Installation

First things first - you've got to get the right metal top on, with the metal screws in the right place. Changing the metal plate is a doddle - all you do is unscrew the top plastic bolt and exchange them. However, with regards to the AMD bracket, it's important to note which way it goes round because it's the opposite to what you'd expect - the angled edges point upwards!

Getting the screws in and out of their positions is a right pain in the backside though. The tiny "C" shaped clips are extremely fiddly and, unless you're extremely careful, will ping off leaving you to search through the carpet or resort to using the extras in the box. At least there are three extras. If you don't eject them directly outwards, they are thin and prone to breakage. Our advice is to not twist them, because that will cause them to break rather emphatically.

It's good that CoolIT provides a few extra parts, but what does that say about the design if people can expect to lose or break bits? After a few tries we did get into it though and all it requires is a small flat head screw driver, or even a PCI blanking plate!


Once fitted, the finished articles should look like the mounted brackets below. We're showing the fitting outside the case for ease of photography, but CoolIT advises you to do this inside the case instead. First, use the sticky backplate to affix it to the backside of the motherboard, then install the motherboard inside the case. We'd expected this method not to work so well as putting force down by the screws on just something suspected by double-sided tape would simply pop off, however this doesn't seem to be the case, although it is a single application only - further limiting re-usability.


With it in the case already, laid on its back with the screws lined up and the radiator resting out the way - screwing it all down isn't so bad. Our original approach outside the case or on a motherboard tray makes it more difficult because you often have to hold the radiator assembly as well in order to get the first screw in place - this is because of the tough tubing. However, going against the natural tendency to install it outside of the case, it actually works better to defy what would normally be logical.


As you can see from the AMD installation above; with tall G.Skill Pi heatspreaders installed right next to the CPU socket, the Domino ALC actually has the advantage of not interfering at all, just like most waterblocks and unlike many air coolers. It does require some extra socket preparation though in removing the old plastic socket surround first.