Couple of quick questions.

[TheNoblePlatypus]

Alrighty, I'm installing an Abit KV8-Max3 board right now and I was wondering if the heatsink touching the sides of the topmost capacitors is harmful in anyway. The Alpha heatsink I got is a little on the large side, but I still have the stock heatsink/fan combo from AMD to use if push comes to shove.


Plus, it was also touching the plastic exhaust, and my question about this thing is... do I really need this on there? I mean, will it raise to dangerous temperatures without the crappy little exhaust/fan?



Thanks.

 

[araczynski]

if you're referring to the heatsink touching the SIDE of the capacitor, then i'd say it's "tolerable" as long as there's no rubbing with sharp edges, in this type of an environment at least. If you're referring to the heatsink touching the TOP of the capacitor, then that would have me much more worried, too close to building a circuit for my tastes. I believe the tops of the caps are unprotected really aren't they? (the tops aren't protected with that plastic sheaths/paint like the sides) at least from what i remember of working with them back from my college days

in general, i'd go out of my way to avoid any kind of physical contact between two components in any electrical environment, as long as its not for heat dissipation of course.

 

[TheNoblePlatypus]

Well, I was more concerned with the heatsink touching the capacitor with excessive heat. Now that I think of it, they get hot enough as is.

Yes, it is touching the insulated side. Thanks for the answer.