Sound Card: Mini Dilema

[ryanbatc]

I have a PCI Creative X-fi sound card - it's one of the first XFi cards - extreme gamer or something. You can't even buy one anymore unless off ebay I suppose...

Anyway, I was about to clean out my case today and I heard a small "clank," and there I saw the heatsink off my Creative card lying hehe...

It's really small - no fan, just the metal heatsink, maybe 1.2 in square at the most. Will I be alright without this thing? Or do I need to figure out how to get it back on? Or buy a new card? Or just go with the onboard...

[juneau]

You'll be needing that heatsink.

You'll be wanting to buy an adhesive thermal pad or some Arctic Silver Thermal Expoxy and just use the adhesive. It makes a permanent connection between the heatsink and chip.

[ryanbatc]

Well I just ordered some of this off amazon:

Arctic Silver, Inc. - Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive

[juneau]

Well I just ordered some of this off amazon:

Arctic Silver, Inc. - Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive

That's the stuff.

Is there any thermal remains on the heatsink or the chip? Might be an idea to buy some cleaner if so. I use this stuff,

Akasa AK-TC TIM Clean CPU & Heatsink Cleaner
Akasa Thermal Solution

You can also use Isopropyl Alcohol.

[ryanbatc]

yeah there is a little bit - I'll just use some rubbing alcohol....will that be safe?

[juneau]

yeah there is a little bit - I'll just use some rubbing alcohol....will that be safe?

It should work fine yes as long as it's got a high alcohol percentage (90%+). Isopropyl Alcohol is usually the main ingrediant in Rubbing Alcohol. Just make sure you use a lint free cloth.

[Duke{CLR}]

yeah there is a little bit - I'll just use some rubbing alcohol....will that be safe?

I use the %93.00 stuff that you can get at a pharmacy. I have read that the %82.00 can leave a residue but I don't know if that's true.

[drunken_chef]

I use the %93.00 stuff that you can get at a pharmacy. I have read that the %82.00 can leave a residue but I don't know if that's true.

that's true. if you don't have a lint free cloth use a coffee filter.

[juneau]

I use the %93.00 stuff that you can get at a pharmacy. I have read that the %82.00 can leave a residue but I don't know if that's true.

It is true. Less alcohol means more oil.

[Duke{CLR}]

that's true. if you don't have a lint free cloth use a coffee filter.

LOL I was going to add the part about the coffee filter and I was wondering who told me about that and it could have been you Druken. I just keep rubbing with coffee filters until they are clean.

[darth_nevus]

Microfiber cloth from aneyeglass cleaning kit is just as good. dollar store trip!