GA - X58 - USB3. NorthBridge Cooling

[Kazzar]

I am building my first PC and I have based it on the above motherboard.

The installation guide refers to fitting a NorthBridge cooler.  I notice there is an extensive heatsink on the NorthBridge (plus a connection via copper pipe to another chip set??). I am using the Zalman CNPS9700 cooler for the processor.

Do I need a further cooler for the Northbridge? I am not planning to overclock my motherboard (at least not yet), and I can't find antyhing suitable on line. Zalman offer heatsink only coolers for the Northbridge claiming they mean you dont need a fan, but these don't look any more effieicnt than the factory fitted one.

Thanks for the help,  I am newby to this!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

You don't really need to mess with the heatsink on the northbridge on these boards unless you are planning to overclock or will be running a lot of heavy duty graphics or something like that. The stock cooler work fairly well as standard.

[Kazzar]

Many thanks for the advice.  I'll let you know if I see smoke this weekend!

Kazzar