What it is ? Heatsink to ground ? (Matrox G450) \ VOGONS

What it is ? Heatsink to ground ? (Matrox G450)

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First post, by acl

Posted on 2025-01-05, 16:11

acl Offline

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I received a G450 in a lot that have something i never seen elsewhere : a wire from the heatsink to what seems to be the ground of a fan connector.
Have you ever seen that ? What is it for ?

Thank you very much

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Reply 1 of 5, by majinga

Posted on 2025-01-05, 18:38

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Seem for ESD protection. A very paranoid ESD protection.

Reply 2 of 5, by acl

Posted on 2025-01-05, 19:07

acl Offline

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majinga wrote on 2025-01-05, 18:38:

Seem for ESD protection. A very paranoid ESD protection.

That should work. I guess that the ground stays connected even if the system is not running.

Your idea also made me think about some kind of electromagnetic noise that could somehow affect the VGA signal. But I've never seen that system anywhere else...

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Reply 3 of 5, by soggi

Posted on 2025-01-06, 01:05

soggi Offline

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I also have some G450 cards and noticed this many years ago, also never saw this on other boards.

kind regards
soggi

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Reply 4 of 5, by StriderTR

Posted on 2025-01-06, 01:17

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acl wrote on 2025-01-05, 19:07:

majinga wrote on 2025-01-05, 18:38:

Seem for ESD protection. A very paranoid ESD protection.

That should work. I guess that the ground stays connected even if the system is not running.

Your idea also made me think about some kind of electromagnetic noise that could somehow affect the VGA signal. But I've never seen that system anywhere else...

I recall people doing this a long time ago, with those exact two reasons being discussed. Didn't get it back then, don't get it now. 😜

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Reply 5 of 5, by acl

Posted on 2025-01-07, 14:05

acl Offline

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Ok, so maybe some G450 batches were modified.
Thanks !

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