Antec Kuhler 920 advice - poor contact

Asa · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:36

Hi helpful community folk,

I've just got myself an Antec Kuhler H20 920 that I'm using to cool a Q6600, and I've having real trouble with it.

It's all fitted correctly with the supplied kit, and it isn't doing it's job. I know for certain that the issue is poor contact, as if I push down the pump fitting with my finger I can see the CPU temps drop 20 degrees in an instant. The cooler seems highly effective when I'm pressing on it, but I can't spare a hand whilst playing games and there are some health and safety concerns around using the PC like that!

So, what can I do to get proper contact? The screws simply wont go any tighter. Can I just whack on more thermal paste to fill the gap?

stulid · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:38

Can I just whack on more thermal paste to fill the gap?

Nope. you will make it worse and increase the temps.

Can you get some pics up? (good picture that look like they haven't been taken through a milk Bootle). The four Blue plastic fittings were inserted in to the ring with the tab facing the inside?

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:51

stulid said:
The four Blue plastic fittings were inserted in to the ring with the tab facing the inside?

Isn't it the green plastic fittings with the tension clip facing the outside for S775?

w00dy85 · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:54

I have a 620 and to me it sounds like it's not been fitted correctly, if you can push down on the pump fitting with a finger and can see the CPU temps drop 20 degrees in an instant. Like stulid said, it's a bad idea to use more thermal paste.

What motherboard do you have, as someone my have had a similar problem with that board.

I would say watch some video’s on youtube on how to fit a 620/920 and have a go at refitting it again

stulid · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:54

Green for AMD, Blue for intel isnt it? a look at the instructions online say lga775 is the AMD fitting.

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:56

stulid said:
Green for AMD, Blue for intel isnt it?

As I read the instructions it's blue for S1155, S1156 & S1366 and green for S775 and AMD.

S775 is green with the clip facing out and AMD is green with the clip facing in, each using a different retention ring and backplate.

stulid · 18 Nov 2011 at 12:58

If I had one here I would check. edited the above post after a look online.

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 13:00

I suppose the first question now for the OP is are they using the green plastic fittings with the clip facing out?

Asa · 18 Nov 2011 at 13:24

Thanks for all the quick replies.

As I had it in my head that the clips were blue for intel, green for AMD it seems likely i've got the wrong ones. I'll take another look at that. 2 hyper children running around right now though, so it wont be until their bed time. I'll update later!

stulid · 18 Nov 2011 at 13:28

You found the problem then.

Asa · 18 Nov 2011 at 16:39

stulid said:
You found the problem then.

I'd say you found the problem for me, it was my inability to follow directions! Checked the instructions and they do actually specify green clips for socket 775. Had an opportunity to switch it over, seeing some good temperatures.

Now If only I could fix my Dragon Age 2 sound issues...

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 17:08

Asa said:
I'd say you found the problem for me, it was my inability to follow directions! Checked the instructions and they do actually specify green clips for socket 775. Had an opportunity to switch it over, seeing some good temperatures.

Now If only I could fix my Dragon Age 2 sound issues...

No mention for me then?

Asa · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:45

Surveyor said:
No mention for me then?

When I said "you" I was referring to the community, I never expected so much help so quickly. So yeah, feel your share of gratitude

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:50

It's always nice to be appreciated