Best Northbridge Cooler (air)
Best Northbridge Cooler (air)
I'm evaluating options for a northbridge cooler and am uncertain which one suits me best. After reviewing the feedback, I’m leaning toward the Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II or the Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX. Which would be more suitable? Additionally, I want to know if there are any installation or compatibility issues. I’ll be using a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H board and likely only relying on integrated graphics, though I’m open to using a dedicated video card. If that’s the case, would either cooler cause problems?
Technically it shouldn't be an issue, but the CPU's heatsink size might matter. The main concern I see is with the graphics card, especially if you use a large aftermarket heatsink with a big back plate. I've experienced problems with the Zalman zf700 before.
Usually a big CPU cooling pad would prevent the NB from working properly, so double-check your setup.
Alternatively, you might simply attach a 40 mm fan directly to the front of your existing heatsink.
I'm facing an issue setting up my Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II with the Scythe Mine CPU Cooler on my Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 board. The TT Ext Sprt II NB Cooler design allows rotation, so there should be minimal trouble.
So just saying the Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX is bigger doesn't necessarily mean it's better, right? That could help, but it really depends on its connection to the chipset and the conductivity of the metal used. With this model, it seems you might need a separate fan, which feels unnecessary and annoying, especially since I'm a student always on a tight budget.
I'm also looking for a good NB cooler. I have the Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium CPU Cooler, which is quite large. That makes me worried about buying a northbridge cooler that might not fit.
What's your opinion on the NB cooler you mentioned? Does it perform well enough? Also, did you end up purchasing two 40mm fans separately?
Attaching a fan directly to the top of the chip won’t make much difference. It would likely perform even worse than the standard heatsink and cooler. You need a metal component to dissipate heat effectively, which is precisely what the stock heatsink provides. A fan glued on top wouldn’t work as well. I’m considering the Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II because it spins, increasing the chances of fitting around my CPU heatsink. Unless someone has a better idea...
Peaks:
So basically, just assuming the Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX is larger doesn't automatically mean it's better, right? That helps, but it really depends on how well it connects to the chipset and the conductivity of the metal used. With this model, it seems you'd need to purchase a separate fan, which feels a bit unnecessary and annoying, especially since I'm trying to stay within a budget as a student.
I'm also looking for a good NB cooler. I currently have the Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium CPU Cooler, which is quite large. That makes me worried about possibly needing to buy a northbridge cooler that won't fit properly.
Paully, what do you think about the NB cooler you mentioned? Does it perform well enough? Did you have to buy two 40mm fans separately?
I just installed the Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX and it was a bit of a challenge, but it's working perfectly now. I can actually feel the fins and pipes, which is different from the OEM heatsink. I checked their compatibility list, and my board wasn't listed, but based on the dimensions I saw, I thought I could fit it. I installed it between the CPU CoolIt vantage liquid pump and the video card at an angle, keeping plenty of space around it. My old Antec case has some modifications to improve airflow, and adding a 230mm fan helped a lot. It keeps everything cool, and overall, with moderate overclocking, it runs quietly and handles most games without issues.
In short, if you're considering using it, go for it.
When considering alternatives to the standard Republic Of Gamers cooler for Asus' Rampage V Edition 10, you might explore other options that could offer improved performance or design.