What You Need to Know About LGA 775 Socket T Heatsinks
Whether you need to upgrade the processor in your PC or you’re building a system from component parts starting with the motherboard, you’ll need to include a heatsink to keep your CPU from overheating during operation. Here is the information you need to know about selecting the right heatsink to work with the LGA 775 socket.
What is an LGA 775 Socket T?
The LGA 775 is an Intel CPU socket designed for consumer-level desktop PCs. A land grid array or LGA is designed with the pins on the socket as opposed to on an integrated circuit. Rather than having socket holes, the Socket T has 775 protruding pins that make a connection with the contact points found on the underside of the CPU and that connect to the motherboard. The heat dissipation interface of the LGA 775 connects directly to the motherboard at four points and acts as a CPU cooler. This is intended to reduce the risk of heatsink and cooling fan separation during transport.
What is a heatsink and what purpose does it serve?
A heatsink is a thermal conductive device that acts as a CPU cooler. It absorbs heat and disperses it away from mechanical components that are exposed to and operate at high temperatures, keeping them cooler. They’re used in a variety of applications, such as air conditioning and refrigeration. Heatsinks are used in computer processing components, including central processing units, graphics processing units, and video card processors. There are two types: those that are combined with a cooling fan are referred to as active heatsinks. Stand-alone ones, without an attached cooling fan, are known as passive heatsinks.
Why do you need a heatsink?
One of the reasons that computer processors generate a significant amount of heat is because they operate at high speeds. Without a heat sink, an overheated processor can lead to CPU damage. As a result, your PC may not be able to perform a power-on-self-test. If you get a blank screen and your speakers produce only beeps, these are signs of a damaged or failing CPU. It’s critical to keep your system at an maximum operating temperature by keeping these components cooler. As a safety precaution, motherboards are designed to shut down when the CPU temperature reaches a certain level. Prolonged overheating of the internal components can lead to system crashes and lockups, cause random rebooting, and result in permanent data loss.
What are the features of a heatsink?
A heatsink features:
- Material: These components are constructed using aluminum alloy or copper.
- Fins: Some heatsinks have thin pieces of metal connected to the base. These fins are designed to disperse heat over a larger area.
- Fans: Active heatsinks are made with a built-in cooling fan that helps keep the CPU cooler and operating at a desirable temperature.
- Heat sink compound: Sometimes referred to as CPU grease or thermal paste, this compound is an electrically insulating or thermally conductive metal or silicone coating. It’s used as a thermal interface material to improve heat transfer between the motherboard and other components.
How does a heatsink work?
A heatsink works by dissipating heat inside of your PC. As the internal temperature of the computer system increases, the cooling fan begins to operate faster. CPU cooler fans work by pushing hot air away from the processor and moving cool air toward the heatsink.