Relapping Northbridge on Gigabyte P35-DS3R

[Garfield3d]

I bought a Gigabyte P35-DS3R, and I've been wondering if I should relap the stock northbridge heatsink with another thermal paste such as Arctic Silver 5. One of my main concerns is how hard is it to remove the northbridge heatsink and then secure it back onto the northbridge. It seems to have push-pins to secure it to the motherboard. Is it hard to push them back into the motherboard? Are there any possible complications, such as accidentally breaking the push-pins, or pushing it too hard at an improper angle so as to damage the motherboard/northbridge? Also, if I don't use a thermal adhesive, will the northbridge be loose with only thermal paste?

I don't think I'm going to do a whole lot of overclocking, but I will be trying to see if I can get some PC-6400 Ballistix to run at 1066 (I know, a stretch). Would it be helpful to lap the northbridge heatsink with another thermal paste, or is this something that would only help people who push the Vcore upwards?

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

--Garfield3d

 

[Garfield3d]

Hrm, is lapping the heatsink for the northbridge pretty uncommon, or is it so routine that this isn't worth talking about?

I'm familiar with playing with after market CPU HSFs, but I've never done it for the northbridge before. I'm a bit unnerved by the prospect of accidentally screwing up the motherboard. :/

--Garfield3d

 

[Hauk]

You're using the term "relap" as you talk about removing and reapplying the NB heatsink. Lapping is sanding a heatsink to make it flatter. If you're asking if you should lap, I'd say no, it sounds like you've never removed a NB heatsink. If you're asking if you should remove and reapply using AS5, I say go for it.

Removing that heatsink should be a snap. All you need is a pair of small needle nose pliers, gently squeeze the expanded plastic tips of the push pins on the opposite side of the motherboard, then push them out with either the tip of the needle nose pliers or something small. You'll hear and feel them "click" out of the motherboard.

The heatsink will probably need a gentle twist back and forth and it will come off. On the underside, you'll likely see a small square of pre-applied thermal paste and a white fabric spacer. The thermal material is dry and hard, the spacer is likely glued onto the heatsink. You must remove the thermal crap with 90% alcohol and q-tips, insuring you don't saturate or soil the fabric spacer. Some people remove the spacer, but then you'll have to glue it back on. A steady hand can get the job done without removing the spacer. Wipe from the edges of the patch to the center.

Clean P35 chipset, apply AS5 on chipset only, line up push-pins to mobo holes and lower heatsink down. Don't move it around once you've placed it. Use something dull but small enough to push on heads of push-pins to get them back through mobo. They'll snap back in place. Inspect opposite side to make sure they've expanded and are locked down. Give heatsink a slight twist back and forth (helps AS5 get hold of things). Sounds complicated, but it should take less than ten minutes.

If you have some cheap white themal paste, I'd remove the southbridge and reapply as well. Manufacturers do a pretty shoddy job with thermal paste.

See pics for detail on a typical underside of a NB heatsink, P35, and southbridge:

Underside of NB heatsink

P35 Chipset

Southbridge, note the crappy paste application from manufacturer

 

[Garfield3d]

Hi there Six. Thanks for the thorough response. The details and links make the whole idea seem much more comfortable. I've actually never heard of a spacer before. Is that the whitish portion on the perimeter of the underside in your first link? ( http://i133.photobucket.com/al...teelsix/Picture013.jpg )

--Garfield3d

 

[Hauk]

Yep, it's the white part. I'm not sure it's technically called a spacer, but you get the drift. Good luck. Should be a snap. AS5 will yield lower NB temps.

I always remove mobo cooling soltions to improve their contact patch. This weekend I'll be posting a how-to on replacing the push-pins used for securing motherboard heatsinks with high quality bolts. Reason? In some cases the spring resistance on push-pins isn't enough to create good contact patch:

Abit IP35 Pro Mofset family

Poor contact with Mofsets caused by slighly bent heatpipe and weak spring strengh on push-pins

 

[cify1964]

I have done this with my DS3 in my sig below and have found that it helped stablize my best unstable OC but didn't help me oc any furter. So in a nutshell, it does help a little, but don't expect to much.