Need assistance with the pre-attached heatsink detaching from your MSI motherboard?
Need assistance with the pre-attached heatsink detaching from your MSI motherboard?
The motherboard is an MSI B450i Gaming Plus Max WiFi, recently purchased from Amazon. The return period has expired, and I’m unsure why the heatsink detached unexpectedly. According to the manual, it should have been included and didn’t need installation. It seems it was meant to be secured via screws on the back panel, but now it’s loose. I might need to buy replacement screws. No one mentioned the heatsink in the manual—any advice would be appreciated.
I’d send MSI a direct email honestly—there seems to be a significant issue with their quality control. Regarding the exchange period, I’m uncertain about your location. In the UK, warranty coverage is with the seller, not the manufacturer, so you might still be able to request an exchange from Amazon. If not, assuming it’s thermal paste rather than a pad, clean the heatsink thoroughly, apply fresh thermal paste to the chip, and then use screws long enough to secure them into the heatsink. Don’t stress too much about matching threads as long as they fit securely.
You can find the plastic or metal clips, though it's unclear if they match in size based on your board's holes. It's also uncertain if they fit your specific heatsink design. The chipset typically handles a TDP of 4.8 watts, so even up to 2-3 watts might not require a large heatsink. Some manufacturers, like MSI, prefer larger ones mainly for aesthetics. The chipset usually stays cool enough without them. You could use memory or mosfet heatsinks secured with adhesive tape, especially if your board has matching mounting points. For instance, you can look at options like the ATS-HK127-R0 or similar models. If you need precise dimensions, check sites such as Digikey or Mouser and search for chipsets with compatible mounting holes. You can also browse options that match your chipset size, using thermal adhesive to secure them in place.
Hey man, thanks so much for the info!!! I live in Canada, so I don't quite have as much as options. Would something like this work? https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Q8RW5Y2/ref=...EDVWVEGCZC I was also wondering if I could just get any aluminum heatsink and some adhesive thermal tape from Amazon, and stick it on there. I measured and the chipset seems to be about 21 mm. Edit: I ended up going with this, https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B010ER7UN8/ref=...UTF8&psc=1 Along with some double sided thermal tape. Hopefully this does the job. Thanks for the help everyone.
They're slightly shorter than ideal but should be fine. Consider using 14mm heatsinks and place them in a 2x2 arrangement even if some extend beyond the chip area. Adding more fins improves cooling—smaller units have only four wide fins, whereas larger ones benefit from cutting wide fins into four smaller ones and using the sides for heat dissipation, increasing overall surface area. Use HWInfo or similar tools to monitor temperatures and verify sensors. Ensure the chipset stays below 70-75°C; the throttle/shutdown temp is likely around 80-85°C. After tasks like moving large files between drives, check temperatures—loading the SATA controller may add a bit of heat.
Hey there, thanks for the message! I’m glad you found the info useful. Based on your post, I started searching for larger heatsinks and checked some graphs about TDP and heat sink sizes. I’ve attached photos of the modifications I made using double-sided thermal tape. I think I did a solid job overall. Unfortunately, I don’t have an extra drive to test it further. Instead, I’ve been using HWINFO while gaming and Cinebench—though I know these tests don’t really stress the chip. The chipset temps look normal, around 41–45°C, which matches what HWINFO shows as PCH. Just wanted to say thanks a lot for all the help!