How much pressure can my CPU take?

[Jonesiani]

Hi all.

Just screwing down my reserator cpu heatsink. (it's the origional blue reserator model).

My cpu is an fx55 clawhammer.

Ive applied the thin layer of AS5.

Just wondering, how much downwards force can this cpu take from the heatsink?
It seems that theres a bit more thread left in the screws but the things clamped down pretty damn tight already.

Any advice would be greatly welcomed as i don't want to kill this cpu!

 

[Jokester]

With the IHS on they can probably take more pressure then you could supply. As a rough rule I find screwing down until you can't slide or twist the HS over the top of the CPU is ideal.

Jokester

 

[Jonesiani]

Thanks very much, i'll do just that.

 

[Davey D]

Im always more concerned about my motherboard where the fixings for the hsf go through on the A64 systems

 

[Dup]

I use a cheapo screwdriver set which tend to strip before being able to turn to any degree of bad pressure for the CPU. If you can't turn it without putting all your weight on the scredriver to hold it inside the screw, its tight enough imo.

 

[quadboi]

Can I just ask why do people take the IHS off

 

[trojan698]

Improved cooling.

 

[quadboi]

By how much?

 

[Bennah]

Taking the IHS off can be risky if you havnt done it before. Done it a few times my self and got a lot better results with temps. unloaded and loaded temps can drop upto as much as 11c as I have found in the past.

The IHS, might be concaved, bent or twisted just slightly which will result in no a good contact on the cpu core itself. Therefore you cant cool it properly. Taking the IHS off you have direct cooling to the cpu core. No IHS it has to be transfered to.

A risk that you mite take to get better results. I always do it to my A64's tbh even using air. I like my cpu's being 'free'

Back to the original question, I do what Jokester said. Just enough tightening untill the heatsink feels secure and doest move around. With the IHS on you dont have to be too carefull. With the IHS off you have to screw both sides down pretty much the same, to keep a flat contact on the core. If not, you can chip a corner.

 

[Jokester]

Varies, not much, if anything on a single core with a well installed IHS, to well over 10C on a X2 with poor contact between the IHS and core.

I did one for somebody after they reported poor load temps with a single core Opteron and their temps dropped by about 10C if I remember correctly.

Jokester

 

[Bennah]

Yet to pop off a IHS on a Dual Core, but I dont think its not difficult.

Most of my A64's have had back contact between the IHS and core. Ive taken off the IHS on 3800+ Venice, 3800+ Newcastle, 3500+ Venice, 3200+ Venice and 3000+ Winchester. By far I found a lot better results when the IHS is off. Lowered the voltage that was need to achieve a certain speed when the IHS was on.