Modding your stock heatsink - Overclock.net

logan · 06-28-08

So, I thought that I would do something that I've never heard of anyone ever doing before... lapping, a stock heatsink, and adding a high CFM fan on to complete the deal. The reason that I did this, is mostly because I bought my current rig with an emphasis on being cheap and i just cant justify spending $40 on a cooler right now... plus i had fun, which is really what it comes down to.

I used parts and materials that I had laying around to do it all. I used a SilverStone FM81 fan (92mm fan in a 80mm fan body, 78cfm), a 2x4 and a some wet/dry sandpaper (finest I had was 600 grit, but it was WAY worn out)

I'll spare you all the details, but after all of the drilling, sanding and lapping were over, I got this. I actually think that it kinda looks cool on the inside (the wood grain darkened when i used an air dremmel with a sander on it, creating a swirl effect). The hardest part by FAR was trying to get the bottom "machined" right so that it would attach to the factory heatsink just like the OEM fan.

More important than the fact that I got it to go together, is that when i had it back on my computer, I saw an immediate temp decrease... even at the lowest fan speed (1900rpm). I saw an even bigger improvement when i spooled the fan up to full speed (3800rpm). Here's what I got.

ambient is 23-24c

Stock: Idle 28c, Load 50c*

1900rpm: Idle 26c, load 48c

3800rpm: Idle 24c, Load 43c

* with the stock fan, the cpu would start to throttle back, trying to get the temps back to 50c

Obviously this isn't the best cooling setup, but its better than what I had (plus it was free), and once the AS5 has time to cure, it should go down even more. So just in case any of you have been wondering " I wonder if i could lap my stock HSF?"... the answer is yes, yes you can, and you can see a pretty decent results from it too.

**gibsonnova74** · 06-28-08

Nicely done. I like to see people experiment with the stock parts to keep costs down. These days, with everything being so expensive, you have to cut costs where you can! Rep+

logan · 06-28-08

Thanks.... I think that working on stuff yourself is what OCin (or hot rodding... love the nova btw) is all about, you get way more out of the experience than just owning stuff. Now my next project... homemade custom case.

Hewlett-Packard · 07-28-08

Hey that wooden fan mount is cool! How did you attach it to the HS?

logan · 07-28-08

Whoops, I forgot to take a picture from that angle (showing the bottom).

The stock fan is attached by 4 clips that catch on a lip that is about 1/8th on an inch tall that runs around the base of the fan. So all I had to do was cut a replica of the fan out of the bottom of the 2x4 (so, a 70mmx70mm square that was now raised above the rest of the wood) and then cut the groves on two sides and drill some holes.

Its pretty complicated sounding, but I'll post some more pics this week or so (I'm building the hardwood case this week, so i'll be pulling everything apart anyway). The cool thing is that the fan and adapter clip on and off just like the stock fan, so i can change it back any time i want.

EDIT:
I used a radial arm saw to do all of the cuts.

**txtmstrjoe** · 07-28-08

Superbly done!

**mega_option101** · 07-28-08

Looks Great

Thanks for sharing

bookoo605 · 07-28-08

Very Nice! I kinda did the same thing, mine was made out of cardboard and duct tape.

nafljhy · 07-28-08

nice! i like that kind of creativity! +rep!

Hewlett-Packard · 07-30-08

Can't wait for pictures of the bottom then, probably because I have no idea what exactly you was talking abouts

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Modding your stock heatsink

07-28-08	#8 (permalink)
bookoo605 New to Overclock.net Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 33 Rep: 1 Unique Rep: 1 Trader Rating: 0	Very Nice! I kinda did the same thing, mine was made out of cardboard and duct tape.

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