Hi everyone,
I just recently built a Ryzen system with a Ryzen 1700 CPU and Gigabyte AB350 Gaming 3 mobo. I am trying to get a decent 3.8-3.9 Ghz overclock out of this chip while keeping temperatures reasonably cool. I am using a Noctua NH-D15 to cool the CPU and it indeed does a great job keeping the CPU cool. However, I've read that the Gigabyte AB350 Gaming 3 has poor VRM cooling, which concerns me. Specifically, the top VRMs for CPU NB don't have heatsinks on them at all, while the ones on the side do have a heatsink on them, but maybe it's not very good quality? Moreover, I've read that the ab350 boards were designed with the stock Wraith Spire cooler in mind that blows air over the VRMs. With an aftermarket cooler, like the D15 I have, VRM temps are going to be higher I suppose. There's a pic of the VRM configuration on this board a little down the page here: http://www.modders-inc.com/gigabyte-ab350-gaming-3-motherboard-review-fun-flexibility/2/
Anyway, I am thinking of buying some MOSFET heatsinks and thermal pads to stick on the mobo's VRMs. I would like to get some advice on how I should do this, as I have never done this before. Specifically, should I also remove the stock heatsink over the VRMs on the side and add the aftermarket pads + heatsinks, or will covering just the top, exposed VRMs be adequate?
Thanks in advance.
I just recently built a Ryzen system with a Ryzen 1700 CPU and Gigabyte AB350 Gaming 3 mobo. I am trying to get a decent 3.8-3.9 Ghz overclock out of this chip while keeping temperatures reasonably cool. I am using a Noctua NH-D15 to cool the CPU and it indeed does a great job keeping the CPU cool. However, I've read that the Gigabyte AB350 Gaming 3 has poor VRM cooling, which concerns me. Specifically, the top VRMs for CPU NB don't have heatsinks on them at all, while the ones on the side do have a heatsink on them, but maybe it's not very good quality? Moreover, I've read that the ab350 boards were designed with the stock Wraith Spire cooler in mind that blows air over the VRMs. With an aftermarket cooler, like the D15 I have, VRM temps are going to be higher I suppose. There's a pic of the VRM configuration on this board a little down the page here: http://www.modders-inc.com/gigabyte-ab350-gaming-3-motherboard-review-fun-flexibility/2/
Anyway, I am thinking of buying some MOSFET heatsinks and thermal pads to stick on the mobo's VRMs. I would like to get some advice on how I should do this, as I have never done this before. Specifically, should I also remove the stock heatsink over the VRMs on the side and add the aftermarket pads + heatsinks, or will covering just the top, exposed VRMs be adequate?
Thanks in advance.