Need Help With Heatsink Problem

[DentyCracker]

I have a Socket Seven mobo with a big problem. There is now no way to clamp my Master Cooler heatsink unto the processor the way it was meant to. On of the little struts that the heatsink clamps on to has broken off. I want to super glue the heatsink directly to the processor. What I want to do is put thermalgrease on the processor (the metal plate) leaving 4 spots at the corner free, then putting super glue on those 4 spots and then attaching the heatsink/fan. Is this a good idea? Also I'd like to know whether I should remove some material that is in the centre of the (bottom of) the heatsink. It looks like some sort of thermal stuff. If anyone has a better idea that hopefully doesn't involve drilling please let me know. My 450 K6-2 is turned off for over 5 minutes for the first time in a month.
Thanx in advance

DentyCracker

[Brian R.]

What is on the heatsink is undoubtably a heat-transfer material. Remove it if the heatsink has been previously installed or if the material looks damaged. If virgin, you might consider leaving it there and using the super glue on the corners as you envisioned.

Heat-transfer grease expands alot once the heatsink and chip have been pressed together for awhile, so I would experiment to see how much grease is really needed (see below).

If you are going to change the heat-transfer material (remove the original stuff), do a good job and remove all traces of the original stuff with razor blade, cleaner and finally rubbing alcohol. Place a small amount of heat-transfer grease on the center of the heatsink and press the heatsink firmly on the chip. Remove it and see how far the grease expands once force has been applied to the heatsink/chip combination. For the purpose of gluing the chip to the heatsink, the grease should extend to the edges with a little room for the glue at the corners. Once you have found out how much grease to apply by trial and error, apply this much to the clean (so that the glue will hold) heatsink and place four dabs of glue at the corners. Press them together for a while with a weight on the heatsink (or finger pressure) and it will hold if the chip and heatsink are clean and free of grease.

Another option is using double-sided adhesive. There are heat-transfer tapes that will attach the heatsink to the chip and also act as a heat-transfer medium.

Personally, I think the best (easiest with acceptable results) method is to use the glue with the original heat-transfer medium. Second best is the glue with the grease. The double-sided tape is ok.

Brian

[cjolley]

My vote would go heatsink goop + glue.
Those pads do not transfer heat as well as the hs compound.
chuck


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ABit BF6, P3-650@910, 256mb@140cas3, 10gb IBM@7200, SB Live Value@3.0, Pioneer 104s DVD, Mitsumi CDRW@2x2x8, Acatel 1000 ADSL@1.5mb/sec, Linksys EtherFast NIC, LG 995e, USB IntelliEye,Matrox G400 MAX!!!!

[DentyCracker]

Thanx very much. I'll probably remove the thermal stuff from the heat sink though as it looks damaged. The tab broke off the socket a while back but the heat sink was holding on pretty well. Last night the machine kicked me out of Fifa 2000 and I then left it formatting a CDRW. When I came back the screen was blank. I tried to reboot but was getting no video. It was at this point that I noticed the heatsink was off the processor D'oh. At work now I'll ell you how it goes tomorrow (no phone yet still at home grrrr)

[Greebe]

Denty... although I've done this in the past, I wouldn't recommend it. Try SGing the tab back on or other means of replacing it on the socket.

[Alfie]

Two approaches could be used here.
Permanently attaching the heatsink with thermal epoxy.(Which can be removed using carb cleaner and a sharp knife or razor)
The other approach would involve rigging a small bar welded to the retainer,so it can engage the larger tab on the zif socket or search for a heatsink that does engage the larger tab.(Available,but may be hard to find)
Thermal epoxy can be found at many of the cooling places.
With super glue check to see it's heat rating,or if any toxic fumes are released when heated.(may be a new high! )

[DentyCracker]

Did what Brian said day before yesterday (Super glue + heatsink compound). Machine has been running continuously since then without a hitch. The heatsink is barely warm and I can't smell the superglue (which btw does not give a high, just kills you with its toxic fumes. The machine seems stabler than before. I get my G400 16MB SH tomorrow, it's at the airport waiting to be cleared, WOOHOO

DentyCracker

P.S. The broken tab is nowhere to be found. It flew off never to be seen again. I considered taking the socket7 of a non-functional but identical mobo I have lying around the place but too much work(very lazy here)

[This message has been edited by DentyCracker (edited 07 June 2000).]