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Heatsinks breaking videocards/mobos?

S

slayer9019

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
1,599
I had a question....with all these huge heavy CPU coolers, and GPU cools hanging off the PCB doesnt that make it possible for them to just crack the boards??? Just seems like alot of weight on a delicate (expensive) piece.

New to this huge cooler stuff
 
Mothersboards are rated to specific N/m2 that most manufacturers adhere to. Most videocards with heavy cooling have metal backplates to carry the weight.

There are some examples of badly designed coolers causing damage such as the Arctic Cooling 5970 cooler having screws that when tightened all the way, cause the board to bend and break a DVI output. The Thermalright Venomous X has a thread on another forum about the adjustable pressure screw exerting more force than the motherboard socket is designed to withstand and compressing the CPU into the socket to the point where cooling is reduced due to less contact.
 
PCBs are actually surprisingly strong despite what you would think given there weight, thickness, and application.

There has always been the risk of heat sinks however cracking the actual silicon chip however. This actually one of the main reasons why both Intel and AMD now use heat spreaders covering the actual die on there cpus. I remember before AMD for instance did not use heat spreaders and instead relied on 4 rubber bumpers to prevent core crushing, which is why many people would by aftermarket shims when installing heavy heat sinks and water blocks.

This is also why most cooling use springs to put pressure downwards on the heat sink/water block as opposed to screwing them down directly.
 
The two examples listed above are the only ones I'm currently aware of. It's not a widespread problem by any stretch, and assuming the mounting system is well designed you would be amazed what a motherboard can take safely, weight-wise. My current Prolimatech Megahalems is... substantial, to say the least, but I have no concerns about it breaking my board.
 
ok cool! I was looking to get a big cooler for my new i7 for some light OCing, until eventually i decided between H20 cooling or a used sportscar

EDIT:
I do realize how ridiculous that sounds but seriously....
 
...? If you already have the i7, a sink isn't that expensive. If you're talking about the whole rig? Yeah, they're still pricey, which is why I'm still running a Core2Quad.
 
slayer9019 said:
ok cool! I was looking to get a big cooler for my new i7 for some light OCing, until eventually i decided between H20 cooling or a used sportscar

EDIT:
I do realize how ridiculous that sounds but seriously....
Click to expand...

A Corsair H50 costs $60.00

Where do you find a used sportscar for sixty bucks?
 
silent-circuit said:
...? If you already have the i7, a sink isn't that expensive. If you're talking about the whole rig? Yeah, they're still pricey, which is why I'm still running a Core2Quad.
Click to expand...

Already got the i7 on a trade

Spare-Flair said:
A Corsair H50 costs $60.00

Where do you find a used sportscar for sixty bucks?
Click to expand...

lololol (no need money for a deposit) The H50 is what i was looking at
 
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