Is there a trick to installing Intel heatsink/fan assemblies?

I'm upgrading 2 computers, both to P5E's with Intel E8400 and heatsink/fan
assembly. Both have been a bear to get mounted and locked down.

It sounds simple. Line up the 4 pegs and push down until they lock. The
problem is the locking mechanism is very weak and the processor is a high
spot in the middle. Lock one pin and the assembly seesaws and the other
corner pops loose. In order to get all 4 locked, you basically have to warp
the fan assembly to lock all 4 at the same time, and the locks just aren't
secure enough to put that much force on them.

There has to be a trick to it but I can't figure it out. I'm afraid one of
the pegs is going to pop loose at some point in the future and ruin the
thermal contact.

Has anyone developed a trick for getting these things locked down securely?

Bruce.

"Bruce." <noone@example.net> wrote in message
news:67D6k.3905$cW3.995@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
> I'm upgrading 2 computers, both to P5E's with Intel E8400 and heatsink/fan
> assembly. Both have been a bear to get mounted and locked down.
>
> It sounds simple. Line up the 4 pegs and push down until they lock. The
> problem is the locking mechanism is very weak and the processor is a high
> spot in the middle. Lock one pin and the assembly seesaws and the other
> corner pops loose. In order to get all 4 locked, you basically have to
> warp the fan assembly to lock all 4 at the same time, and the locks just
> aren't secure enough to put that much force on them.
>
> There has to be a trick to it but I can't figure it out. I'm afraid one
> of the pegs is going to pop loose at some point in the future and ruin the
> thermal contact.
>
> Has anyone developed a trick for getting these things locked down
> securely?
>
> Bruce.
>
>

You're right, these HSFs are a pain. You have to lock one peg then the
other one diagonially across from it, then the same for the other two. The
trick is to make sure to look on the underside of the Mobo that the pegs are
trough the holes and the black sticks protrude thought the split in the
white pegs so that they are locked in place. I installed the HSF before
putting the Mobo in the case, it made things a lot easier.

good luck,
john

Bruce. wrote:

> I'm upgrading 2 computers, both to P5E's with Intel E8400 and heatsink/fan
> assembly. Both have been a bear to get mounted and locked down.
>
> It sounds simple. Line up the 4 pegs and push down until they lock. The
> problem is the locking mechanism is very weak and the processor is a high
> spot in the middle. Lock one pin and the assembly seesaws and the other
> corner pops loose. In order to get all 4 locked, you basically have to warp
> the fan assembly to lock all 4 at the same time, and the locks just aren't
> secure enough to put that much force on them.
>
> There has to be a trick to it but I can't figure it out. I'm afraid one of
> the pegs is going to pop loose at some point in the future and ruin the
> thermal contact.
>
> Has anyone developed a trick for getting these things locked down securely?
>
> Bruce.
>
>

The easiest trick is to bypass the use of the stock Intel HSF entirely.
Shop around for the high-end HSF's that have replaced the spring-loaded
pushpins with screw-bolts and a lever-actuated lock to hold down the
heatsink proper to the heat slug of the CPU. Thermaltake, Zalman and
even Asus mades these.

"noname" <compsync@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:g3evu8$tq6$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>> Has anyone developed a trick for getting these things locked down
>> securely?
>>
>
> You're right, these HSFs are a pain. You have to lock one peg then the
> other one diagonially across from it, then the same for the other two.
> The trick is to make sure to look on the underside of the Mobo that the
> pegs are trough the holes and the black sticks protrude thought the split
> in the white pegs so that they are locked in place. I installed the HSF
> before putting the Mobo in the case, it made things a lot easier.

Thanks John. I am installing the processor and heatsink/fan before
installing in the chassis. I have to almost laterally put my full weight on
the pins to get them to lock and I would never do that without the
motherboard being at least somewhat supported from underneath.

The second one was even harder than the first. I think it's locked down now
but my confidence is low that it will stay that way for the long term. The
pressure of the assembly has even warped the motherboard slightly concave.
I'm afraid it will pop loose when I screw it in to the chassis.

Oh well. I'll check it again before I try installing it.

What worries me for the future is sooner or later I'll have to clean the
heatsink. If I can't get these things locked down while installed in the
chassis, I won't be able to clean it without also removing the motherboard
from the chassis.

You'd think after all these years, Intel would be able to competently design
a simple heatsink/fan.

Bruce.

"Ghostrider" <-00-@fitron.142> wrote in message
news:IPWdnZbUg_QynsbVnZ2dnUVZ_q7inZ2d@supernews.co m...
> The easiest trick is to bypass the use of the stock Intel HSF entirely.
> Shop around for the high-end HSF's that have replaced the spring-loaded
> pushpins with screw-bolts and a lever-actuated lock to hold down the
> heatsink proper to the heat slug of the CPU. Thermaltake, Zalman and
> even Asus mades these.

Thanks. I'm checking out the options on NewEgg. I might have to do some
heatsink shopping if I can't get the Intel one to lock securly.

Bruce.

the trick is to install the cpu, heatsink and fan with the board outside the
case.
"Bruce." <noone@example.net> wrote in message
news:67D6k.3905$cW3.995@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
> I'm upgrading 2 computers, both to P5E's with Intel E8400 and heatsink/fan
> assembly. Both have been a bear to get mounted and locked down.
>
> It sounds simple. Line up the 4 pegs and push down until they lock. The
> problem is the locking mechanism is very weak and the processor is a high
> spot in the middle. Lock one pin and the assembly seesaws and the other
> corner pops loose. In order to get all 4 locked, you basically have to
> warp the fan assembly to lock all 4 at the same time, and the locks just
> aren't secure enough to put that much force on them.
>
> There has to be a trick to it but I can't figure it out. I'm afraid one
> of the pegs is going to pop loose at some point in the future and ruin the
> thermal contact.
>
> Has anyone developed a trick for getting these things locked down
> securely?
>
> Bruce.
>
>

In article <URD6k.3911$cW3.428@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com>,
noone@example.net says...
> "Ghostrider" <-00-@fitron.142> wrote in message
> news:IPWdnZbUg_QynsbVnZ2dnUVZ_q7inZ2d@supernews.co m...
> > The easiest trick is to bypass the use of the stock Intel HSF entirely.
> > Shop around for the high-end HSF's that have replaced the spring-loaded
> > pushpins with screw-bolts and a lever-actuated lock to hold down the
> > heatsink proper to the heat slug of the CPU. Thermaltake, Zalman and
> > even Asus mades these.
>
> Thanks. I'm checking out the options on NewEgg. I might have to do some
> heatsink shopping if I can't get the Intel one to lock securly.
>
> Bruce.
>
>
>

You might want to take a look at:

http://www.frostytech.com/

Bill

"Bill" <spamtrap@tinlc.lumbercartel.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.22c4d60cdcbe76db989878@localhost...
> You might want to take a look at:
>
> http://www.frostytech.com/

Thanks Bill. Lots of choices.

Bruce.

"noname" <compsync@gmail.com> wrote in
news:g3evu8$tq6$1@registered.motzarella.org:

> You're right, these HSFs are a pain. You have to lock one peg then
> the other one diagonially across from it, then the same for the other
> two. The trick is to make sure to look on the underside of the Mobo
> that the pegs are trough the holes and the black sticks protrude
> thought the split in the white pegs so that they are locked in place.
> I installed the HSF before putting the Mobo in the case, it made
> things a lot easier.
>
> good luck,
> john

I installed an OCZ tower type heatsink recently and one of the white split
pegs got split too far open and got bent backwards.I was cussing the
heatsink because it just wouldn't go into place until I realized what had
happened and fixed the issue. Took me close to an hour to get that mofo
installed.

"Bruce." <noone@example.net> wrote in
news:KJD6k.3910$cW3.2390@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com:

> You'd think after all these years, Intel would be able to competently
> design a simple heatsink/fan.
>
> Bruce.

They did. The P4 latter heatsinks were easy to install but they changed the
design for the C2D, idiots.