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Is it safe to paint your motherboard heatsinks?

cheeze_tartz
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Is it safe? like use plasti-dip or something?

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If done properly, yes...

But it can hurt the temperatures of mobo components which isn't a good thing.

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Is it safe? like use plasti-dip or something?

 

Yes you can plasti-dip or spray paint motherboard heatsinks it won't have a huge problem. I personally like to not plasti-dip the entire thing since it might affect temps at most ~3C but just the colored accents. Overall though it's not anything of great concern.

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If done properly, yes...

But it can hurt the temperatures of mobo components which isn't a good thing.

 

For AMD FX CPU's yes, Intel not so much.

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alright thanks guys! :D

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alright thanks guys! :D

 

It's advise to remove the heatsink and mask off the contact area where the thermal interface material will be before painting so no masking of the motherboard will be necessary. Be sure to make cut lines before removing masking since it can lift up surrounding plasti-dip.

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It's advise to remove the heatsink and mask off the contact area where the thermal interface material will be before painting so no masking of the motherboard will be necessary. Be sure to make cut lines before removing masking since it can lift up surrounding plasti-dip.

thats what I was thinking. Just remove the heatsink and paint it except the bottom, and re apply thermal paste to the chipset.

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You can but I'd use engine paint. It moves heat way better that anything else will.

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Engine paint is engine paint due to heat resistance, not it's ability to carry heat.

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Yes.

 

Self etching primer is the best option, but it is not easily removed.

 

Plastidip is an easily removable option, but may limit thermal dissipation, but it shouldn't cause any problems.

 

I personally would use self etching primer, just because it looks a lot more professional and works a lot better.

Self etching primer is for the metal parts only.

 

For painting the heatsinks only, they are usually just held in by a screw and are easily removable.

Just remove them, mask off the bottom with tape, then paint away.

 

Painting the PCB is a whole 'nother story. It is not very safe, but can be done.

 

 

ALL of this will void your warranty, but if you do it carefully with plastidip you could get away with leaving no traces behind.

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