Installing CPU Coolers: The good, The Bad and The Ugly
Posted on 2nd Dec 2009 at 11:24 by Mark Mackay with 22 comments
The first CPU cooler I ever installed was an AMD reference HSF when I upgraded my Athlon XP processor to a superior model. It was in fact my first ever PC upgrade. I remember carefully (and perhaps a little nervously) placing the blocky aluminium heatsink in position, hooking both sides around the socket, pushing the retention arm down and thinking, "hmph - that wasn’t so hard."
A couple of years later and I was building my first PC from scratch. Being an avid reader of Custom PC, the Elite List was my inspiration for component selection. The Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro was the only choice. This was the first time I’d encountered push-pin system used on Intel’s reference cooler. While the principle seemed simple enough, my lack of PC experience and impatience to finish the build ensured that it was considerably more difficult than it needed to be. Nowadays however, being familiar with the nuances of the simple system, installing a cooler that uses it takes about eight seconds.
But there are some CPU coolers that use installation methods that utterly baffle the mind. I often liken these mounting systems to Meccano sets; such is the ridiculousness of the components list. If these coolers provided a CPU contact that akin to elephant sitting on the heatsink and awesome performance to boot then I’d understand. But many of them don’t. Even if they did, surely CPU contact could be achieved in a simple manner?
One that springs to mind is the Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme. It requires a back-plate to sit behind the motherboard, a mounting bracket which sits on top of the motherboard, a hold-down to secure the cooler to the mounting bracket and, to hold the caboodle together, a tool shed’s worth of screws and bolts. What’s more, you really need to remove the fan to assemble theMeccano set HSF as otherwise you wont be able to reach the screws. Because of the way a fan controller has been incorporated into the fan mount, reattaching the fan is a nightmare. What’s more, the performance numbers are pants.
Let’s take a look at the Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme for some comparison. A back-plate and a hold down are required. Four spring-loaded screws clamp the base-plate in between and the fan clips on in a second. Job done. What’s more, the cooling is awesome.
Why make it more complicated? Is it because some manufacturers are concerned people will feel gypped if it doesn’t take 30 minutes to install? Have they employed ex-Meccano engineers who are desperately trying to re-instate their skills in the world of HSF installation? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences below.
A couple of years later and I was building my first PC from scratch. Being an avid reader of Custom PC, the Elite List was my inspiration for component selection. The Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro was the only choice. This was the first time I’d encountered push-pin system used on Intel’s reference cooler. While the principle seemed simple enough, my lack of PC experience and impatience to finish the build ensured that it was considerably more difficult than it needed to be. Nowadays however, being familiar with the nuances of the simple system, installing a cooler that uses it takes about eight seconds.
The push-pin system - you either love it or hate it
But there are some CPU coolers that use installation methods that utterly baffle the mind. I often liken these mounting systems to Meccano sets; such is the ridiculousness of the components list. If these coolers provided a CPU contact that akin to elephant sitting on the heatsink and awesome performance to boot then I’d understand. But many of them don’t. Even if they did, surely CPU contact could be achieved in a simple manner?
One that springs to mind is the Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme. It requires a back-plate to sit behind the motherboard, a mounting bracket which sits on top of the motherboard, a hold-down to secure the cooler to the mounting bracket and, to hold the caboodle together, a tool shed’s worth of screws and bolts. What’s more, you really need to remove the fan to assemble the
The Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme - mounting an HSF doesn't need to be any more complicated
Let’s take a look at the Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme for some comparison. A back-plate and a hold down are required. Four spring-loaded screws clamp the base-plate in between and the fan clips on in a second. Job done. What’s more, the cooling is awesome.
Why make it more complicated? Is it because some manufacturers are concerned people will feel gypped if it doesn’t take 30 minutes to install? Have they employed ex-Meccano engineers who are desperately trying to re-instate their skills in the world of HSF installation? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences below.
22 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyThe bad ones :
Socket 755 pushpins on big coolers like Scythe Ninja. Dumb decision, very dumb
The very, very, very, very bad and a very, very, very, very ugly one :
Scythe Ninja 2 on AM2 - nightmare. It was a idiot, who designed this mounting system. It uses the standard bracket of AM2/AM3 socket, which is fine. But you have to press clamps on both sides of cooler at same time and get them locked to bracket while pushing the two clamps with your two hands, keeping it at place with the 3rd hand :).
but their new combined LGA775/1156/1366 are crap, no more spring to make sure it's tight, feels cheap and about to break off
Was a bit fiddly to install but does work well :D
Only real problem is that if i ever want to change it, it involves practically disassembling the entire PC...
As for the worst mounting method, it's got to be some of the Socket A and older types.
spring loaded bar that you have to force over some plastic tabs on the cpu socket.
One i once owned had a notch for a flathead screwdriver on one end of the bar that you had to push down with terrifying* force.
* ie: so much force that one slip and the screwdriver would go through the motherboard
But frakly that involved burning bits off it with a soldering iron to make it fit around my MSI superpipe
but its a dream...a real dream.....perhaps you need to consider if the effort is worthwhile - some kind of ratio bewteen worth and hair-pulling - H50 wins hands down
Pushpins piss me off, I always manage to break something..
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cooling/2007/12/23/ocz_vendetta/1
, with push pins. the thing is smaller than most heatsinks, without giving up much cooling power. it was easy and fast.
Moving on a bit I have no recollection of installing my Fenrir so it can't have been too bad!
^^ THIS. Easier to put on than the stock cooler.
Intel's retention system is a finger-beater and a pain in the arse, what a ludicrous idea.
And most of the desk!! I actually DID this on a few occasions but the most damage was a scratched PCB and some sweat when pressing the power button. Mostly though that was because I was rushing it, if you took the time to get it snugly in then they snapped in pretty easily if still quite dangerously!