LaFonera Hardware Cooling-System

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The CPU is 14x14mm. -[[User:Hal|Hal]] 16:24, 27 Apr 2007 (CEST) The CPU is 14x14mm. -[[User:Hal|Hal]] 16:24, 27 Apr 2007 (CEST)
-===Instructions for removing the heatsink & Heatspreader thing===+===Instructions for removing the heatsink & RF shielding===
-Due to a request above, this is how I removed the heatsink and thin metal heatspreader thing (not sure what useful purpose it is serving).+Due to a request above, this is how I removed the heatsink and RF shielding.
-The Heatsink is fixed to the PCB with two metal pins that are connected to the heatsink, and go through the PCB. The ends of the pins are enlarged on the other side of the PCB with what looks like metal melted onto them, but it doesn't seem to be solder, at least it would not melt for me with a soldering iron. Cutting off these bits didn't work well for me. I got one side of the heatsink loose that way, but it is dangerous, as you are cutting close to the PCB. I only say this in case it seems like an easier way that what I suggest+The Heatsink is fixed to the PCB with two metal pins that are connected to the heatsink, and go through the PCB. The ends of the pins connected with small balls of solder.
- +
-'''<span style="color:red;font-size:200%;">Warning! -</span> <span style="color:red;">These steps are not reversible! You can't re attach the heatsink the way it was after taking it off, you have to find another way to mount it directly onto the CPU. Once you start, you can't decide to stop half way through, as you will probably have small metal shavings fall through the holes on the heatspreader which could short circit things.''' </span> Of course once you finish, the heatspreader is off, so you can make sure there are no metal shavings to cause problems http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/663/smile1ke1.gif .+
====Tools==== ====Tools====
-[[Image:Junior_Hacksaw.jpg|right|thumb|A Junior Hacksaw. You only need a blade, not the whole saw.]]+#A soldering iron. Mine was set to 850 deg F, but it may not need to be that hot. One report shows that a 25W iron may not be hot enough.
-For this method you will need:+#Small flat-head screwdriver or similar to pry with.
-#A '''junior''' hacksaw blade (the small kind, not the full size hacksaw blades). Here is a photo to avoid confusion:+
-#A pair of mini pliers. Needle nose pliers will probably be ok, but mini pliers are best due to the small scale of the LaFonera.+
-#and or a pair of mini clippers/wire cutters.+
====How to do it==== ====How to do it====
=====Removing the Heatsink===== =====Removing the Heatsink=====
-As I said earlier, the heatsink is fixed on with two metal pins. To get it off we need to cut through these. That is what the small hacksaw blade is for.+#Heat your iron.
-#[[LaFonera_Hardware_Disassembling|Disassemble your LaFonera, and completely remove the PCB from the case]]. You may want to use an anti static wrist strap and perhaps an anti static mat depending on how paranoid you are. If you don't use either then at least ground yourself by touching a bare metal pipe, metal on a pc case or something else.+#While applying outward pressure on the heat sink, heat both large pins on the bottom of the board. The solder flowed right onto my iron, without any flux or desoldering braid. You may need to use a solder sucker or braid to remove it.
-#Now that the PCB is out of the case, make sure you can see how the heatsink is attached (the pins) then it is up to you how to hold it. You can either place the board on a table, or hold it in your hand as you cut.[[Image:Remove_heatsink_saw.png|frame|Saw blade should be at this kind of angle]]+#Once the solder is gone, use a screwdriver or other implement to lift the heatsink off the RF shield. It's attached with thermal tape.
-#If your junior/small/whatever hacksaw blade is in a hacksaw frame, remove it from the frame. You will use it by hand without the frame. You are going to cut the pins where the heatsink meets the thin metal heatspreader. This way you are nowhere near anything on the board, so it is very hard to screw up and break something.+
-#Starting with either pin, place the hacksaw blade flat on the heatspreader and carefully start to saw under the corner of the heatsink, something like the picture on the right. The blade will be slightly too thick to get under the heatsink, so you will need to let it cut through a little of the corner until it reaches the pin. Don't apply to much pressure towards the heatsink, or the saw will get stuck. Start with about 3 light back strokes with the blade, then start sawing forwards and backwards normally. It should not be hard, or take long to cut the pin.+
-#Repeat for the other pin.+
-#When both pins are cut you will be able to rotate the heatsink left or right quite easily, but not very far before you get some resistance. This is the thermal pad. Twist the heatsink in one direction until it comes away from the heatspreader. Actually, I didn't do this, but you could try keeping the heatsink attached with the thermal pad, and use it to help you pull off the metal heatspreader in the next part. Up to you.+
=====Removing the heatspreader===== =====Removing the heatspreader=====
Next the heatspreader needs to be removed to access the CPU directly. In theory you can get the top piece off without damaging it. It just clips on to the bottom of the heatspreader all the way round. Next the heatspreader needs to be removed to access the CPU directly. In theory you can get the top piece off without damaging it. It just clips on to the bottom of the heatspreader all the way round.
-No special instructions needed, just try to unfasten a clip while pushing it up. Mine did not want to come off, so I resorted to the mini pliers and pulled it off, which destroyed it (it is not needed after this, so it doesn't matter if you break it).+No special instructions needed, just try to unfasten a clip while pushing it up. I used a small screwdriver to pop up all the tabs around the edges.
Now you can see the black CPU. If the thermal pad is still on it, take it off. It should come of very easily without leaving anything on the CPU to clean off. Now you can see the black CPU. If the thermal pad is still on it, take it off. It should come of very easily without leaving anything on the CPU to clean off.
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Now you can re mount the original small heatsink onto the CPU if you are going to re-use it. The most reliable way will be to use thermal epoxy. I recommend using [http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_alumina_thermal_adhesive.htm Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive]. Note - although that page says "''Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive IS NOT intended to be used between a CPU and the CPU heatsink.''" this means conventional PC CPUs and heatsinks which are designed with their own mounting system to hold them in place. It is fine to use in this instance. You can also use [http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_thermal_adhesive.htm Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive] (which will have slightly better conductivity) if you are careful not to get any on the PCB when you mount the heatsink. Now you can re mount the original small heatsink onto the CPU if you are going to re-use it. The most reliable way will be to use thermal epoxy. I recommend using [http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_alumina_thermal_adhesive.htm Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive]. Note - although that page says "''Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive IS NOT intended to be used between a CPU and the CPU heatsink.''" this means conventional PC CPUs and heatsinks which are designed with their own mounting system to hold them in place. It is fine to use in this instance. You can also use [http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_thermal_adhesive.htm Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive] (which will have slightly better conductivity) if you are careful not to get any on the PCB when you mount the heatsink.
-'''Make sure you blow away any metal shavings from the sawing before powering up your LaFonera again.'''+If you want to mount a larger heatsink then you will probably need to remove the lower RF shield frame, which the RF shield clips on to. This is how.
- +
-If you want to mount a larger heatsink then you will probably need to remove the lower heatspreader frame, which the heatspreader clips on to. This is how.+
#Using the clippers cut each of the frame's corners vertically so that you have 4 separate straight sections. #Using the clippers cut each of the frame's corners vertically so that you have 4 separate straight sections.
#Bend up each straight section to get rid of the fold. #Bend up each straight section to get rid of the fold.
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-[[User:Hal|Hal]] 22:59, 28 Apr 2007 (CEST) -[[User:Hal|Hal]] 22:59, 28 Apr 2007 (CEST)
 +-Edits by [[User:Daemondust|Daemondust]] 23:31, 2 May 2007 (CEST)
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Revision as of 21:31, 2 May 2007

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Contents

La Fonera Fan Modification

Image:Fon1.JPG


So these things run pretty hot... And if any of the pictures I've seen are true I'm not looking forward to my case melting and destroying itself. Also not a big fan of capacitors that will only last 382 days at standard heat rating of this unit.

So to extend the life of this nifty little unit we shall simply add a clutch looking fan to the top. (how the fan looks is not really significant to its operation)

What we need

  • Fonera
  • Small Laptop Fan
  • Switch(optional)
  • Screw Driver
  • Soldering Iron
  • Solder
  • Really Small Wire
  • Resistors (optional,size depends on fan needs)
  • Pliers
  • Blow Torch
  • Razor Blade
  • Permanent Marker
  • Post-it Notes
  • Hot Glue
  • Sand Paper

This is how we do...

1. First remove the top cover by taking out the screws hidden under the two front rubber feet.

Image:Fon2.JPG


2. Stick the Post-it on the cover and then draw on the Post-it the size of the hole you want and where the anchor points will be.

Image:Fon3.JPG

2a. Now is about when you should remove the "Fon" logo with sand paper.

Image:Fon4.JPG

3. After making sure you have the right placement on the cover. Transfer the marked hole and points through the paper by holding the marker down a bit.


4. Melt the anchor holes with pliers and hot wire. Then cut the vent hole with heated razor blade.

Image:Fon6.JPG

Image:Fon5.JPG

5. Place blobs of solder at one end of the anchor wire. Once cool, insert the other end through the underside of the cover.

Image:Fon7.JPG


Right about now, the Author recommends, you should replenish the calcium, glucose, and vitamin C your brain has used up during this mod.


6. Stick the fan leads through the tiny vent holes on the side. Solder the leads to the positive and negative pins on board.

Image:Fon8.JPG


7. Replace the cover. Anchor the fan down by bending the leads. Replace the screws.

Image:Fon9.JPG


8. Use the glue gun to secure around the fan so it doesn't rattle too much. (Use it for the optional switch as well.)


Plug in and watch it spin!


Image:Fon10.JPG


Notes: The switch mod is really straight forward and should require little to no imagination. Just do it.

Additional Heat Sinks Modification

I added some addition heat sinks to help cool off my La Fonera. To do this, I took a TO-220 heatsink and cut it down so that it would fit in the case. This particular heat sink was double sided, so the fins were cut down the middle, and then in half. After the fins were cut and washed, I used conductive epoxy to attach them to the RF shield next to the stock heat sink. This particular epoxy was silver based, so it conducts heat particularly well. I put a thin layer of the epoxy on the bottom of the fins, enough to fill in any grooves or divots, but not enough that the excess epoxy would slip though onto the circuit board. Then I placed the new heat sinks and slid them around a little. This ensured a nice contact. Then I powered on the board so the solidifying reaction could occur at a faster rate. This is the finished product, I'll put up a better pic once I find my camera cable.

Extending this Mod

  1. Maybe we should add a GPIO Connector to control the cooling fan.
  2. Also we could add a temprerature control.
  3. How about a (NTC)thermistor (where the resistance decreases with increasing temperature) set-up? Get the right rating, and the fan is all automated.

The Metal Heatspreader/Cover

I just took off the heatsink , and the upper and lower rectangular thin metal cover which covers the CPU. (Sorry, no photos, I don't have a camera with me.)

The heatsink is very inefficiently mounted on the cpu. First it has one thick thermal pad directly on top of the cpu to mate with the thin metal cover. Then there is a woven fabric based thinner thermal pad between the metal cover and the actual heatsink.

The bottom thermal pad is not even covering the whole CPU, as there is a metal support crossbar from the lower metal cover which goes over one side of the CPU. Also there is almost no pressure between the cpu and the heatsink. Note - the metal cover is not thermally connected to anything apart from the cpu.

With the metal cover completely removed (top and bottom) the top of the cpu is higher or equal to the height of other surrounding components, so a heatsink can be mounted directly onto it, which with some good thermal paste should give much better results than the default heatsink mounting.

There is room for a 12mm high heatsink, which means you could use a low profile chipset heatsink inside the case, with no external modification; with or without the fan. e.g. I have an old chipset heatsink from a DFI motherboard (2 photos here about half way down the page) which seems to fit if I remove the mounting mechanism which is useless for the LaFonera. Some fins need to be cut off to fit round the serial port headers though.

The CPU is 14x14mm. -Hal 16:24, 27 Apr 2007 (CEST)

Instructions for removing the heatsink & RF shielding

Due to a request above, this is how I removed the heatsink and RF shielding.

The Heatsink is fixed to the PCB with two metal pins that are connected to the heatsink, and go through the PCB. The ends of the pins connected with small balls of solder.

Tools

  1. A soldering iron. Mine was set to 850 deg F, but it may not need to be that hot. One report shows that a 25W iron may not be hot enough.
  2. Small flat-head screwdriver or similar to pry with.

How to do it

Removing the Heatsink
  1. Heat your iron.
  2. While applying outward pressure on the heat sink, heat both large pins on the bottom of the board. The solder flowed right onto my iron, without any flux or desoldering braid. You may need to use a solder sucker or braid to remove it.
  3. Once the solder is gone, use a screwdriver or other implement to lift the heatsink off the RF shield. It's attached with thermal tape.
Removing the heatspreader

Next the heatspreader needs to be removed to access the CPU directly. In theory you can get the top piece off without damaging it. It just clips on to the bottom of the heatspreader all the way round.

No special instructions needed, just try to unfasten a clip while pushing it up. I used a small screwdriver to pop up all the tabs around the edges.

Now you can see the black CPU. If the thermal pad is still on it, take it off. It should come of very easily without leaving anything on the CPU to clean off.

Now you need to remove the cross piece from the bottom of the heatspreader which partly covers the CPU. Use your clippers to remove the offending piece, or if you are going to remove the whole base to mount a bigger than normal heatsink, cut out the whole cross piece in the middle.

Now you can re mount the original small heatsink onto the CPU if you are going to re-use it. The most reliable way will be to use thermal epoxy. I recommend using Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive. Note - although that page says "Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive IS NOT intended to be used between a CPU and the CPU heatsink." this means conventional PC CPUs and heatsinks which are designed with their own mounting system to hold them in place. It is fine to use in this instance. You can also use Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive (which will have slightly better conductivity) if you are careful not to get any on the PCB when you mount the heatsink.

If you want to mount a larger heatsink then you will probably need to remove the lower RF shield frame, which the RF shield clips on to. This is how.

  1. Using the clippers cut each of the frame's corners vertically so that you have 4 separate straight sections.
  2. Bend up each straight section to get rid of the fold.
  3. If you can, remove the excess metal on the frame with the clippers.
  4. If that is not possible, you can pull out the frame from the PCB quite easily. To do this, start at one end of a side, grip the metal with the pliers, and using the tip of the pliers as the centre of rotation, rotate the pliers upwards slightly to bend up a small part of the frame away from the PCB.
  5. Repeat as many times as it takes to pull out the whole side
  6. Repeat for as many sides as necessary.

-Hal 22:59, 28 Apr 2007 (CEST) -Edits by Daemondust 23:31, 2 May 2007 (CEST)


Addenum to Heatsink Removal/Fan Mod

Thank you to Hal for the in-depth information. I would however like to add the following:

Tools

I found it easier to remove the stock heatsink by using a Dremel with the heavier cutting disk (if you own a dremel tool). I don't reccomend using the standard/thin cutting wheels as I broke a few trying to cut the pins.....but I did not have plans to re-use the stock heatsink, and didn't care about any damage to it during cutting.

I also noticed the pins are not soldered at all - once cut, they drop out. The one other observation I had was I can't believe the crappy heatsink design! ANYONE owning one of these should replace it.

Some pics:

Showing the board with stock heatsink http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/5585/motherboarddv0.jpg

With the heatsink cut free, and the top of the metal shield removed. You can see the metal frame + cross-piece(creates a gap)that the shield covers....and the thermal pad that is supposed to transfer heat through the sheild to the heatsink. http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/8646/sinkremovedeh0.jpg

The replacement heatsink cut from a Geforce2 passive heatsink. Heatsinks are all about surface-area, and the new sink will triple that. An upgrade would be all copper, but the proliferation of aluminun ones makes your options easier. http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9020/heatsinkscx5.jpg

Here's the new heatsink installed (have to agree about the Arctic Alumina thermal paste - works great). I also opted to use a copper heatsink on the ram chip seeing as I had a few lying around from a video-card kit. http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6671/newsinksbq4.jpg

Here I measured, scribed, and cut a hole to match a low-profile celeron socket370 fan I had lying around (LO-OVE that dremel). http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3856/holefanmi3.jpg

The finished product! http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5453/formerfondp0.jpg


--Monkey34 08:00, 30 Apr 2007 (CEST)