please help!!! broke screw that retains chipset

HI! i need some help. i have a gateway p6831fx and wanted to change the thermal paste again .(i did successfully 15 months ago) BUT i ran into some troubles and wanted to know if its fixable.

First i busted the thermal pad that cools the chipset , and i was wondering what thickness it has so i can buy it on ebay(this is the easy one)

The WORST one is that i overtightened screw #5 (the one that is nearest to the chipset) and it came of with the part that holds it

now english is not my first language so describing it its hard.

the thing is that screw number 1,2,3,4 on the heat-pipe are OK and i can screw them to the motherboard , but screw #5 i cant anymore, the part that holds(the one that is soldered? to the motherboard) it came loose and is stuck with the screw so the heat-pipe has screw #5 and the part that holds it to the mobo

So i was wondering if i can solder that part to the motherboard(don't know if it was soldered to begin with) and tighten screw #5

please if i don't make sense, tell me so i can explain my self better
i appreciate the help

BTW the laptop is ok it turns on and stays in 50c idle cpu and 60c idle chipsetm the gpu is 45c idle(i just wanted to see of it turns on)

 

hope someone that reads this can point me in the right direction

 

First of all, Calm down.
Second, the screw that you are referring to is what holds down the part of the cooler over the Northbridge and the temps that you are quoting may not be completely accurate for the chipset.
Third you can repair it and the screw is not absolutely necessary. Notice how its got the spring under the head of the screw? Its not putting a whole lot of pressure on the chip as the mechanical connection is only under as much pressure as the spring will apply, unless you over tighten it and then well you end up with a broken screw!
Fourth, you CAN get a copper shim for the northbridge that measures 11mm x 11mm x 0.9mm, I would then either use some thermal epoxy made by artic silver or just use some ICD7 on both sides of the shim, on the top part I would consider putting a little extra as that part of the HS is not under the pressure that it normally is so you want to ensure its covering the gap.
Fifth, you will know if you Northbridge is overheating if you start to experience random crashes, freezes, BSOD, etc. Keep an eye out on the temps if this starts to happen, if possible try and run a logger so you can see when it happens, although I think after you do this you'll be fine, LOTS of systems don't even have a HS on the northbridge!

Z

 

thanks for your repply but I think i didnt explain my self , let me try again.

The screw #5 is fine the problem is the part where the screw tigthens.
i overtigthen the screw and it came off, so that means that screw #5 is not aplying preasure to the northbridge

heres a picture
http://yfrog.com/5eusarjj

 

no I completely understand, you need to reread what I wrote. Not being able to tighten down screw #5 is seriously not that big of a deal, follow the steps I listed, you will be fine! A northbridge cooler/HS is NOT a necessity!

Z

 

Agreed! 10

 

thanks, but i tighten screw 1,2,3,4 which make pressure to the cpu, and when i did a 5 second benchmark the temps rose to 80c and the fans would spin like crazy (hw monitor) before they only get to 65c on a summer day while gaming
which means that i do need to tighten screw number 5 because the cpu temp rose to 80c
I will follow your advice on 1mm copper shim(i could even try a 1mm thermal pad ?)

 

guy, I've really tried to help you here but if you are going to come here and tell the people that give you advise that they are wrong then maybe you need to be the one solving your own problems. The CPU temp you refer to has almost NOTHING to do with your northbridge. Since you have already shown to have a kung-fu grip I change my recommendation. Take an aluminum baseball bat, grip it tight, place laptop on a T-ball stand and swing away. This should take care of all your screw problems!

PS. For verification on what I had previously advised I went ahead and unscrewed my #5 screw on my 7815 and played a little SC2, No problems here, and no change at all in temps.

Z

 

Hey calm down, i do appreciate the help given. all that i'm stating is that i the heatpipe is not making good contact to the cpu if i don't tighten screw#5.
My cpu temps rise 25c more in seconds when i do a cpu test.
I do see your logic. and i'm even following it.
relax!

 

something else is wrong then, you have 4 screws holding down your cpu, screw 5 should not be applying any pressure to your cpu at all, maybe you need to reapply a good TIM.

Z

 

TY Zman yes , maybe i need to do that(BUY BETTER QUALITY TIM) ,TBH i feel better knowing that the 5th screw doesn't apply pressure to the cpu. i'm ordering a 1mm copper shim , i just asked the guy in ebay if he can sell me the measure that you gave me, and i'll buy some artic silver.