how do i fit this cooler

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 17:54

i got a cooler:

but i got now clue how to fit it onto my skt 939 mobo...i have removed the retention bracket. It came with 2 sping screw things, do i just screw it on to the mobo?

thanks

markyb · 25 Oct 2006 at 18:23

that looks like a low profile server cooler to me, is it compatible with your motherboard?

Normally the heatsink should come with some replacement brackets which you have to fit.

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 19:00

the cooler is skt 939/754...its made specially for the hiper media chassis. There are screwholes on the motherboard and they do line up with the hsf.

The screws are like the ones you see here, but smaller(screws with springs coiled around-this is not the cooler i have).

Joe42 · 25 Oct 2006 at 19:03

You just screw it in.
Lay the heatsink on (do it without paste first to test), then put the springs on the screws and put the screws through the heatsink, with the springs resting between the bottom of the heatsink and the top of the screws. Then there should be a nut or retention bracket to go on the bottom. It may work fine with the existing retention bracket.
Check there aren't any washers or anything that have to go on. Didn't it come with any instructions?

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 19:19

nope didn't come with any instructions. there is quite a bit of clearance between the bottom of the board and the underside of the heatsink. Should i have left the original retention bracket which came with the mobo on?

Joe42 · 25 Oct 2006 at 19:57

gam3r said:
nope didn't come with any instructions. there is quite a bit of clearance between the bottom of the board and the underside of the heatsink. Should i have left the original retention bracket which came with the mobo on?

Probably not. As long as the heatsink is on properly and stays on it should be fine. Try and tighten the screws a little bit each to avoid uneaven pressure. You can try it with the retention bracket first and see if it fits perhaps.

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 20:32

When i try with the retention bracket on the hsf doesnt make contact with the CPU at all, so i guess i should have it off...the retention bracket on the mobo looks just like this:

I took it off and tried to mount the hsf, but the screws don't even touch the holes...here is a pic(s)

springs are really stiff.

Joe42 · 25 Oct 2006 at 21:24

Those screws look like self tapping plastic screws, not metal screws, which means they must go into something plastic, and not a metal backplate. Although i can't see them very clearly in the photo.
Wasn't there any backplate supplied with it?
Do the screws screw into the current backplate ok?
When you tried it with the retention bracket, does it not fit because the heatsink is bigger than the bracket?

I should think you fit it without the retention bracket, and the springs are supposed to be quite stiff. Try it without a cpu first and see if it all fits ok.

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 21:37

Joe42 said:
Those screws look like self tapping plastic screws, not metal screws, which means they must go into something plastic, and not a metal backplate. Although i can't see them very clearly in the photo.
Wasn't there any backplate supplied with it?
Do the screws screw into the current backplate ok?
When you tried it with the retention bracket, does it not fit because the heatsink is bigger than the bracket?

I should think you fit it without the retention bracket, and the springs are supposed to be quite stiff. Try it without a cpu first and see if it all fits ok.

Cheers for the help mate, i appreciate it. They are metal screws, sorry for the bad pictures. I'm pretty sure this cooler goes on without the retention bracket as well..i have seen some pictures and it looks like it too in this review:http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/10/0...alternative_htpc_based_on_the_amd64_processor.

As for the screws, without the springs they screw in perfectly into the current backplate. When the retention bracked is on, the bottom of the heatsink does not make contact at all with the cpu ~ about a 1cm gap.

It did not come with anything but these two screws and their springs. I can't actually screw it in either as the springs don't allow me to reach the holes and i don't want to put a lot of pressure on the cpu..

thanks again

Joe42 · 25 Oct 2006 at 21:48

Can you screw it in with the springs but without the cpu? Or is it so tight you can't even do that?
The springs are meant to be quite tight.

What you could do is remove the springs and go and clamp them in a vice or something for a time and see if they loosen up a bit. Don't be afraid to push quite hard on the cpu, just not too hard.

gam3r · 25 Oct 2006 at 21:53

If i remove the cpu i can screw it in i think, with pressure of course.

I have tried to clamp the springs on my desk but i have had no luck..maybe squeezed 1mm of the spring but its as far as it will go by my hand, sadly i got no vice or access to one.

Thanks again

Joe42 · 25 Oct 2006 at 22:29

I noticed on that review the springs were screwed down quite hard, they were very compressed.

Difficult to know what to do really, as its a bit of a design floor. You could try and find some smaller springs, you could cut the springs but that would void the warranty. You could try sending it back for a replacement but i doubt the replacement would be any different.
The stock amd cooler is very tight, even with a lever it can be a devil to install. Those processors can definately take some pressure. Just not sure how much.
Have you installed an amd stock cooler of any variety before?

The review didn't think much of that case, and i can see why. Perhaps you could send it back and get a better one?
I personally put my htpc in an antec nsk2400 (same basic case as the fusion) and its been trouble free. Everything fits as normal and its got two 120mm fans, but it fits well under the tv and doesn't look out of place at all.

gam3r · 26 Oct 2006 at 09:43

I have installed a socket A cooler before, and LGA775 many times as well..never socket 939 though. Maybe if i had some riser screws? Too bad i don't

Joe42 · 26 Oct 2006 at 12:26

Just occured to me longer screws might be an easy option. I expect those screws are standard m3 or m4 size, should be very easy to get hold of...

gam3r · 26 Oct 2006 at 12:41

Hi there,

What if i installed the HSF without the springs?

Joe42 · 26 Oct 2006 at 12:51

No good, you need some way of putting constant pressure on the cpu. Without the springs whenever the board flexes or the screws heat up and expand or something the heatsink would not be tight on the cpu.

gam3r · 26 Oct 2006 at 13:03

ahhhhh...so im stuck

I got one of the springs to compress by using a adjustable pipe spanner but its really tough. Now it touches the hole but not the threads inside.

Joe42 · 26 Oct 2006 at 13:07

gam3r said:
ahhhhh...so im stuck I got one of the springs to compress by using a adjustable pipe spanner but its really tough. Now it touches the hole but not the threads inside.

That ought to be enough i would have thought. You can put a lot of pressure on these cpus you know.

gam3r · 26 Oct 2006 at 13:07

Im just scared i will damage the IHS and make it bent on one side after putting a lot of pressure on it :eek:

Joe42 · 26 Oct 2006 at 13:09

Apply even pressure. Once you have the screws in a little bit on both sides then screw each screw down a little bit at a time to keep the pressure even.

Its just getting the screws in a bit thats tricky.

I wonder if there is any way to clamp the springs up while you get the screws in?
Might just be able to hold them up with pliers or something.