gerry wrote on 2025-07-03, 10:01:

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-02, 23:32:

I think I spent $100 on this Socket A heatsink.

The attachment IMG_9047.JPG is no longer available

it looks interesting though, did it work any better than a more typical alternative? i guess it's all about airflow from the look of it. Actually looks like something an engineering boss might have on his desk to recall the times they actually did the engineering...

If I remember correctly it was a CNC operator from Oregon that made and sold them on a tech forum. No It wasn't very good and it's heavy so It wasn't very reassuring just hanging on the tabs of the socket.

gerry wrote on 2025-07-03, 10:01:

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-02, 23:32:

I think I spent $100 on this Socket A heatsink.

The attachment IMG_9047.JPG is no longer available

it looks interesting though, did it work any better than a more typical alternative? i guess it's all about airflow from the look of it. Actually looks like something an engineering boss might have on his desk to recall the times they actually did the engineering...

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to
- choose a material with a low specific heat (like copper) for the heatsink
- optimize contact between the heatsink and what it's meant to draw heat from
- maximize surface of the heat sink
- facilitate air flow through the heatsink so that as much of its exposed surface area is exposed to the airflow
- keep airflow directed and ideally funneled in a way that facilitates expulsion of heated air from the chassis

The above is non exhaustive, of course and may not be completely accurately (please correct me as needed).

Based on the above it's hard for me to imagine how that hollowed out cube, while pretty, would be more effective than the time tested approach of thin fins with airflow flowing in parallel with the plane of said fins.

To me, this look like a potentially misguidedly over-engineered suboptimal gimmick that puts form over function (and is probably rather expensive to manufacture) UNLESS maybe there is more to it than just blowing air through it and/or I'm missing the point.

darry wrote on 2025-07-03, 17:34:

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to […]
Show full quote

gerry wrote on 2025-07-03, 10:01:

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-02, 23:32:

I think I spent $100 on this Socket A heatsink.

The attachment IMG_9047.JPG is no longer available

it looks interesting though, did it work any better than a more typical alternative? i guess it's all about airflow from the look of it. Actually looks like something an engineering boss might have on his desk to recall the times they actually did the engineering...

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to
- choose a material with a low specific heat (like copper) for the heatsink
- optimize contact between the heatsink and what it's meant to draw heat from
- maximize surface of the heat sink
- facilitate air flow through the heatsink so that as much of its exposed surface area is exposed to the airflow
- keep airflow directed and ideally funneled in a way that facilitates expulsion of heated air from the chassis

The above is non exhaustive, of course and may not be completely accurately (please correct me as needed).

Based on the above it's hard for me to imagine how that hollowed out cube, while pretty, would be more effective than the time tested approach of thin fins with airflow flowing in parallel with the plane of said fins.

To me, this look like a potentially misguidedly over-engineered suboptimal gimmick that puts form over function (and is probably rather expensive to manufacture) UNLESS maybe there is more to it than just blowing air through it and/or I'm missing the point.

That's why I posted it here, I was young and dumb and didn't know any better. The guy who created it I'm sure wasn't trying to screw anyone this was just best thing he came up with.

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-03, 23:53:

darry wrote on 2025-07-03, 17:34:

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to […]
Show full quote

gerry wrote on 2025-07-03, 10:01:

it looks interesting though, did it work any better than a more typical alternative? i guess it's all about airflow from the look of it. Actually looks like something an engineering boss might have on his desk to recall the times they actually did the engineering...

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to
- choose a material with a low specific heat (like copper) for the heatsink
- optimize contact between the heatsink and what it's meant to draw heat from
- maximize surface of the heat sink
- facilitate air flow through the heatsink so that as much of its exposed surface area is exposed to the airflow
- keep airflow directed and ideally funneled in a way that facilitates expulsion of heated air from the chassis

The above is non exhaustive, of course and may not be completely accurately (please correct me as needed).

Based on the above it's hard for me to imagine how that hollowed out cube, while pretty, would be more effective than the time tested approach of thin fins with airflow flowing in parallel with the plane of said fins.

To me, this look like a potentially misguidedly over-engineered suboptimal gimmick that puts form over function (and is probably rather expensive to manufacture) UNLESS maybe there is more to it than just blowing air through it and/or I'm missing the point.

That's why I posted it here, I was young and dumb and didn't know any better. The guy who created it I'm sure wasn't trying to screw anyone this was just best thing he came up with.

I mean, it looks interesting. Got the cheese grater look of a modern Mac Pro decades before it. I wonder how well it would perform with one of those higher velocity server fans.

emu34b wrote on 2025-07-09, 19:16:

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-03, 23:53:

darry wrote on 2025-07-03, 17:34:

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to […]
Show full quote

I'm going mostly by intuition here, but my "understanding" is that the the general design objectives/considerations would be to
- choose a material with a low specific heat (like copper) for the heatsink
- optimize contact between the heatsink and what it's meant to draw heat from
- maximize surface of the heat sink
- facilitate air flow through the heatsink so that as much of its exposed surface area is exposed to the airflow
- keep airflow directed and ideally funneled in a way that facilitates expulsion of heated air from the chassis

The above is non exhaustive, of course and may not be completely accurately (please correct me as needed).

Based on the above it's hard for me to imagine how that hollowed out cube, while pretty, would be more effective than the time tested approach of thin fins with airflow flowing in parallel with the plane of said fins.

To me, this look like a potentially misguidedly over-engineered suboptimal gimmick that puts form over function (and is probably rather expensive to manufacture) UNLESS maybe there is more to it than just blowing air through it and/or I'm missing the point.

That's why I posted it here, I was young and dumb and didn't know any better. The guy who created it I'm sure wasn't trying to screw anyone this was just best thing he came up with.

I mean, it looks interesting. Got the cheese grater look of a modern Mac Pro decades before it. I wonder how well it would perform with one of those higher velocity server fans.

With enough air pressure, I suspect it wouldn't be terrible. However, unless noise is not an issue, a higher velocity server fan might be rather annoying. I suspect that a Thermalright SK-6 would likely be better, everything else being equal.

EDIT: There is a review here : https://www.overclockers.com/the-core/ (in case the images don't load https://web.archive.org/web/20100531003337/ht … s.com/the-core/ ) I believe that's the same cooler.

darry wrote on 2025-07-09, 20:33:

emu34b wrote on 2025-07-09, 19:16:

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-03, 23:53:

That's why I posted it here, I was young and dumb and didn't know any better. The guy who created it I'm sure wasn't trying to screw anyone this was just best thing he came up with.

I mean, it looks interesting. Got the cheese grater look of a modern Mac Pro decades before it. I wonder how well it would perform with one of those higher velocity server fans.

With enough air pressure, I suspect it wouldn't be terrible. However, unless noise is not an issue, a higher velocity server fan might be rather annoying. I suspect that a Thermalright SK-6 would likely be better, everything else being equal.

EDIT: There is a review here : https://www.overclockers.com/the-core/ (in case the images don't load https://web.archive.org/web/20100531003337/ht … s.com/the-core/ ) I believe that's the same cooler.

That's awesome that you found it. I think I bought it from Frosty tech, and they list at $65 and came with a 6800 rpm Delta fan.

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-07-09, 22:18:

darry wrote on 2025-07-09, 20:33:

emu34b wrote on 2025-07-09, 19:16:

I mean, it looks interesting. Got the cheese grater look of a modern Mac Pro decades before it. I wonder how well it would perform with one of those higher velocity server fans.

With enough air pressure, I suspect it wouldn't be terrible. However, unless noise is not an issue, a higher velocity server fan might be rather annoying. I suspect that a Thermalright SK-6 would likely be better, everything else being equal.

EDIT: There is a review here : https://www.overclockers.com/the-core/ (in case the images don't load https://web.archive.org/web/20100531003337/ht … s.com/the-core/ ) I believe that's the same cooler.

That's awesome that you found it. I think I bought it from Frosty tech, and they list at $65 and came with a 6800 rpm Delta fan.

Frostytech review :
https://www.frostytech.com/articles/699/index.html

Manufacturer web site with links to other reviews :
https://web.archive.org/web/20011108112005/ht … Category_Code=C

Bought one of those PCI-E versions of FX 5500 only to find out they're from AliExpress and that they contain capacitors that need to be replaced. I don't know where to even go with that. Never done soldering before.

PCI*

Back in the 80s I bought a VZ-200 computer, with some programs on cassette, plus the extra RAM module, the Floppy Disk controller module, and the Floppy Drive. It all worked, but I hardly ever used it.

Recently I tried to use it again, but now the main unit has issues (wrong colours, keeps crashing), and my cassette player died.

So, in reality, it was all a giant waste of time and money. I'm ready to throw it all away when I get around to it.

Robbbert wrote on 2025-07-09, 23:58:

Back in the 80s I bought a VZ-200 computer, with some programs on cassette, plus the extra RAM module, the Floppy Disk controller module, and the Floppy Drive. It all worked, but I hardly ever used it.

Recently I tried to use it again, but now the main unit has issues (wrong colours, keeps crashing), and my cassette player died.

So, in reality, it was all a giant waste of time and money. I'm ready to throw it all away when I get around to it.

Likely repairable. Cassette player likely needs a new belt. Main unit might just need some new caps or redone solder joints. If you don't want to repair and keep it, you could sell it with no guarantees or donate it for cost of shipping.

MrSegfault wrote on 2025-07-09, 23:33:

Bought one of those PCI-E versions of FX 5500 only to find out they're from AliExpress and that they contain capacitors that need to be replaced. I don't know where to even go with that. Never done soldering before.

Are the capacitors actually visibly bad or just of known bad quality ?

darry wrote on 2025-07-10, 00:40:

MrSegfault wrote on 2025-07-09, 23:33:

Bought one of those PCI-E versions of FX 5500 only to find out they're from AliExpress and that they contain capacitors that need to be replaced. I don't know where to even go with that. Never done soldering before.

Are the capacitors actually visibly bad or just of known bad quality ?

They're the crappy blue Sacon capacitors (FZ) that several VOGONS users have warned about in different threads.
Should've done more research on this before buying the card..

https://caps.wiki/wiki/FORSA_Geforce_FX5500

MrSegfault wrote on 2025-07-10, 05:20:

They're the crappy blue Sacon capacitors (FZ) that several VOGONS users have warned about in different threads. Should've done m […]
Show full quote

darry wrote on 2025-07-10, 00:40:

MrSegfault wrote on 2025-07-09, 23:33:

Bought one of those PCI-E versions of FX 5500 only to find out they're from AliExpress and that they contain capacitors that need to be replaced. I don't know where to even go with that. Never done soldering before.

Are the capacitors actually visibly bad or just of known bad quality ?

They're the crappy blue Sacon capacitors (FZ) that several VOGONS users have warned about in different threads.
Should've done more research on this before buying the card..

https://caps.wiki/wiki/FORSA_Geforce_FX5500

If you're not comfortable doing the replacements yourself, you can hopefully find a TV/cellphone/etc repair shop nearby that can do it for you.

I am lucky enough to have such a place close to where I live.

I've had the good fortune of never really having bought a piece of hardware that I really had any regrets about, though I'm sure I passed up some really neat things by being overly cautious. There are some vintage hardware purchases that I've been disappointed in, but nothing at the time it was new.

Cheaply made poor quality components.
Don’t put poor quality components in your computers.

I like to stick with reputable name brand computers and components .
Guys, i have worked with computers since the 1980’s
I have seen allot of stuff and experienced allot of failures.
I have worked in classrooms full of computers performing hundreds of OS installations every week.
Microsoft, Apple, UNIX, linux.
I have seen allot of stuff in the classrooms and in business.
From the 1980 untin today.

Put quality name brand components in your computers.
Use business class workstation grade components.
If you build your own computer use quality components.

Build a “Best Value” computer which means the best bang for buck using quality components.

Can't trust even the quality stuff today. From Asrock boards frying CPUs and gigabyte psu killing machines and even ASUS being trash.

Also Guy’s
One of the first things you should do is get a surge protector for all your electrical outlets and appliances and electronics.
This is one of the main reasons electronics get damages by electrical current power spikes on the power lines.
A backup power source for your primary pc too.
Also don’t go cheap on your power supply. Get a good quality power supply.

I regret about a Dell T3500, the motherboard has been limited to 150-160 W on the pci express x16. It burnt my 980 Ti....

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2025-07-19, 19:18:

Also Guy’s One of the first things you should do is get a surge protector for all your electrical outlets and appliances and ele […]
Show full quote

Also Guy’s
One of the first things you should do is get a surge protector for all your electrical outlets and appliances and electronics.
This is one of the main reasons electronics get damages by electrical current power spikes on the power lines.
A backup power source for your primary pc too.
Also don’t go cheap on your power supply. Get a good quality power supply.

Surge protector only protects in one direction and most are pretty damn useless at even that, my recommendation is to get an industrial 2/4 plug RCD&Surge protector box, never cheap out on these devices by buying some cheap brand name surge protector board, seriously the brand name boards are pretty much useless for surge protection PCs require.

I can recommend a UPS with power conditioning, it'll smooth out transient power spikes from your grid while making sure you have enough time to shutdown due to power loss.

PSU units ..even the good ones can be utter shite, I had a nice Corsair AXi1200 that took out an expensive PC ...turns out its was due to a fault that Corsair later admitted to and recalled the units along with killing off the AXI1200 and replacing it with a new version. So even the good power supplies can be subject to problems so lots of research and reading user reviews is recommended for any "Good" quality parts.