Replacing TIM on VRM heatsinks
- Thread starter Kidge
- Start date
Those are the north and south bridges which are not likely to be the problem, though replacing the paste may yield some improvement in temperatures. The VRMs have no heatsink and are the array of chips that live between the eps connector and the coils (labelled R60 on the left of the cpu socket)
Yeah, as Kei has mentioned, those heatsinks you've circled have nothing to do with the VRM cooling. Most motherboards usually have heatsinks over the VRMs, but I'm assuming this one doesn't as it wasn't really designed with overclocking in mind.
Last edited:
Ah I see, my mistake!. so currently my temps on NB show 52c when running prime, could I possibly reduce this by replacing TIM?.
Would also applying TIM and some mini heatsinks on the R60 chips show some improvement be it little?.
pprest123, I would say you're right, sadly I don't think this board was designed with overclocking in mind so I'm not going to push it too much.
I believe the 900 series boards are better.
Would also applying TIM and some mini heatsinks on the R60 chips show some improvement be it little?.
pprest123, I would say you're right, sadly I don't think this board was designed with overclocking in mind so I'm not going to push it too much.
I believe the 900 series boards are better.
I'm sure you could if you applied the paste correctly. Though, 52c isn't something you should be concerned about, it's well within acceptable range.
As for applying mini heatsinks on the VRMs, I honestly have no idea. I've never heard of anyone doing such a thing.
Associate
- Joined
- 7 Jul 2007
- Posts
- 1,412
Don't think you need to worry about the VRMs, they are usually rated for ridiculously high temperatures anyway.
Ah good, out of interest what would be the maximum temperature?.
I may look at getting these and have a play around:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-038-AL
I may look at getting these and have a play around:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-038-AL
Some VRM's are rated up to something ridiculous like 120c? I know a lot of people with 7xxx cards had them over 100c on air without bother. Mobo ones might be rated lower though I'm not sure, it certainly wouldn't hurt to put passive heatsinks on if it interests you!
Soldato
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2012
- Posts
- 11,698
- Location
- Surrey
VRMs can be a major issue on am3 and am3+ sockets!
VRMs are rated between 95 and 125 degrees depending on which board. Obviously lower end board with lower end components are on the lower end of the scale.
Though they are rated at these temps, it does not mean they can operate at these temperatures safely and will throttle far before your each the rated VRM limit!
Having said that, an fx4100 shouldn't be drawing enough power to heat the VRMs to throttling. how quick do you see your multiplier drop after starting prime 95?
What is your core temperature when it starts to throttle?
TBH, there is little that can be done for VRM cooling that will make a big difference. Small heatsinks dont help much if there is low air flow and the VRMs only take a few seconds to hit their throttling temps. Your best bet would be to get a second hand 970 board. Even the cheapest Asus one would have no problem handling the fx4100. Would still avoid lower end MSI/Asrock for am3+, as you will hit the same problem if you ever upgrade the CPU.
The Extreme 3 from Asrock was notorious for throttling due to VRMs with higher powered 6 and 8 core chips at stock. This is because though it was a flagship board and was released with all the bells and whistles Asrock had to offer at the time, it is still outdated and designed before these high power chips were around.
Once again, dont ignore VRM temps. There Windforce R9-290x cooler is rated at 450w of cooling but if you run that power through the 290x, you would soon end up with a dead GPU. Just because it is rated at an amount, it doesn't mean it can operate well at it.
VRMs are rated between 95 and 125 degrees depending on which board. Obviously lower end board with lower end components are on the lower end of the scale.
Though they are rated at these temps, it does not mean they can operate at these temperatures safely and will throttle far before your each the rated VRM limit!
Having said that, an fx4100 shouldn't be drawing enough power to heat the VRMs to throttling. how quick do you see your multiplier drop after starting prime 95?
What is your core temperature when it starts to throttle?
TBH, there is little that can be done for VRM cooling that will make a big difference. Small heatsinks dont help much if there is low air flow and the VRMs only take a few seconds to hit their throttling temps. Your best bet would be to get a second hand 970 board. Even the cheapest Asus one would have no problem handling the fx4100. Would still avoid lower end MSI/Asrock for am3+, as you will hit the same problem if you ever upgrade the CPU.
The Extreme 3 from Asrock was notorious for throttling due to VRMs with higher powered 6 and 8 core chips at stock. This is because though it was a flagship board and was released with all the bells and whistles Asrock had to offer at the time, it is still outdated and designed before these high power chips were around.
Once again, dont ignore VRM temps. There Windforce R9-290x cooler is rated at 450w of cooling but if you run that power through the 290x, you would soon end up with a dead GPU. Just because it is rated at an amount, it doesn't mean it can operate well at it.