Gigabyte DS3R - Northbridge heatsink issue

[[email protected]]

Hi

I bought a bunch of kit this week from OCUK to spec up, and have just finished building it. My issue is this - the Giga DS3R mobo had only one retaining pin in the northbridge heatsink instead of two, you know the white spring-loaded pins that keep the HS on and in firm contact with the chip. I solved it by taking one of the pins off of the chipset cooler on my old mobo, but the heatsink is still very loose on the northbridge chip - it wriggles around freely if I try to move it.

I have 2 questions - is it normal for the northbridge HS to be so loosely attached? The retaining pin I've used seems identical to the one that was on there. And what is a normal northbridge temp reading at idle? I seem to be getting 26C cpu (E6750) and 40C northbridge right now which feels a bit high to me.

Thoughts please? I really don't want to have to strip this all down again and return the mobo...

Thanks
Bert

 

[QuadFlash]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17787271

Mine is all intact.. And running a lot hotter.. But it doesn't feel all that secure.

Anyone help?

 

[EDC]

It's a crappy design, period. I RMA'd a GA-P35C-DS3R for the same reason, (it uses the same heatsink) mine arrived with the Northbridge cooler completely detached inside the box, the plastic pin had snapped and the heatsink decided to go walkabout. If you read the user reviews (on a popular US site) you'll see it's a common occurance. A good board marred by a cheap plastic pin. ... they're not all like that but obviously you got a bad one and should have RMA'd it quick-sharp! (you may have borked an RMA by fitting a different pin).

 

[QuadFlash]

http://forums.anandtech.com/message...ORDFRM=&STARTPAGE=7&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

Looks like it might be an issue .. Not happy.. It's built now

That's the big gold number.. right? I just bought this board from Microdirect in Manchester. They have a disclaimer at the counter which reads 'we will not accept motherboard returns where the CPU socket pins are bent UNLESS the board has been inspected before leaving the store', or words to that effect. So I asked the saleman about this and he opened the package, the big heatsink had completely detached and was simply rattling loose inside the electrositatic bag. He got another board out, brand new of course - he tried budging the heatsink this one was firmly attached.

 

[[email protected]]

I think RMA is prob unnecessary tbh.

Worst case scenario - remove the pins, remove HS, apply paste/pad, put stronger springs on pins to improve HS pressure.

Nothing a trip to Homebase can't fix

 

[EDC]

I think RMA is prob unnecessary tbh.

Worst case scenario - remove the pins, remove HS, apply paste/pad, put stronger springs on pins to improve HS pressure.

Nothing a trip to Homebase can't fix

... true! :here's a modded IP35 Pro but the principal is the same.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2330347&postcount=751

 

[[email protected]]

Thought I'd just update this with the outcome...

After using one of the northbridge heatsink retention pins from an old mobo to secure the NB HS on my DS3R, it seems to be just fine. Currently running at 375FSB at stock voltage and stock cooling and everything is groovy, despite the NB HS seeming very loosely attached to NB.

B

 

[str]

I would at the very least check the corners of the northbridge core to make sure it hasn't been damaged before deciding if it's not worth RMA'ing it.

 

[[email protected]]

Nah, thanks for the advice but in my experience with most things electronic they either work from day 1 or they don't. Even if it is chipped, it's working fine so isn't likely to suddenly stop in a few months.

Or if I'm completely honest, the truth is I really can't be ar$3d to strip it all down again, RMA it, wait for return, rebuild... Nope I definitely can't.