Octopus Overlords

The main Creative Labs Audigy chip is running hot and I'd like to add a chip to it. I'd hope it woudl look ilke the heatsinks you can get for video card RAM. The dimensions are 28mm x 28mm.

Thanks for the help!

How can you tell a soundcard is running hot?

I touch it. I was first clued in when playing agame that uses EAX3 to the max (Rome Total War), and the longer I play, the more crackling I get. It's getting too hot.

You probably need better cooling for your whole case then, not just the card. What are your temps like?

ok, was just curious, You know cooling works better with the case all put together.

My case is just fine. I have FOUR 120 mm fans. 2 pull air in, and 2 exhaust out. My case temps hover around 30C, so my case temps are not a problems whatsoever.

Rookiecaf - you being silly? My case is all together - hehe.

This is my case. It's the Antec P160 http://www.antec.com/us/pro_en_performance1.html

I'd just get a northbridge heatsink and cut it to size. You could also get an old socket 7 cpu cooler and cut it to size.

Cut it? Are you kidding? How would I do that? Wouldn't it make the cut edge really rough?

YOu can use a dremel, hack saw, or a jig saw. The jig saw would be tough, though. Then, once you cut it, you sand the side(s) you cut. If you have a dremel, you can use the dremel to do the sanding.

Technically, if you have room, you could just leave the heatsink alone and put it on. Just make sure it doesn't contact anything it shouldn't.

Unless you don't care about noise levels at all, I would get a passive Zalman if it will fit (trying to picture in head what the chip on the Audigy board looks like).

I like my computers quiet, so I actually use on of these on my vid card (9600 Pro), and it works great, not to mention it's cheap (less than $8 I think).

Now that I read your post again, I see you have FOUR fans...uhhh...scratch my comment about noise...heh. Even so, I am sure the Zalman will be more than sufficient, and won't increase pwr requirements as well.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 202&depa=0

I use the one above, but I saw this one too:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 214&depa=0

You can also buy ram sinks at places like SVC, but I like the northbridge suggestion above better, unless the dimensions don't work for your configuration. SVC also has a selection of northbridge coolers in varying styles and sizes.

I so wanted the Zalman option, but they're 9mm too big.

I've never heard of a soundcard overheating or needing extra cooling, thats all. Sometimes people run their cases with the sides or covers off and run into heat problems that way. Thats what I was getting at.

You have waaaaay to much free time on your hands..