Intel stock HSF compatibility

ncjok · 27 Jul 2010 at 18:41

Quite a noobish question here.

Is the stock Intel HSF from a 45 nm Wolfdale Core 2 compatible on an older 65 nm Conroe-based chip?

I'm under the impression they may be slightly different in design; older HSFs appear to have a copper base while the newer ones are all-Alu?

I ask because I'm trying to fit the HSF from an E7300 onto an E6420. Using a low-end Gigabyte G41M-ES2L I'm seeing a fair degree of PCB depression in the socket area by the time I have clicked the push-pins down. So much so I disassembled it and thought "to the internet!!11!"

Admittedly I've never installed a HSF without a backplate so I need someone to reassure me, basically

RJC · 27 Jul 2010 at 18:45

From what I have seen the newer ones tend to be slightly shorter in height and like you mentioned different base.

I have have installed heat sinks in the past which have deformed the motherboard.

ncjok · 27 Jul 2010 at 18:50

If the HSFs are designed to differ in height when installed on the motherboard then presumably the two chip generations also differ in this respect?

bremen1874 · 27 Jul 2010 at 18:57

The chips are the same height.

The overall height and composition of the cooler varies depending on which processor it was designed for.

RJC · 27 Jul 2010 at 18:59

ncjok said:
If the HSFs are designed to differ in height when installed on the motherboard then presumably the two chip generations also differ in this respect?

The cpu's are the same size, only the height of fins of the Heat sink differ as the newer ones reject less heat or run more efficient.

ncjok · 27 Jul 2010 at 19:10

Yep, I can understand that the newer heatsinks might have shorter fins for the more energy-efficient Wolfdales, but are we suggesting that all of the heatsinks have the same 'standover height' which would imply that I should just get on and install the HSF I have got here?

Thanks.

ncjok · 27 Jul 2010 at 19:43

Reference pic?

Here's mine:

bremen1874 · 27 Jul 2010 at 21:11

Yep, I can understand that the newer heatsinks might have shorter fins for the more energy-efficient Wolfdales, but are we suggesting that all of the heatsinks have the same 'standover height' which would imply that I should just get on and install the HSF I have got here?

Yes. If it's a socket 775 cooler then it'll fit any socket 775 board and processor.