Heat issues

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

I'm having a little trouble with my temps. I want to keep the system relatively quiet, but the northbridge fan is loud as hell, so it's not very plausible.

However, I just booted up Speedfan to check the temps and my NB is on fire... In the BIOS, I set the fan settings to "SmartFan," which, according to the BIOS, is supposed to regulate my temps (which, BTW, doesn't happen).

These temps are idle.


I'm still using the stock thermal paste (on the CPU and NB). I'm going to upgrade to the IC7 Diamond soon, but regardless, that NB shouldn't be that hot. Any ideas other than running the fan at 100% (it's really loud). Should I be considering modding a fan?

[Yellowhello]

Maybe get an aftermarket NB cooler like THIS one? You can probably run it fanless if your case airflow is good enough.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Yellowhello

Maybe get an aftermarket NB cooler like THIS one? You can probably run it fanless if your case airflow is good enough.

Wow, that's enormous! Yeah, that would help. I've got a 80mm fan lying around, so I might be able to get it right over it and kill the tiny fan.

EDIT: On a side note, I can't control my fan speeds through SpeedFan.... would BIOS settings change that?

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

On a side note, I can't control my fan speeds through SpeedFan.... would BIOS settings change that?

Yeah, you can set fan speeds in the BIOS AFAIK.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Yellowhello

Yeah, you can set fan speeds in the BIOS AFAIK.

Well, no I saw that I could do that. I'm saying can I have them software controlled using SpeedFan?

I'd rather do it within Windows. Is there a setting or something so I can control them within Windows?

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

Well, no I saw that I could do that. I'm saying can I have them software controlled using SpeedFan?

I'd rather do it within Windows. Is there a setting or something so I can control them within Windows?

I'm not sure... I think it's Speedfan itself, it works with some boards and not others. Maybe you should invest in a fan controller?

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Lol, I just got three recommendations for that exact fan controller. Any partiality to that one? The reviewers say the LEDs are bright as hell....

I was actually looking at the TT XController, but this works too. I was afraid my mobo was gonna be the culprit.

Oh well, doesn't hurt to get bling. :)

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

You know what, I found the problem for the NB temp. I was just looking at some photos of my mobo and the wrong heatsink is on the NB.

This was the board our buddy Cap sent me and it had a Foxconn HSF on it and he sent the other heatsink in addition. I always wondered what that HSF was.

I'll get on that tomorrow.. :)

[Yellowhello]

That fan controller puts out 20W per channel, so you can put like 3 fans on each channel. That's 12 fans on one fan controller! You would have to get some Y splitters to run more than one fan on each channel of course.

[Stormcrow]

Smartfan is junk, disable it and set your fan speeds manually. I can disable mine in System Monitor, not sure where it would be on yours. Having the northbridge on an Infinity run hot is nothing to be concerned of, just don't let it get over 65C which they tend to like to do.

Also, one other thing: DFI puts this pink bubble-gum looking crap on the heatsinks, which is terrible and actually insulates. The Infinity line is known for having pitiful heatsinks on their chipsets, I replaced the one on my nForce4 Infinity with this which worked awesome with a little Ceramique:
Newegg.com - Thermaltake CL-C0034 Copper Fan&Heatsinks - Retail