urgent help !! Can't install s939 heatsink

[cookie_365]

Help !!!

I'm trying to install the heatsink on my new Athlon 64.

I can get the back retention clip down, and I can get the one with the lock down until it clicks, but when I move the lock lever around it flips the clip back up, not down

What am I doing wrong ??

Thanks
__________________

ah, got it - not being brave enough with the amount of force to press down with !

Now I can't get the black plastic lever to rotate , - I'll try some more brute force

[Ramrod]

Post a piccy?

[cookie_365]

OK, got the lever down - but it doesn't actually clip to anything

Pics attached - is that right?

Thanks !

[pedantic]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...68#post1841168 does this help ?

Regards.

[cookie_365]

Originally Posted by pedantic

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...68#post1841168 does this help ?

Regards.

Not really

But there's so little room to work with I had to hold the mobo by the heatsink and lower it in - and nothing fell out

I'll be amazed if I haven't trashed at least 3 components yet ,,,,

[jamesclarke555]

I know what you're going through m8, there's just no damn leeway on those sockets. Just a matter of patiently persevering until you manage to hook the two clips over the prongs and then pull the lever across to tighten the installation. It's a lot easier to install heatsinks first before installing the motherboard into the case, just lay the board on an anti-static bag on a tabletop etc. That way you can get a better angle on things and don't have to worry about other components getting in the way

[cookie_365]

Cheers all - it seems stable enough - it coped with me lifting the mobo by it - so I reckon I'm ok for now - I'll revisit it later though.

[Ramrod]

[nffc]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

I know what you're going through m8, there's just no damn leeway on those sockets. Just a matter of patiently persevering until you manage to hook the two clips over the prongs and then pull the lever across to tighten the installation. It's a lot easier to install heatsinks first before installing the motherboard into the case, just lay the board on an anti-static bag on a tabletop etc. That way you can get a better angle on things and don't have to worry about other components getting in the way

I don't think they're harder than installing a socket A HSF, in fact, I think they're a lot easier. And I don't really buy the "out of case" theory either, I prefer to put the mountings in, then screw the mobo, then install the components, it keeps the mobo still when you're putting the HSF in for example.

[Strzelecki]

Yeah I prefer that too. I hardly ever use the heatsink and fan that comes with the retail cpu though as the mounting mechanism is always hard to use than 3rd party heatsink like Aksa and Zalman, (and their performance is worse!). The Intel P4 ones are bad, so plasticy and flexy and the 775 socket ones with the screw down retention clip that are plastic and on each corner are a pain too, practice definitely makes it quick and easy though!

[Chrysalis]

MY Arctic cooler was a bitch to put in, it had to have 6 holders connected to the cpu holder. Usually using a small flat end screwdriver helps a lot but just be careful not to slip and hit something important on the motherboard, keep the heatsink level at all times so you dont crush whats below it.

[jamesclarke555]

Originally Posted by nffc

I don't think they're harder than installing a socket A HSF, in fact, I think they're a lot easier. And I don't really buy the "out of case" theory either, I prefer to put the mountings in, then screw the mobo, then install the components, it keeps the mobo still when you're putting the HSF in for example.

I agree about the Socket A thing; they were a b*st*rd made worse by the exposed core of the Athlon XP. Socket 939 is a big improvement, but still not as easy to install as a Socket 478 P4 HSF.

As for installing the HSF in or out of the case, it's all subjective and really depends on what case and components you have. I've got a Cooler Master Wave Master, which is huge and also has a pull out motherboard tray, so I don't need to remove it completely.

[cookie_365]

I reckone it probably was easier than Socket A in the end; I maybe just wasn't being as brave enough with £280 worth of new dual core A64 and £80 worth of new Asus mob than I should have been

Still, can't have done too much damage or I wouldn't be typing this now

[nffc]

Originally Posted by jamesclarke555

I agree about the Socket A thing; they were a b*st*rd made worse by the exposed core of the Athlon XP. Socket 939 is a big improvement, but still not as easy to install as a Socket 478 P4 HSF.

As for installing the HSF in or out of the case, it's all subjective and really depends on what case and components you have. I've got a Cooler Master Wave Master, which is huge and also has a pull out motherboard tray, so I don't need to remove it completely.

Suppose it depends on your case and personal agenda really. Personally, my way which has always worked for me is:
- yank out all the metal blankers for slots, bays etc unless a) I don't have a replacement or b) I don't need them... I normally have enough spares though.
- If the case has a mobo tray take it out
- Put the mob on the tray and then refit
- If the case doesn't have a tray fit the mobo directly
- fit CPU and HSF
- connect front switches, USBs, and PSU to mobo
- fit other stuff (RAM, AGPs, PCIs, drives)

Normally if I get steric issues with the HSF I'll normally just unscrew/remove the PSU rather than fit (heavy) items to an unprotected mobo and lift it in later.