Quote Originally Posted by dexman View Post
I call it Asus slowly realizing how to properly cool motherboards components. It seems to me that NB is not connected to the power circuitry at all which absolutely makes sense. Only thing I don't like and don't get are the heatpipes on the right side of NB ending between rams.(sandwich heater for rams? )

Don't make judgment based on one board. If I had to make an opinion on P35 by looking at DQ6 I would had to called it a power hog, which is not a case. See DS3 heatsink.

You don' necassary need heatsink for 4-5W SB. There are boards that don't have one. I think they use them just in case, they´re cheap anyway and might help with stability when non-stock voltages are applied.
I dont make any judgement on that. nn_step does.

The NB is connected to the power heatsink btw.

Can you show me boards that are in the 3-4W TDP range on the southbridge that dont have a heatsink on it? Even cheap aint cheap enough if it aint needed on the lowend boards.