Unusual Heatsink Required

salawinder · 30 Dec 2010 at 23:50

Hi all,

I am building a bit of a project HTPC using an old notebook motherboard. I have most things sorted out but have one major issue - cooling.

The notebook has a P4 3.0Ghz CPU in a socket 478 (mPGA478B) - this is basically a desktop CPU and always got very hot - the cooling on the notebook was always noisy, hence it was going spare!

The mounting holes on the motherboard are 68mm apart (across) and 50mm apart (down). I don't believe this matches a 'standard' cooler pattern, so am looking for a cooler that could bolt through these holes. Size is not much of an issue, as the whole thing will be mounted in a box the size of a VCR (about 90mm tall) , but I would like it to be quiet!

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Paul.

SeraphX · 30 Dec 2010 at 23:57

i think you would be best of trawling the Bay for a old socket 478 cooler, no one makes them anymore to my knowledge

freddie64 · 31 Dec 2010 at 07:58

Apparently, this cooler supports skt 478, but i think you will need a retention bracket on the motherboard.

Never seen a note book motherboard, so don't know if one is already fitted.

iBSOD · 31 Dec 2010 at 08:18

Notebook coolers aren't like most desktop coolers (there really weird imo), but isn't s478 a desktop socket anyway?

hawker1986 · 31 Dec 2010 at 08:49

There was a desktop s478 and a mobile s478, i dont know for sure because I cant remember but I suspect the mounting holes will be different, I think you may well struggle with this.

Pics may help

Hawker

Justintime · 31 Dec 2010 at 08:56

Each different laptop model/brand will likely have a different cooling mechanism depending on design. You will likely have to fashion something out of a normal cooler with a drill/bolts etc..

salawinder · 1 Jan 2011 at 13:34

Pics & more info

I have a couple of pics to show more detail on the problem:

Pic1
Pic2

Pic 1 shows the board, I'm not sure if it is a desktop 478 or a mobile 478 socket, but I believe the processor is a desktop version, the print on the chip reads:
Intel©'04
Pentium®4
3.00GHZ/1M/800
SL7PM MALAY
L439B103

Pic 2 shows a desktop 478 bracket on top of the board, might not be clear but the holes on the right are lined up, but obviously the holes on the left are closer to the socket.

I have no problem manufacturing or modifying something to do the job, but wondered if anybody had any experience of a heatsink that would be suitable?

I think I saw a cooler which had a small block to go over the CPU, with heatpipes to a separate cooler. The block had a 'point' or 'bump' in the centre I could use to secure the brackets which then bolt through the board - don't know if this is just a figment of my mind though!

Hope this helps, and any feedback or advice is welcome!

Paul.