Coolermaster 212 EVO problems

rexehuk · 30 Oct 2015 at 20:02

This is a very popular cooler, but for me at the moment my motivation to use it is almost zero.

Got my new rig this week, found out PSU was dud so replacement today along with cooler.

Installing it, there was an issue with a bolt/nut... the nut just kept tightening so definitely manufacturing issue with tolerance. Tried a different nut/bolt combination and seemed to work, tightened them up maybe cautiously.

Fitting the cooler and bracket, tightening 2 of the bolts kept just turning in the motherboard. I don't have access to my backplate, so thought i'd give it a go. PC ran fine, 42c idle, and 71c max load (thought this was a bit much). Because I had the pc apart, thought lets go back and do job properly, tighten the bolts etc...

Worst mistake ever. The whole set of bolts must have been toasted, cause 2 of the screws now won't come out of the risers, which means RMA job.

Anyone else experienced things like this with the cooler? Or just terribly bad luck on my part?

Randall8686 · 30 Oct 2015 at 20:31

Im really confused. You need access to the back plate ? please done say you are trying to self tap into the motherboard ? you push the "risers" through the hole and do the nut up on the back of the mobo. then you screw the "xplate" into the risers. they can get very tight when trying to remove them. in this case you need to undo the nuts from the back of the motherboard, take the whole assembly off and hold the riser with some pliers and undo the screws. it sounds like you have not fitted the backplate on the back of your motherboard is this correct ?

rexehuk · 30 Oct 2015 at 21:13

Randall8686 said:
Im really confused. You need access to the back plate ? please done say you are trying to self tap into the motherboard ? you push the "risers" through the hole and do the nut up on the back of the mobo. then you screw the "xplate" into the risers. they can get very tight when trying to remove them. in this case you need to undo the nuts from the back of the motherboard, take the whole assembly off and hold the riser with some pliers and undo the screws. it sounds like you have not fitted the backplate on the back of your motherboard is this correct ?

Haha, I've been building PCs too long to make an error like that (16 years!).

Essentially backplate is fixed with nut, bolt through front of motherboard which is the riser.

The screws from the bracket to secure the cooler, have become permanently lodged in the riser. Only way to get out would be a bench clamp which I don't have here so I could use proper tools on the bolt.

Randall8686 · 30 Oct 2015 at 21:37

ahhh i see what you mean now, I was not calling you an idiot just did not quite understand. Yes the spring loaded screws into the risers do become jammed. Im not sure why but they do. you need to grab hold of the riser with some pliers and use a decent side screwdriver and just apply some force. I have also had this issue with this cooler (twice) and its just a case of "hold the leg and give it a good screw" (sorry could not help myself) its easier if you undo the back plate first so the whole assembly is in your hand. Im not sure why they do it but they do.

rexehuk · 30 Oct 2015 at 22:11

Randall8686 said:
I have also had this issue with this cooler (twice) and its just a case of "hold the leg and give it a good screw" (sorry could not help myself) its easier if you undo the back plate first so the whole assembly is in your hand. Im not sure why they do it but they do.

Giggidy.

Yeah was going to pop out and get pliers, as I don't actually have a pair here! Otherwise for sure could have probably fixed it.

Now the question, buy pliers and have PC for weekend... Wait until Monday for them to send new unit hmm. :rolleyes:

Randall8686 · 30 Oct 2015 at 22:26

the new unit will do the same, go find something that will grip it. some sort of kitchen bottle opener with a tea towel will do it. trouble is its so small you cant grip the damn thing. its not mega tight just needs that riser in something solid/jammed.

rexehuk · 31 Oct 2015 at 00:01

Randall8686 said:
the new unit will do the same, go find something that will grip it. some sort of kitchen bottle opener with a tea towel will do it. trouble is its so small you cant grip the damn thing. its not mega tight just needs that riser in something solid/jammed.

Ok, cheers for the input. I'll grab something tomorrow to see if I can remedy it... would be nice to have the machine running!

dmsims · 31 Oct 2015 at 11:42

I'm with you on this one!!

I HATE doing coolers

I had to fit a new one because the ancient H50 was weeping and it took me a long time because one side of the cooler would not screw down (and the instructions were crap - much better ones on the web)

Sloution was to bend one of the "ears" on the cooler in a vice - it was out alignment and would never have worked

theaterix · 31 Oct 2015 at 12:50

Tried mounting a 212 EVO in my cousins PC last christmas, what a joke!
The damn thing wouldn't tighten properly, everything was in right, the mounting bracket in the hole thing, and the screws were tight as a nun (couldn't help myself

).
Maybe try getting 2 sets of pliers? Hold with 1, twist with the other?

rexehuk · 31 Oct 2015 at 13:48

theaterix said:
Tried mounting a 212 EVO in my cousins PC last christmas, what a joke!
The damn thing wouldn't tighten properly, everything was in right, the mounting bracket in the hole thing, and the screws were tight as a nun (couldn't help myself ).
Maybe try getting 2 sets of pliers? Hold with 1, twist with the other?

Well I thought I tightened them ok, but then screwing down, the risers were just spinning near the end!

Next time, the drill is coming out with 10mm hex bit, that should sort the back nuts out... My next post will probably be "My motherboard has split in half"

I'm more paranoid that the temps seemed high, it hit 72C peak during IBT, I was expecting 60-65c.

theaterix · 31 Oct 2015 at 13:52

rexehuk said:
Well I thought I tightened them ok, but then screwing down, the risers were just spinning near the end!

Next time, the drill is coming out with 10mm hex bit, that should sort the back nuts out... My next post will probably be "My motherboard has split in half"

I'm more paranoid that the temps seemed high, it hit 72C peak during IBT, I was expecting 60-65c.

What cpu do you have? Also, you may wanna check there is no tracks near the hole

Linus killed an X99 server board as they dont have holes, and he cba to wait hahaha

rexehuk · 31 Oct 2015 at 14:43

theaterix said:
What cpu do you have? Also, you may wanna check there is no tracks near the hole Linus killed an X99 server board as they dont have holes, and he cba to wait hahaha

CPU is 4790k, standard clock. And I'm not drilling the motherboard, I'm not that mad!

10mm is the nut size, so just using it to tighten

Randall8686 · 31 Oct 2015 at 17:22

The 4790k is a hot chip due to the crappy thermal paste inside. 72c during stress testing is tbh about right on a 212.

rexehuk · 1 Nov 2015 at 16:31

All installed now, had to go wickes for new nuts.. but now no issues. I managed to remove the screws/risers last night, with the aid of a washing up glove, enough friction to hold it.

Seems good, Idles of 29c. Hurrah.