NF7-S Passive Chipset Cooling Project...

[Insane3D]

*This is also posted in GH, but I thought it would be a good topic for this forum as well...I hope this is ok with the mods.


I just did a passive chipset cooling mod on my new NF7-S Rev 2.0. Since I am an overclocker at heart, I wanted something that would give me excellent cooling without the noise of an active cooling solution. I had already done a similar mod on an Epox 8RDA+ I have, and it worked out well, so I stuck with the same general plan.

I decided to use the same heatsink I used for my 8RDA+'s NB, this Swiftech MC370 clone. This heatsink is meant for a socket A CPU, and is cheaper than most chipset coolers. I attached it with AS Thermal Adhesive after cleaning off the NB with some alcohol.

For the SB, I used a Zalman passive chipset cooler that I had laying around. The Abit does not have mounting holes around the SB like the 8RDA+ does, so I had to change the plan a bit. I decided to cut off the "feet" of the HS with my dremel. I polished the cut area a bit with the dremel just to avoid any sharp edges. I cleaned off both mating surfaces with rubbing alcohol and attached the HS with AS adhesive.

I haven't really tried cranking the FSB too much yet while I get a feeling for the board, but I am running 220mhz just fine with no noise from the chipset fan. I've got a 2500+ and a couple of 512mb HyperX PC3500 sticks in the board's near future so I'll have a better idea on just how much I can get out of it later on. I did have the board up to 220mhz FSB for a bit of testing and it seemed fine, but I was reaching the limits of the Corsair I have now. The latest bios does allow for up to 300mhz FSB...:Q

Anyways...here are some pics of the mod.


NF7-S Pre-Mods

NB Close-Up

SB Close-Up

NF7-S Next To HS

Completed Project

NB Mod Close-Up

SB Mod Close-Up

* Pics are not 56K friendly

Now I've got a digital audio mod to get to...

 

[render]

great work. I would do the same for NB.(looks too heavy- any chance to fall off?) Does SB need a heatsink?

 

[Insane3D]

No actually, I chose that particular HS since it was fairly light. The AS thermal epoxy is pretty strong stuff. As for the SB, it sometimes get's hotter than the NB. Does it need it, probably not, but why not?

 

[Insane3D]

^

 

[Insane3D]

:beer:

 

[render]

Is there a way to use NB holes for the heatsink you're using? (size is about right, but one capacitor on top left blocks it)

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: render
Is there a way to use NB holes for the heatsink you're using? (size is about right, but one capacitor on top left blocks it)

No. On the 8RDA+, yes. The capacitor near where the NB fan plugs in would keep it from moving that far I believe.

 

[Insane3D]

Bump for the interested.

 

[beatle]

Hmm, I wonder if this heatsink would do a good enough job. Its base is thinner, but it is quite tall and nearly as wide as the "clone." It also looks much like the heatsink found on the A7N266, only bigger.