Northbridge block, is it necessary?

[BioPort]

im looking into getting a small kit for my first foray into the world of water cooling. i have an athlon xp 3200+, 1gb of ram, and a 6800gt on a dfi lanparty motherboard. since my mobo has a passively cooled northbridge heatsink, is it going to be necessary to get a waterblock for that too?

 

[bellevegasj]

No, it adds ~10mhz to your over-clocking ability.

 

[RM_Bulldog]

in some cases it adds OC if your going over 250 FSB id say it matters if not then its best NOT to have it

 

[thevampirelord66]

u want to avoid it at all costs basically. Because it makes the loop bigger in turn decreasing flow rate and increasing heat in the water.

 

[RickyJ]

Just get a good aircooler for your NB. A lot of people like the Thermalright NB-1, and a lot of people like the Swiftech MCX-159. Personally, I went for the Swiftech because it's only 18dB and works quite well.

 

[rtierney]

I'm just going to get a NB-1C northbridge heatsink and fan for my motherboard. I really don't think the cost, additional tubing, and increase in water temp is worth the benefits of cooling the northbridge.
A good HSF on the northbridge (like the all copper NB-1C) should do just lovely.

 

[potroast]

wouldn't increasing the tubing length increase ambient exchange? Thus either improving cooling or having no effect? how could it make it worse?

 

[flak]

most of the exchange happens in your radiator. very little happens through the tubes. however, excess tubing creates friction which slows down your flowrate.