Northbridge overheating on Maximus Formula Mobo

jadecougar

jadecougar

jadecougar

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Joined
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7
Hello

I have a LianLi P80 case with the following watercooled items in a single loop:

Q9450 OC@ 3.2 GHz
4870x2

As for the Mobo, it's a maximus formula
asus_maximus_formula_xf.jpg


As this was my first watercooling project, I didn't think much about the NB/SB due to the cool heatpipe and heatsink design. The trouble is the ambient temps during the summer time in the room it must be in (wife's orders..lol) are ranging from 25-30 degrees. The watercooled parts are fine and rockin' BUT the NB is peaking between 70 and 80 celcius which leads to a system shutdown numerous times.

I've got a normal room fan that I've been using to cool the system down by opening up the side of the case and blowing air into the system. This has good effects of course but not an ideal solution.

Basically I'm looking for advice...

My system isn't new anymore. It's not old either but you get the picture. Is it worth investing for north and south bridge blocks which will be a guaranteed cool solution OR is it better to just grab a fan of some kind?

If the fan solution is suggested, how can I mount it with this setup. The LianLi case has no side fan blowing into the case. I'd rather not be cutting it either (too expensive of a case, lol) but I think I need to do something with it.

Any suggestions? Thankfully this is only a "summer time" problem due to the ambient temperature of the room but still, I've invested a lot on the system I have. I'd certainly not like to see the mobo die for being too hot.

Thank you in advance!
 
the fans RJC suggested have a 3 speed control on them slow , med and fast so wont be noisy unless u put them on high :) if you could get a block cheap enough id go for that as ive always liked watercooling everything :) can i ask if youve had any problems with water ? cause i want to do it but i havent really decided yet so some info would really help me :D
 
mcalladine said:
the fans RJC suggested have a 3 speed control on them slow , med and fast so wont be noisy unless u put them on high :) if you could get a block cheap enough id go for that as ive always liked watercooling everything :) can i ask if youve had any problems with water ? cause i want to do it but i havent really decided yet so some info would really help me :D
Click to expand...

As for your question, I'll answer it in saying I was a watercooling skeptic. I was a major 'fan boy' before having I think about 12 fans in my case total. It was getting so loud that my ears hurt after gaming. Additionally the heat dissipation wasn't optimal with my graphics card in particular getting SUPER hot with the fan solution.

Before water cooling, the CPU would be about 45celcius in Windows and 55-60celsius in game. The graphics card would sit idle around 55-60 celcius in windows and a whopping 115 in game. This is before ATI released updated drivers which could allow you to control the RPMs of the stock fan. However, what helped me make the decision finally was that RPM change. It was so ridiculously loud I said enough is enough.

AFTER switching to watercooling, my CPU's at 21-27 celcius (this depends on ambient temperature of course) in windows and about 31-37 celcius in game (again, pending ambient temps). The GPU in windows is now 30 celcius in windows and an amazing 40-45 (MAX) in game!!

I could probably get more from the CPU if it wasn't overclocked and if I chose a bit better block but the temps are much better than before.

Long story...is it worth it to watercool? Oh yes sir!

I won't lie, however...

It IS an investment as some of the blocks are expensive and often are specific to a particular model. That means, when you upgrade your GPU for example, likely you will need a new waterblock for it too.


You should decide "what" you will be cooling.
1. CPU only?
2. GPU only?
3. CPU & GPU (that's my current set up)
4. or the über setup....CPU, GPU/s, NB/SB, Mofsets, and Ram

What you'll need are at least the following:

1. A good pump
2. Radiator
3. Reservoir
4. GOOD tubing - like Tygon
5. Good clamps - don't use zip ties.

What "kind" and number of optimal options above depends on the complexity of your desired watercooling set up AND how much you want to tweak (=overclock) your system.

My humble opinion is it's enough to watercool your CPU and GPU. I'd NOW (because of my niggling summer time problems) add a NB & SB block solution to the same loop. So about three to four blocks, depending on mobo and waterblock manufacturer.

I hope that helps?
 
yeah thankyou for your advice :D is there any major problems that uve had ? eg. leaks etc ? thats the main thing im worryed about cause i might just go for something like the corsair h50 as thats all im mainly be cooling. thankyou so far :D
 
Sorry, I should add that for the first time try getting a friend that's done watercooling before to come and help you set it up. The experience will help you learn it while being confident that you're not going to wreck anything because your friend can guide you. I had this and it was essential and now I'm feeling pretty good about doing it again easily myself.

Also, get GOOD tubing. I bought cheap silicon tubing and the water dissipated through the tubing, forcing me to refill my reservoir every two weeks (which is ridiculous).

Also, I recommend using this for your thermal paste:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique.htm
I realize this is slightly controversial regarding the conductivity but this solution is a safe bet and 1-2 degree (potential) loss is not much to avoid frying your chips (like I did on my first GPU card).

There's more but hey...this is my thread! ROFL!
If you need more advice, slap up a new thread (I'll be happy to help) or PM me.


Any advice on whether my mobo is worth it to invest in two more blocks (NB & SB)? Thanks!
 
I have the same mobo as you, although bios modded into a Rampage. I would reccomend water cooling the NB for sure, however one thing you could try first is to take the heatsink assembly off and replace the tim with MX-2 and refit. You don't actually state how many volts you are putting through the NB, I'm guessing you have left it at default, in that case it sounds like you have a particularly bad case of poor thermal interface. Quality control can vary allot with the factory fitted sink.

Fitting a NB water block on the Maximus is straight forward, however you then need to work out what to do with the SB. The SB does not especially need to be water cooled as it doesn't get that hot, but what other sink you can put on it depends entirely on the clearance around it due to your graphics card. I personally used the Zalman NB cooler on it http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SY-007-ZA&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=399 as I had just enough clearance around my water cooled gtx280. However, most people will chose a low profile Enzotech sink, you'll have to search for the correct one. It is also possible to prise off the heatpipe from the stock SB cooler and use it without, but obviously won't be as good as a propper copper block.

The Mosfets can be left with the heatsink as is, as it actually separates from the NB/SB sink.

So, depending on how much you like stripping things down, try the stock heatsink with better tim approach first, and if that doesn't work get a NB block and a suitable sink for the SB. You don't say what pump or rad you have but you can always upgrade those if the additional heat/pressure drop become a problem, which I don't think they will tbh.
 
Bubo!

You saved my day mate. Thanks!

Did I underststand right that you're using that NB cooler (behind your link) on the SB?? And it fits properly?

So you're suggesting to remove the heat pipe from the SB to NB, and watercool the NB and buy the cooler you suggested for the SB?

Did I get that right?
 
Yes the zalman will fit, it has a pretty good adjustable "foot" mechanism compared to the enzotech sinks which are a bit more limited, but you have to be sure the height of the thing won't be a problem with your graphics card, though you could take a dremel to it. The enzotech sinks are low profile and should be ok heightwise, though you'll have to check how these will fit to the SB holes as the ones I have seen are not as adjustable as the Zalman.

If you're going to put a 3rd party sink on the SB then there is no need to separate the stock SB from the heatpipe, as the whole thin will come off as one. You would only do that is you are planning on using the SB part of the stock cooler instead of a 3rd party sink. Like I say, some have done this. There is a massive thread on xtreme systems on water cooling the maximus, look there as well.

This thread shows my pc http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18029742&highlight=infra+red it might give you an idea what yours would look like, its the width of your graphics card which will dictate how much you would have to dremel off the zalman, if anything. With mine I didn't have to do any.

I actually bought the EK SB water block for this mobo, but in the end I decided not to use it as wasn't worth the tube routing hassle and pressure drop, given the relatively minor heat it generates which a normal sink can easily cope with.
 
I had the P5E which had exactly the same cooler as your Maximus. I watercooled the NB with a XSPC Delta NB block and used the same Zalman cooler as Bubo on the SB. One problems you may have tough is getting that heatpipe cooler off. Asus uses some sort of epoxy TIM under the heatsinks and it is a pain to get off. Mine was bad enough and it had not even been used. As yours has been used the stuff may have set. I ended up using a hair dryer to heat up the heatsinks and soften the stuff up. Even then it took a lot of effort to remove it. The NB is'nt a bare chip as it has a IHS over it, pretty much like a cpu. Just be careful. One guy ripped the NB clean off the board trying to remove the heatsink.
 
pastymuncher said:
One guy ripped the NB clean off the board trying to remove the heatsink.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've seen that as well, proper took the entire chip off, not just the heat spreader. I must admit I took the heatsink off mine without using the board first too, it came off real easy with me though, not heat involved, infact I think I did it on a cold day when the heating was off. Some do reccomend cooling the board rather than heating it up, by putting it in the freezer or using a freeze areosol. That Xtreme systems thread has advice on this also.
 
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