PWMIC and FET cooling redux

[okami]

OK, I know this has been covered before, but searching through previous posts, I still find different statements.

 

The PWMIC on this thing almost always runs hotter than the CPU. So, is the PWMIC the large chip under the tabs on the K8 socket, or is it one of the smaller ones next to the topmost FET in the power section? That whole section looks very symmetrical, I can't really see anything big enough to be a PWM chip. It runs hot, according to everyone (and speedfan), and it's designed to do so, so is it worth cooling?

 

Was there ever a conclusion drawn from the temperature survey on the 250Gb that was done? I've a feeling that the various BIOSs report varying temps, but the fact is that some of these chips get hot, and while they may be within tolerance the surounding components may be affected.

 

With an XP90 mounted, there'll be a fair airflow through the whole power section if the overhang is mounted that way; is it worth putting heatsinks onto the FETs and the PWMIC, or best to leave the airflow to cool the bare chip. It gets hot here (Australia, sometimes 40C ambient).

 

The other FETs I've found are the 2 between the CPU and AGP sockets, the 4 next to the DIMM sockets and (maybe) one next to the first PCI slot. I don't know what the big 5 pin chip next to the floppy socket does, though it's also near both the atx power socket and the power led, and is quite warm even now at 16C ambient and zero load on the system.

 

Quick summary:

 

Where's the PWMIC chip?

 

If it's the one under the socket 8 bracket, how do you cool it?

 

Is it better to heatsink the power supply fets or not, if there's a large amount of airflow over them?

 

I'm lucky at the moment, it's winter here and quite cold, but I'd like to have a stable system.