A friend of mine has a Dell Dimension 4600C (circa 2003). One of the heatsink loops (HS2) on the motherboard spontaneously popped loose, and the PC won't boot (it displays an appropriate message that the heatsink isn't in place).
Has anyone else here experienced something similar? Any way, short of taking out the MB and soldering the 2 connection points, to reconnect the loop so that it'll both anchor the heatsink and complete the circuit to satisfy the hardware safety?
Has anyone else here experienced something similar? Any way, short of taking out the MB and soldering the 2 connection points, to reconnect the loop so that it'll both anchor the heatsink and complete the circuit to satisfy the hardware safety?
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Seattle
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Sun, December 24, 2006 - 9:26 AMLiam, it's booting into that message, right? Which sounds to me like it's simply failing the BIOS hardware check in POST. So, I'd recommend checking to see if you can disable the check. It may be in the main CMOS listed under "PC Health Status" or something like that. If it's not possible, then you're going to have to complete that circuit. You do realize that if those soldered connections, as you put it, "spontaneously popped loose" then you've got a heat problem. I'd suggest getting a can of compressed air or an anti-static vacuum and cleaning that box out, big time.
Best of luck. Those older Dells can be frustrating so have patience and be gentle with yourself.
Love and light, dear ones.
Rev -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, December 25, 2006 - 1:13 PMThanks.
As I said, it's not my PC. I suspect that overheating is the problem, but as it non-functional at the moment, it's hard to test (and the user's response was "Duh?"). I blew out all the dust when I opened the case yesterday, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
I'd prefer not to shut off the CMOS check as it did stop the PC from frying for its user, and I'd have to replace the current manufacturer's heatsink with sometime rigged to fit.
One guy suggested a conductive expoxy, so I suspect that I'll try that, and hope that the bond holds.
Thanks again. -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, December 25, 2006 - 2:45 PMDid the heatsink come off because of overheating or abuse... If the thermal epoxy failed because of heat, you will also need to fix what ever the issue causing the excessive heat is. Ie, new system fans, etc...
If it failed because you had it open and bumped or knocked it free somehow, then simply getting a conductive thermal epoxy will be fine. -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Tue, December 26, 2006 - 7:52 AMSince it happened while in its owner's possession, and he knows zip about PC's, I assume it was excess heat which caused the joints to fail after a few years of use; but it could have been a factory fault to the joints; or a combinatio of both.
The case is one of those cute-but-annoying mini-towers wherein there is no additional internal space except for one unused AGP slot (the owner uses the video integrated on the MB). I suppose I could replace the heatsink with yet another fan, but I'm loathe to do that as I'm doing this gratis for an acquaintance.
The system fan is a BG0903-B407.
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, January 22, 2007 - 9:23 AMHi, It is not a heat problem... I also had it happen to me and if you check the message boards it is fairly commom and it seems to happen about a year after purchase. I have had mine taken into have it repaired since the little loop flew into the power supply fan and I need a new one. And it is hard to find a new loop. So I spoke with Dell on this and they said that they manufacture so many and with me finding 16 (with the same problem) wasn't enough to consider a defect. Yet it happens right after warranty expires they said I should have had the extended warr. So anyways it's not a heat problem that sping is pretty strong and the just need a better way of attaching the heat sink.
Hope your friend gets his going.
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, January 22, 2007 - 2:21 PMEnough heat to melt soldier? Wow.
Check the socket and see if it's an industry standard with the heatsink pegs on the outside. The with be inside the big green Dell heatsink holder. If it's a standard socket you might get buy with a new aftermarket fan designed for regular PC boards.
If the machine was ran for any time without a properly seat heatsink, I would question if the chip is even usable anymore TBH. I remember the althons would blow up after 3 seconds of power without a heatsink.
--S -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Tue, January 23, 2007 - 5:54 PMI won't swear it was soldered, but if this were 1980, I'd say the solder joints had crystalised, loosened, and popped free. Maybe it came from an expansion&contraction difference between the metal of the solder, of the loop, and of the points of attachment. ::shrug::
Installing a standard aftermarket heatsink fan would be great, but unfortunately the socket isn't standard. :(
The machine wasn't run without the heatsink as the bios checks the connexion across the sink, and shuts down the hardboot immediately.
I purchased some (expensive) 2-component conductive silver-epoxy with a supposed temp endurance up to 100C, and re-attached the loop just a few hours ago. The epoxy requires 24 hours to fully cure, so tomorrow afternoon, I'll re-attach the heatsink, and see what happens when I boot. -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Thu, January 25, 2007 - 3:01 PMI have this same problem and I think the only way to fix it is to replace the motherboard. You can purchase them through www.ascendtech.us for $119.00. or ebay (same company for $109.98.
Straight from Dell Support Site:
Why Does My System Display the Error Message "Alert! Chipset heatsink not detected. System Halted"?
The chipset heat sink has a retaining clip that hooks to metal connectors on the motherboard which creates a test circuit in which current flows through the clip from one connector to the other. When the flow of current is interrupted, an error condition is created, and the error message is displayed.
The chipset heat sink retaining bar is not a component that can be reattached correctly.
NOTE: The chipset heat sink is not the same as the processor heatsink. Refer to Figure 1 below to help identify the chipset heat sink.
NOTE: This error often results after the motherboard has been replaced or the system moved.
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Unsu...
Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Sat, April 19, 2008 - 6:04 AM"This error often results after the motherboard has been replaced or the system moved"
LOL....I love the part about the system being moved. It's not often that I see a system that hasn't been moved at least a couple of times.
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, April 21, 2008 - 8:28 AMMine's moving as I type this. Oops, there it goes again. D'OH!
I love it when programmers actually write the system messages. They SOOO funny!! Me laugh all time!!
Okay, cheap shot. I'll stop. No, really, this is me stopping. It's happening. No, seriously...
Love and light, dear ones.
Rev
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 12:06 PMI had the same problem yesterday. The epoxy, or should I say the thermal compound will not hold the chip set heat sink in place without the motherboard prong. Dell stated I have to replace the motherboard. No parts are available if the hs2 or hs1 is missing. Let me know if you are able to fix yours, because I can't with mine. -
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Re: Dell Dimension 4600C heatsink problem
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 6:25 PMHi
I have the same problem today. The heatsink prong seperatd from the board.I contacted Dell tech. support and they told me that since I had the mini tower for about 4 years and had received good service there was nothing else they would do for me. I protested and they put me on with a supervisor. I heard the same story from him however he gave me a number to call for spare parts. He said that I would get a super deal. I called however they are closed. I will try again tommorow. He did admit that they had this problem with a lot of the 4600c . I knew this because my friend had read about it online. The number that he gave me was 1-866-440-3355. I am in Canada. Hope this helps. I will keep you informed.
Rod
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