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OCD Mainboard Insulation Guide

Since we are currently the only Team in Malaysia that really do Extreme Cooling benching, I though it is good to have a guide for local benchers reference if ever they want to do Extreme Benching one day. Ever since I got started with Extreme Benching, I did countless of different insulation method, mostly through guides and informations from Xtremesystems.ORG and OCXtreme.ORG. Here I would like to share one of the most effective Mainboard Insulation for high humidity country like Malaysia. MSI X58 Eclipse SLI was used as the example in this Mainboard Insulation Guide.


Needed Tools
Faber-Castell Art Eraser
Faber-Castell Boutique @ Sunway Pyramid 2 LG floor : RM1.20 each or RM1.20 x 18 each box

Insulation foam
An air-con shop located at Subang SS15, few shops away next to Maybank. Price vary from its thickness. I use 1/4” and 3/8” thickness foam. They do have insulation tube and insulation tape (sticky).

Industry grade towel
Ace Hardware : RM14.00 each roll

Blade, Scissor, Tissue, Paper, Ear Digger, Masking Tape
Any stationary shops

Thermal Interface Metarial
Lowyat Plaza, Imbi Plaza : RM30 for one tube of OCZ Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound

CPU Pot and Mounting Kit
Custom made.

Note: Faber-Castell Art Eraser can be replaced with Blu-Tack, Clay. Ear Digger can be replaced with wooden stick or something similar and tiny, best if its not electrically conductive.


Insulation-Prep


Materials gathered before get started.




Faber-Castell Art Eraser is well-known among Extreme Benchers in XtremeSystem


The CPU Socket area before insulation.


If there is any sticker you want to prevent from peeling off while removing insulation, cut a small piece of paper along with masking tape and cover it. Idea from our great OC Legend, Shamino.

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Step 1 - Applying Faber-Castell Art Eraser


Apply Faber-Castell Art Eraser around the CPU Socket area, spots which are easy to reach.




Cover up the whole PWM area. Use a ear digger to ease the job.






Sharp edges also need to be taken care off.

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Step 2 - Applying Insulation Foam

A good insulation is to justified through the time/period it can stay up for Extreme Cooling before it is down with condesation. Definately the longer it is the better it is. From my experience, it is important to keep the CPU Socket area is air tight to avoid early condensation. Therefore, make sure you try your best to ensure your insulation for the CPU Socket area is air tight as much as you possible. The insulation foam size depends on your motherboard layout.


Customize the insulation foam with Motherboard Capasitors accordingly. I use 3/8" thickness foam for this First Layer Insulation Foam.


A piece of insulation foam to be placed on the backplate before installing it.


First Layer Insulation with the backplate installed.


Place another layer of insulation foam customized according to your CPU Pot. use 1/4" thickness foam for this Second Layer Insulation Foam. The size is usually bigger that the first layer after the presure of the CPU Pot is taken into consideration.


Customized-size Industrial Grade Tower to be placed on top the insulation foam.

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Step 3 - CPU Pot Installation

Before mounting your CPU Pot, apply some TIM on the Pot surface to check the contact between CPU Pot and Processor. Spread some portions of TIM in the middle/center and every corners. Then hold your pot down towards the processor. The contact is good to go if the TIM spread 'evenly'. As for the TIM, i prefer to use Arctic Silver Ceramique or OCZ Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound.


Check the contact between CPU Pot and processor before mounting it.




If the contact between CPU Pot and processor is good, the TIM should spread 'evenly'.


Once the contact between CPU Pot and processor is confirmed well, add little more TIM. The middle/center part is most important. Then hold your pot tight and mount it.


Place a few layer towel (according your own preference) around the pot after mounting the CPU Pot for better condensation control.








Finally, stuff in some tissue if you are worry about condensation around the edges.

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Conclusion

Sorry for this simple guide, but still i hope it can be a good reference to Malaysia OverClockers to get started in Extreme OverClocking. Special thanks to MSI Malaysia that loaned us the MSI X58 Eclipse SLI for this guide.

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i hope that soon Malaysia OCer will jump into extreme OCing!

Best of luck to you TS!