Pentium 4 vent

**davmax** · 12-18-2008, 07:27 PM

I have just received a used P4 and the vent hole in the top of the case is open allowing atmosphere into the case. I normally see this hole sealed. It occurs to me that if the hole is open then excess pressure based on high temperature has occurred and popped the vent.

I have Googled many different ways to get some enlightenment on this vent but have found nothing of use.

Comment or input please.

**Wizard** · 12-18-2008, 07:57 PM

It's merely a hole for letting out gases during curing the sealers during manufacturing.

Sounds like you never seen one with a open hole. Especially brand new CPUs.

Don't worry.

Cheers, Wizard

**davmax** · 12-18-2008, 08:45 PM

Thanks. You right I have not seen this hole open before. All others are sealed. I would expect to be sealed whilst not installed to keep out ambient moisture.

So no suspicion of a cause.

**Wizard** · 12-18-2008, 08:57 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pe..._northwood.png

This is fresh P4 CPU.

Cheers, Wizard

**kc8adu** · 12-19-2008, 04:15 AM

since the mobile varients dont even have the heat spreader and have the bare die exposed its nothing to worry about.

**stevo1210** · 12-19-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davmax

Thanks. You right I have not seen this hole open before. All others are sealed. I would expect to be sealed whilst not installed to keep out ambient moisture.

So no suspicion of a cause.

I think the seal would be from the thermal paste that has covered the hole. Usually, I'd sit there and clean the hole out with a blunt stick of some sort or even using sticky tape to clean it out.

**davmax** · 12-19-2008, 06:13 AM

Thanks for all contributions. I have learned something AND the CPU passes all diagnostics.

**dood** · 12-19-2008, 11:45 PM

Indeed... without the hole, the airspace between the heatspreader and the CPU die would be air-tight. When the processor heated up, I would imagine it would break that seal one way or another, and it might not be the way you want it to

**davmax** · 12-20-2008, 01:08 AM

True if not mounted. But I would suspect that if mounted with heatsink compound the vent would be sealed.

**Wizard** · 12-20-2008, 01:50 AM

Exactly, the copper heatspeader isn't totally sealed all around on later CPUs as part of improvement manufacturing process and cut down on cost of punching out tiny hole and less use on glue.

http://home.arcor.de/xxmartin/A64/a64_ihs.jpg this is also found on Core 2 Duo (using lipped heatspeader).

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...cking/intel/37 (fails to view with FF, IE viewable. :P)

Cheers, Wizard

**370forlife** · 12-20-2008, 08:24 AM

I just looked at it in firefox.

**davmax** · 12-20-2008, 05:00 PM

Thanks Wizard

Those links are a great contribution. Makes facts crystal clear.

12-18-2008, 07:27 PM	#1
davmax Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 City & State: Perth Western Australia Posts: 886	Pentium 4 vent I have just received a used P4 and the vent hole in the top of the case is open allowing atmosphere into the case. I normally see this hole sealed. It occurs to me that if the hole is open then excess pressure based on high temperature has occurred and popped the vent. I have Googled many different ways to get some enlightenment on this vent but have found nothing of use. Comment or input please. __________________ Gigabyte EP45-DS3L Ultra Reliable (Power saver) Intel E8400 (3000Mhz) Bios temps. 4096Mb 800Mhz DDR2 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 160Gb WD SATAII Server grade Nvidia 8500GT 256Mb 160Gb WD eSATAII Server grade for backup. Samsung 18x DVD writer Pioneer 16x DVD writer + 6x Dual layer 33 way card reader Windows XP Pro SP3 Thermaltake Matrix case with 430W Silent Power 17" Benq FP737s LCD monitor HP Officejet Pro K5300 with refillable tanks

12-18-2008, 07:57 PM	#2
Wizard Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,296	Re: Pentium 4 vent It's merely a hole for letting out gases during curing the sealers during manufacturing. Sounds like you never seen one with a open hole. Especially brand new CPUs. Don't worry. Cheers, Wizard

12-18-2008, 08:45 PM	#3
davmax Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 City & State: Perth Western Australia Posts: 886	Re: Pentium 4 vent Thanks. You right I have not seen this hole open before. All others are sealed. I would expect to be sealed whilst not installed to keep out ambient moisture. So no suspicion of a cause.

12-18-2008, 08:57 PM	#4
Wizard Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,296	Re: Pentium 4 vent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pe..._northwood.png This is fresh P4 CPU. Cheers, Wizard

12-19-2008, 04:15 AM	#5
kc8adu Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 City & State: dayton ohio My Country: U.S.A! Line Voltage: 12vdc,120/240vac,480vac 3ph on my bench I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 8,298	Re: Pentium 4 vent since the mobile varients dont even have the heat spreader and have the bare die exposed its nothing to worry about.

12-19-2008, 06:13 AM	#7
davmax Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 City & State: Perth Western Australia Posts: 886	Re: Pentium 4 vent Thanks for all contributions. I have learned something AND the CPU passes all diagnostics.

12-19-2008, 11:45 PM	#8
dood Deputy dood Join Date: Mar 2004 City & State: Berwick, PA My Country: USA Line Voltage: 120VAC 60HZ I'm a: Hardcore Geek Posts: 2,443	Re: Pentium 4 vent Indeed... without the hole, the airspace between the heatspreader and the CPU die would be air-tight. When the processor heated up, I would imagine it would break that seal one way or another, and it might not be the way you want it to

12-20-2008, 01:08 AM	#9
davmax Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 City & State: Perth Western Australia Posts: 886	Re: Pentium 4 vent True if not mounted. But I would suspect that if mounted with heatsink compound the vent would be sealed.

12-20-2008, 01:50 AM	#10
Wizard Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,296	Re: Pentium 4 vent Exactly, the copper heatspeader isn't totally sealed all around on later CPUs as part of improvement manufacturing process and cut down on cost of punching out tiny hole and less use on glue. http://home.arcor.de/xxmartin/A64/a64_ihs.jpg this is also found on Core 2 Duo (using lipped heatspeader). http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...cking/intel/37 (fails to view with FF, IE viewable. :P) Cheers, Wizard

12-20-2008, 08:24 AM	#11
370forlife Large Marge Join Date: Aug 2008 City & State: Kalamazoo, MI My Country: United States Line Voltage: 0-120VAC 60Hz I'm a: Hobbyist Tech Posts: 2,924	Re: Pentium 4 vent I just looked at it in firefox. __________________

12-20-2008, 05:00 PM	#12
davmax Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 City & State: Perth Western Australia Posts: 886	Re: Pentium 4 vent Thanks Wizard Those links are a great contribution. Makes facts crystal clear.

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