NB cooler that uses a clip

[Tom128]

I have an ASUS M3A motherboard. My one real complaint about it is the northbridge cooler. The thing gets VERY hot, to the point that it is painful to touch it for more than a few seconds. It has gotten quite a bit hotter now that I have replaced my X2 4000+ with a 9600BE. I want to replace the NB cooler but the problem is that it does not have holes to do it, it is on there with a thin wire clip. Has anyone used this mobo and found a replacement, or know of one that will work without holes?

Thanks!

 

[BillParrish]

This would most likely work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226019

on the other hand,

If the newegg pic is correct.
http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-234-03.jpg

Thats a fairly decent sized NB cooler and perfectly suited for for glueing a 40mm fan on the top blowing down which would do wonders. (you should measure that sink and see if a 50mm would fit better).

Take off the stock cooler and clean off any factory thermal paste and then using silicon RTV glue, put a nice big dab of glue in each of the fan holes so the "blob" is 1/2 in the hole and 1/2 out of the hole. GENTLY place the fan on the top of the heatsink and give a LITTLE press so some of the exposed glue contacts the fins well. The intent is NOT to push the fan all the way down on the heatsink but to leave a tiny space between the fan and the heatsink fins. Let it dry (only takes 20 min) until the silicon glue sets up good. You now have rubber vibration absorbing fan mounts. Check your work and make sure the fan blades spin freely. Remount the cooler using good thermal paste. That fan will do the trick and when it wears out you just yank it off and glue a new one on as the silicon rubber will peel right off with no mess.

Be aware these small fans can be whiny if you get a high speed one look for something around 2000 RPM, It does not have to push a lot of air.

This is ideal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129036

Buy 2, as I have found these (no matter who makes them) usually last about 2 years then die.