Swiftech MCW30 Problem

[meths]

I'd originally posted in General Hardware but this has become a bit of a cooling problem instead.

I installed a MCW30 on the NB of my DFI Infinity 975x and the computer wouldn't boot. Turned out that the hoses were tipping the block onto the small chips or capacitors (whatever the are) surrounding the NB chip. I shortened a couple of the hoses to pull the block as upright as possible and now the computer boots fine.

Trouble is that now I can't get enough downward pressure on the NB to cool it effectively and it's idling at around 50c. If I push down on the block the temps drop to about 36c.

The mobo only has two diagonally opposite loops to attach one spring clip for the block which just doesn't do the job well enough.

I'd thought about drilling a couple of holes through the mobo so I could use the hard mount kit but the tracks of the PCB are in the way of where the screws would need to go.

Has anybody managed to successfully mount one of these blocks on a similar mobo or does anyone have any idea on how I can improve the contact with the NB?

 

[meths]

Photo of the situation will help massively, but I would hazard a guess that the solution will be to do a proper bolt mod with a bar going across the block, rather than a spring, so you can apply a greater clampinf force. Also drilling holes in the mobo is a bad idea, even if it appears there are no tracks on the visible sides of the mobo. As I understand it mobos are made of multiple layers of tracks, so there could be some which are not visible below an apparent "free" area.

Point taken about the drilling.

I'll try and post a pic tonight.

Edit: Here's a pic of the mobo showing the stock NB heatsink. Don't think this fastening method allows a bolt mod from what I've read.

 

[meths]

Have you also tried this, "NB/SB Core Protective Foam Pad" as it should help protect the stuff around the chip, and allow abit more pressure without going to far.

Btw sorry i can't link directly to it as its from a competitors site, but its the first link that pops up in google.

Thanks, but that'll lift the block even higher. My problem now is that I've got nothing to press it down onto the chip harder.

I think I need a stronger wire clip than the one that's supplied with the MCW30.

 

[meths]

Okay here's what I'm dealing with.


The crappy wire clip from both angles...

The overall loop...

TBH I don't think there's much I can do with it and at the moment with the side off the case my northbridge is sitting at 46C according to Everest.

I'm thinking I'll have to just remove it from the loop as it's only working as well as my Thermalright heatsink did so it's not worth the extra heat it's leaving in my processor.

 

[meths]

You're right there's no heat spreader on the block but I've all but eliminated the turning movement by cutting off parts of the hoses that were causing the problem. I think at this point all I need is something to make it shove down.

I've given up hope of finding a solution involving the clip as I did a test on the other one you get in the box and it snapped without putting that much force on it.

I'm just gonna use it as it is just now and start pushing my overclock back up but I'll probably replace it with a heatsink when I can be bothered.

 

[meths]

If the block is sitting too high and the chip it's cooling is small, you could add a cold-plate (basically a slab of copper). I did this once with a GoldenOrb where I found an early 1p piece from when they were still made of copper and lapped it smooth (technically a criminal offence I believe!), TIM on both sides and hey presto! more pressure, better cooling.

That's a great idea.

A small 1 or 2 millimeter thick copper sheet would probably do the trick.

Never thought of trying to fill the gap between the block and the chip.