Bitaxe and Chill NorthStar Heatsink
A larger, better performing main ASIC heatsink. This Bitaxe and Chill modded Northbridge-style heatsink will really improve cooling and allow more over-clocking than all factory-supplied heatsinks, especially when combined with the Giant Squid (order the NorthStar/Northbridge model Squid). It has more mass, more surface area, and better airflow than most 'stock/factory' heatsinks.
BUT ITS GETS BETTER
To make the Bitaxe and Chill 'NorthStar', I take the standard Northbridge-style heatsink and polish the ASIC contact section perfectly level, and then finish to the ideal surface roughness for optimal heat transfer and ideal thermal compound effectiveness. Many Northbridge-style heatsinks on the market perform okay out of the box. However, most of them have a very irregular ASIC mating surface that measurably limits heat transfer.
I also add a slight chamfer to the bottom corners that allows the corner holes of the custom mount to be as small as possible, increasing strength and eliminating the tendancy toward heat creep and deformation found in some of the online designs.
It also includes the Bitaxe and Chill NorthStar Heatsink Mounting Kit, a custom-designed mount that is easier to install, does not limit cooling, and looks great! The mount is printed in strong, heat-resistant PETG at 100% infill (it's literally solid PETG). Brass inserts are used at every corner which eliminates 4 nuts and 4 washers to contend with during assembly, and gives a professional, finished look.
Options are Blue, Gold, and Black anodized aluminum. All are the same shape, size and mass, and perform equally well. The anodizing does not affect thermal performance, only how it looks! The Gold and Black are priced higher from my suppliers, but all colors perform the same thermally.
Includes modding and all mounting hardware.
What to expect:
NorthStar Stage 2: expect a 50-75% improvement in cooling and over-clocking (up to about 1.6 TH/s) with a Stage 2 main heatsink upgrade (vs default settings, with a Giant Squid and Noctua NF-F12 5V PWM fan). This will be a very cool, quiet solution at all clock rates.
NorthStar Stage 2b: The NorthStar heatsink really works well with lots of airflow. When used on a Giant Squid with a sound-tuned 12V fan with high static pressure like the Noctua NF-A12x25 FLX or the beQuiet Silent Wings 4 High Speed, you can expect up to a 90% performance boost in hashrate (up to 1.9 TH/s), while still keeping the ASIC and VR temperatures at safe levels.
For maximum cooling and over-clocking performance with the Bitaxe and Chill NorthStar heatsink, I recommend the 'Stage 1 Additional Heatsinks' upgrade kit. This will keep the rest of your Bitaxe as cool as the main heatsink, and avoid your system being thermally limited by the Voltage Regulator (VR).
With the NorthStar I also recommend a name-brand thermal paste, such as the Arctic MX-4, also available to add to an order.
Note: Available as an add-on to a Giant Squid order. Not available individually due to shipping and packaging costs.
