Northbridge cooler on 680i

[Jsunn]

Hello All,

(sorry about the post in general hardware, hopefully will get a definite answer here.)

I am looking to replace my northbridge cooler with something else as I am tired of hearing the stock NB cooling fan. It is really loud compaired to my (9) others.

I have a Zalman 9700 and am looking the the thermalright HR-05 IFX SLi (alphabet soup) and I haven't been able to determine if the HR-05 will fit with an 80mm fan and the 9700.

Thanks everyone for your help.

-J

[Jsunn]

I just got my HR-05 SLi/IFX NB cooler and the ENZOTECH for the SB. I will be installing soon on my 680i. I'll post some pics after I am done.

-J

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Installed yet?

[Jsunn]

Not yet...probably not until next week. My wife is using the computer to study for finals.


-J

[Jsunn]

We have all seen the insane amounts of thermal paste that is used at the factory... Well here is another.


The southbridge was just as bad.

Here is a pic of the ENZOTECH cooler installed.


Here is a pic showing the clearance between the HR-05 IFX/SLi and the Zalman 9700. As you can see it is a tight fit.






-J

[Jsunn]

My review....

The ENZOTECH cooler.... GREAT!

The Thermalright.... OK i guess, at least when I got it installed.

The retaining clip on this heatsink is probably the worst design I have ever seen. The rubber washers that they give you for the back of the motherboard are WAY too soft and I didn't event use them. I got some other washers to use on the back of the mother board. The heat sink still felt a little too loose for me and the retaining clip did such a poor job with the stock washers that the heat sink was contacting some of the circuits next to the NB chip and I couldn't boot at all.

I had to take everything apart again and put some electrical tape down to keep this from happening and was finally able to get the computer running after replacing the washers and putting electrical tape to insulate the small circuits.

I know that thermalright is the cat's meow but the mounting clip is thermalWRONG! (yeah...I just thought of that)

The clip that is supposed to work with the "pushpin" type mounting is too short in length and the screws that are supposed to hold it down get pulled at a disturbing angle, they are not perpendicular to the motherboard. (I couldn't get a good photo)

that is my $.02.

Let me know if you have any questions.



-J