Broken Northbridge Heatsink Connector

[Ken6PPC]

A friend of mine brought me a computer that he asked me to see if I can repair for him. It is a Dell 4600C, and I was told that it simply "quit working".

When I opened the case, I found the northbridge heatsink off the motherboard, and one of the connecting tabs that the retaining spring is supposed to hook into is missing. I haven't gone any further, but I'd say that is a prime suspect to be THE problem. (Certainly a contributing factor, if nothing else.)

Can this be repaired in any way, or is it new motherboard time for my friend's computer? The area around the northbridge doesn't appear to be damaged, and I didn't see any blown caps.

Thanks in advance for any and all replies! ...Ken

 

[Operandi]

Arctic Alumina Adhesive; if it works you fixed it, if it dosn't at least you tried.

 

[Cook1]

Sure it can, if the northbridge itself wasn't damaged. I would suggest this aftermarket cooler http://coolerguys.com/840556017158.html

 

[Ken6PPC]

Thanks for the replies.

Cook1, how does that heatsink attach. Is it different than the stock version, which has a spring that hooks into brackets attached to the motherboard? One of those brackets is broken off.

Thanks! ...Ken

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Ken6PPC
Thanks for the replies.

Cook1, how does that heatsink attach. Is it different than the stock version, which has a spring that hooks into brackets attached to the motherboard? One of those brackets is broken off.

Thanks! ...Ken

The HS/F Cook1 post won't work for your board since it doesn?t have the mounting holes for the push pins. Since one of the brackets is broken the only way you're going to get a heatsink on the NB is to bond it on with some sort of adhesive like the Artic Alumina in my post.

 

[Cook1]

I'm not too familuar with older hardware, keep that in mind.

But I recently broke off the lil springs and plastic part to my northbridge HSF and it was rather easy to replace because the northbridge chip itself wasn't damaged. That's key.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Arctic Alumina Adhesive; if it works you fixed it, if it dosn't at least you tried.

If you have to bond it and the Alumina scares you or is too perminent a solution I offer this.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/akshintherin.html

Using this TIM after trying to use the stuff offered at CrapUSA makes it worth the 3-4day shipping time.

The TIM that I bought from the B&M was so old, getting the peotective film off almost destroyed the pad.


...Galvanized

 

[Zepper]

I don't think the Shin Etsu pads from Akasa are marketed as an adhesive. So unless your mobo is in the horizontal position at all times, I wouldn't rely on it as an adhesive. The solution that Cook-1 suggested does come with thermal adhesive tape as one option for mounting. That stuff IS an adhesive plus TIM which should be reliable even if the mobo is mounted vertically (as in most tower cases).

.bh.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I don't think the Shin Etsu pads from Akasa are marketed as an adhesive. So unless your mobo is in the horizontal position at all times, I wouldn't rely on it as an adhesive. The solution that Cook-1 suggested does come with thermal adhesive tape as one option for mounting. That stuff IS an adhesive plus TIM which should be reliable even if the mobo is mounted vertically (as in most tower cases).

.bh.

You are so right Zepper. The light adhesive is only on one side.
The last time I used it was several months ago and the sink had retention.

My bad, sorry OP.

...Galvanized

 

[keldog7]

You don't have to bond the heatsink back on...just replace the spring-clip. Of course, I CANT tell you where you can buy the clip alone... HOWEVER, when I recently bought one of those Zalman NB-47J heatsinks (typically for attaching to a northbridge.....), it came with a few of those "spring-clips" included. When you do re-attach something to that board, just make sure you remove the previous thermal paste, and re-apply some new stuff (like AS5)
-A

 

[Ken6PPC]

You guys are all GREAT! Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies.

Here is what I discovered, and the resolution for the problem:

I entered the Service Tag number from this Dell Dimension on Dell's web site, and found out that it was still covered by an extended warranty. At first, Dell Support tried to say that it must have been accidentally damaged, which would NOT be covered by warranty. However, it was clear to me (I was looking at it & they weren't) that the attachment clip hadn't been soldered on the motherboard securely in the first place. It wasn't actually BROKEN off - the bracket for the spring clip simply pulled out of its mounting holes in the motherboard. Therefore, it was a manufacturing defect, and I finally convinced them that was the case.

Dell is sending a service technician to the computer owner's house to replace the motherboard.

Hooray for Dell Customer Support! (At least - THIS time..... )