computer nerd question

[j-6]

So I'm building a media center computer for the living room, and I'm cannibalizing two older computers and an old case plus motherboard. Every seems to be OK except that the heat sink doesn't fit (like snap on) to the motherboard properly. It's literally an eighth of an inch too big.

I've seen quite a few other forums that advocate supergluing the heatsink to the chipset, and then the fan to the heatsink. Has anyone ever actually tried this?

[Useruser666]

So I'm building a media center computer for the living room, and I'm cannibalizing two older computers and an old case plus motherboard. Every seems to be OK except that the heat sink doesn't fit (like snap on) to the motherboard properly. It's literally an eighth of an inch too big.

I've seen quite a few other forums that advocate supergluing the heatsink to the chipset, and then the fan to the heatsink. Has anyone ever actually tried this?

Uh, that sounds scary!

[TheTruth]

just make sure that there is a thin layer of glue touching every part that you are gluing. No spaces at all.

[ChumpDumper]

Seems pretty unnecessary. Sounds like the heatsink isn't made for that CPU socket anyway. What CPU are you using?

[SWC Bonfire]

From a heat transfer standpoint, you wouldn't want another layer of a substance that was a poor conductor of heat, although I doubt that a thin layer of superglue would conduct heat any worse than a silicone microchip.

I think I would try to machine 1/8 of the heat sink off so that it would fit in the space. I doubt you have a machine shop, so try a cutoff wheel or hacksaw (I am assuming that it is aluminum).

[ChumpDumper]

....or just pony up the $30 for a decent heatsink and fan.

[j-6]

Well, it worked like a charm. I'm loading XP on it right now. The chip was a Pentium 3 1.2 GHz salvaged from a Dell that hasn't been used in years, with a 20GB HD from the old Compaq and a 40GB hard drive from the Dell. I had to put it in a new case rather than just plugging it into the Dell because Mike down there in Round Rock decided that his product wasn't upgradable.

I didn't want to pony up any money, because in the worst case scenario, I'd just throw all this shit away and the GF would be happy. Best case, I wire this bad boy to the new Panasonic theater system in the den and put it on my wireless network.

[ChumpDumper]

P3? Hell, you probably don't even need a CPU fan for that. It might be nice having a media machine with a passive heat sink like that -- if you could stand the slowness. You'll probably need more hard drives if you plan on keeping much video on that -- but I've had good luck streaming Divx over my wireless network.

[Useruser666]

Well, it worked like a charm. I'm loading XP on it right now. The chip was a Pentium 3 1.2 GHz salvaged from a Dell that hasn't been used in years, with a 20GB HD from the old Compaq and a 40GB hard drive from the Dell. I had to put it in a new case rather than just plugging it into the Dell because Mike down there in Round Rock decided that his product wasn't upgradable.

I didn't want to pony up any money, because in the worst case scenario, I'd just throw all this shit away and the GF would be happy. Best case, I wire this bad boy to the new Panasonic theater system in the den and put it on my wireless network.

I would not recommend gluing your heatsink to your MB, your CPU to your heatsink, or any combination of those. They have cheap fans at ALtex for like $10 bucks or less that are made for the P3 and you won't have to do anything. Only thermal compound should be placed between the CPU and the heatsink. Just about anything else defeats the purpose of having a heatsink in the firstplace. A P3 doesn't really get that hot so even a case fan directed at it might be enough to keep it cool.

[j-6]

I put Arctic Silver between the heatsink and the chip, just using superglue on the corners. Then I put the superglue on the edges of the top of the heatsink and applied the fan.

If I start another topic like "Help me! My fucking computer blew up!" then I'll have a real problem. But this looks like it will work fine for a media comp.

[Nbadan]

The chip was a Pentium 3 1.2 GHz

With regular SD memory I hope you have a lot of patience and a really nice video card.

[Steve Perry]

A P3 doesn't really get that hot

Bro I Have one you can cook an egg on it after 30 seconds of turning on the PC.