PC From Scratch - Articles - Installing heatsink and fan

Installing heatsink and fan

Posted on Fri 16 Jan 2004 by Anonymous (2191 reads)

	Please follow the handling and anti-static precautions as outlined here.

View video of memory being installed.
heatsinkinstall.avi - 451Kb (Requires Divx decoder - see www.divx.com for more info.)

Notice there is a step on the left of the socket - ensure that the corresponding cut-out aligns with this (marked with red rectangles in the image on the left). In theory, you should not be able to install the heatsink the wrong way, but it may be possible to force it on. Make sure you do not do this as the heatsink will not make proper contact with the CPU core, which will cause it to overheat and at worst, destroy your CPU!

	AMD Athlon and Duron processors have four small pads near the outer corners that help support the heatsink assembly. If any one or more of these pads are missing, do not continue. Fitting the heatsink assembly without the proper supporting pads can cause the heatsink to not sit on the CPU's core properly, which means it will not expel excess heat efficiently - your shiny new CPU can then overheat, causing crashes and probably even destroy the CPU itself.

	Normally, a heatsink has a small patch of thermal compound applied to its base (area ringed in red in image above) - and often it will have a thin plastic cover on it, you must remove this plastic film before fitting the heatsink.

	Please note that the heatsink used for this article is a used item, so the factory applied heat transfer compound was no longer of use. You can buy heat transfer compound from various sources. You can see the white compound, which has been evenly applied to the CPU core (see image above).

Tilting the heatsink as you offer it up to the CPU will help attach the retaining clip to the socket.

Exactly how you do this part depends upon your heatsink and the CPU/socket type, etc. But this one has a handy plastic area to push down on.

Push down until the retaining clip is located securely on the socket.

Finally, connect the fan to its power connector on the motherboard. Again, this will only fit on one way.

	Refer to you motherboard's manual as to which connector is for the CPU fan, and to where it is located. Some boards will have extra connectors for other system, or case fans.

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