and to allow the mount pressure to be applied to the cpu, not the cpu clamp bracket.

wow, never thought of that!

great work

[lad]

wow, never thought of that!

great work

I'm here for ya, SaII!

[mrcape]

Dude that's a pretty sweet idea too. I have a backplate mount for my Ultra 120 but the ground sink to fit it the bracket is pretty sick cuzz you don't have to remove the bracket.

That's what it's all about right, innovation. I also like the idea of removing the bracket. Without these threads I'd never have thought about that bracket anbd how it effects contact. Hurry up and work this into a kit somehow and make some money. haha

[mrcape]

How is the temp now that it's had a while to set? Any better?

[lad]

How is the temp now that it's had a while to set? Any better?

No appreciable difference in temps. I use the 'smear with a razor blade' application technique, and my angle-bracket screw-down mount has enough pressure to crush fingers!

[Ender17]

am I missing something or was there no change in temps?

[lad]

am I missing something or was there no change in temps?

Ender, with all the changes I made, I'm not sure from what to what you're asking?

I went from an unlapped 6600 w/ unlapped TTBT, to a chopped/lapped/pressure-mounted Inf. on a lapped 6600. Which points in the process are you interested in?