Northbridge cooling Q (mostly) for ECS 865PE-A

[stumpinator3]

I just got a new motherboard, an ECS 865PE-A. (Hope I won't regret not getting something more expensive.) There is a heatsink over the northbridge, and a connection for a northbridge cooling fan. Which was new to me, because my old board didn't have either.

I'll never use the 800 mhz FSB speed, my CPU is an older P4 3.06 ghz, and I don't intend to push any of the settings. Do you think I need to buy a fan to supplement the heatsink? (My case is, I think, otherwise well ventilated.) If so, how would I mount it? -- the manual says nothing about the subject beyond mentioning the connection for it. I don't recall seeing any holes or attachments in the area (but I forget to double-check before I left home today.)

Also, the board reports "current system temperature." Measured where, do you suppose?

Also, there are a few items in Setup that don't seem to have a reason for being. For example, you can enable or disable Spread Spectrum. Manual says, "If you enable spread spectrum, it can significantly reduce the EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) generated by the system." If there's a downside to choosing that, it seems like the manual ought to say what that is, otherwise why would anyone *not* want that?

- Dave

 

[paparazi]

If the motherboard came with a passive heatsink (no fan) then it has been tried and tested over hundreds of hours to work reliably with that supplied cooler, there should be know need (apart from if you intend to overclock) to add a fan.
Martin


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[wahnula]

Fron:

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/roundupmobo/ecs-865pe-a7-i865pe.html

CPU temperature (by the embedded CPU sensor)
Board temperature (by the on-board sensor)

Looks like you got a good board...