Disassembling and reassembling zalman flowers

mathias · Post by **mathias** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:16 am

Would it be possible to take appart a zalman flower, remove every second fin, and reassemble it? Has anyone tried this?

burcakb · Post by **burcakb** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:44 am

I seriously doubt that. a) You'd probably never get a good enough tightness, b) you'd have to machine the bottom to get the same smoothness.

Why do you want to do that?

mathias · Post by **mathias** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:48 pm

Multiple potential reasons.

To make it lighter and more spaced out for use as a video card heatsink, either passive or with a low speed fan(possibly the included ZMF2 at ~3.5V) and ducted to the back.

To use as a northbridge heatsink when there's something close above the northbridge by removing the centre fins (and possibly one of the sides).

To get one of a video card, if the thermal epoxy won't let go very easily.

josephclemente · Post by **josephclemente** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 1:00 pm

You can use a jeweler's sawframe and blades to cut off the fins as close to the base as possible.

Or bend outer fins back and forth until they break off near the base, then spread out remaining fins.

Won't be as much of a weight reduction as taking it all apart (plus there is no turning back), but it's another way if it can't be disassembled (and put back together as well).

Post by **Rusty075** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 3:19 pm

What about just buying one of the older, smaller Zalman flowers, like the 3100?

mathias · Post by **mathias** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 3:44 pm

I think more space between the fins would be better for low airflow cooling. Especially near the base, those fins get really close together.

And a 6000AlCu is actually a bit lighter than a 3100.

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:53 pm

I've seen someone on this board use the Zalman ZM17-Cu with the fins bend like a flower heatsink.

Zyzzyx · Post by **Zyzzyx** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 6:00 pm

Hey... that sounds rather close, Tibors.

Yeah, I've been using that cooler on my ti4200 with zero problems. Its been full passive, closest fan being the case intake up front.

Pics can be seen here: http://pics.zyzzyx.com/Computers/ti4200/