Need help installing new Intel CPU fan.

[Powerstroke2000]

Finally my Intel CPU fan arrived, and I hope someone can help me through the install process. It looks rather simple, but I would rather do this right once, and not have any issues later, thus the reason for asking for installation help.

It looks to be a good sized unit, looking the same as the fan currently installed (and not working) and the heat sink appears to be aluminum. There are two white slide handles on either side, which I would assume lock the fan into place? Are these the only attachment to the fan and heat sink, holding it in?
There appears to be a black substance on the bottom of the new heat sink as well.

Thanks in advance!

Dale

[Chris Linder]

What socket MOBO are you using 775, AM2

[kissfan]

I think we have a Skt 478 here, just waiting for confirmation.

Deuce

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by 1life2live4 What socket MOBO are you using 775, AM2

AM2? This is a Intel based computer. Look at his sig.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 Finally my Intel CPU fan arrived, and I hope someone can help me through the install process. It looks rather simple, but I would rather do this right once, and not have any issues later, thus the reason for asking for installation help.

Here ya go.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 Are these the only attachment to the fan and heat sink, holding it in?

Well, yes and no...it's the black "legs" dangling down that actually hold the heatsink fan unit onto the CPU...they "catch" the "legs" coming up from the attachment ring around the CPU socket. The levers are cam-lock levers and they help put pressure on the heatsink so that it makes good contact with the CPU heatspreader.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 There appears to be a black substance on the bottom of the new heat sink as well.

That's the thermal pad and is necessary...don't peel it off.

Cricket

[Powerstroke2000]

Sorry folks, yes...it's a socket 478. It looks like a simple install, but we'll see how easy it is once I receive some instruction on doing this right!

I've installed hard drives, Ram and a new DVD burner in the past, so I'm not totally foreign to opening up the computer (actually it's open now with a room fan blowing on the CPU!).

I don't know how difficult/easy the current heatsink will be to come off? Is it stuck on real well, or will it pull off once the two cam-lock levers are lifted?

I don't see any adhesive in the packaging of my new fan/heat sink, but there is a black substance on the bottom of the heat sink, so I'll assume that will be placed directly on the CPU?

Thanks again!

Dale

[Powerstroke2000]

One more thing ~

Upon turning my new fan/heat sink upside down within it's plastic packaging, it looks as if the "thermal interface material" has touched the plastic casing upon shipment (or prior perhaps) and is stuck on the plastic casing!
It is minimal, but with 3 or so areas of this material gone I can see the shiny bottom of the heat sink with this material gone.
Is it worth trying to get some more, or is there enough where the thermal interface material will heat up and spread itself over the entire processor? Would it be worthwhile trying to scrap any of this material off the plastic casing and reapplying somehow, albeit since the material is minimal at best on my new heat sink bottom, this might be tough to do.

Thanks..

Dale

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 Sorry folks, yes...it's a socket 478. It looks like a simple install, but we'll see how easy it is once I receive some instruction on doing this right!

I provided a link to installation instructions in my previous post. Click on "Here ya go."

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 I don't know how difficult/easy the current heatsink will be to come off?

It's a little tricky to get off.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 I don't know how difficult/easy the current heatsink will be to come off? Is it stuck on real well, or will it pull off once the two cam-lock levers are lifted?

First, you have to flip the cam-lock levers so that the pressure is off the heatsink. Next you have to remove the top assembly...but before you do that you might want to grab the actual heatsink and then twist it back and forth a few times to break the seal between the heatsink and the processor...the thermal interface material may have bonded the two together and if you don't break this bond and lift the heatsink out, the processor may get pulled out of the socket.

So once you've twisted the heatsink a few times (it'll only move back and forth a tiny bit but it may be enough), you have to undo the top "legs" from the bottom retention ring. I find it's best to use a screwdriver or some rigid plastic thing to help pry the "legs" out far enough so that the catch comes out of the hole of the retention ring. Once you get two of the "legs" free you should be able to get the whole thing off...but be careful at this point because if you pull up suddenly the processor may come out of the socket (and you might damage some pins...or pull them out of the processor). Once you get the "legs" free you have to see if the heatsink is stuck to the processor or not...again, start twisting or move the heatsink back and forth and gently lift the heatsink upward...if there's resistance, the processor is stuck to the bottom of the heatsink...you just gotta keep working the heatsink back and forth until you break the bond.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 I don't see any adhesive in the packaging of my new fan/heat sink, but there is a black substance on the bottom of the heat sink, so I'll assume that will be placed directly on the CPU?

The black thing is the thermal pad. Yes, you use the heatsink as is.

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 Upon turning my new fan/heat sink upside down within it's plastic packaging, it looks as if the "thermal interface material" has touched the plastic casing upon shipment (or prior perhaps) and is stuck on the plastic casing! It is minimal, but with 3 or so areas of this material gone I can see the shiny bottom of the heat sink with this material gone. Is it worth trying to get some more, or is there enough where the thermal interface material will heat up and spread itself over the entire processor? Would it be worthwhile trying to scrap any of this material off the plastic casing and reapplying somehow, albeit since the material is minimal at best on my new heat sink bottom, this might be tough to do.

Nah, don't worry if some of the black stuff came off...it always does. The black stuff is actually on a piece of aluminum like material and this material is stuck to the bottom of the heatsink with some sort of glue. Just use the heatsink as it, it'll be fine.

Cricket

[Powerstroke2000]

Thanks to those of you that replied, as I followed your instructions, and now have a working Intel 478 fan!
It seems that the thermal pad from the previous fan stayed on as well (or most of it) so I guess I have a "double" layer now!

I appreciate the help...so thanks again!


Dale

[kissfan]

Just my personal opinion but I'd clean the CPU and HS and apply some nice AS5 or Ceramic paste.

I have a 2.8 Northwood clocking at 3.4 using Ceramic paste never >45C.

Deuce

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Powerstroke2000 It seems that the thermal pad from the previous fan stayed on as well (or most of it) so I guess I have a "double" layer now!

Keep an eye on the CPU temps if you can...a "double" layer of thermal interface material would actually act more like an insulator and reduce thermal transfer going on between the CPU and the heatsink.

Cricket

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Cricket Keep an eye on the CPU temps if you can...a "double" layer of thermal interface material would actually act more like an insulator and reduce thermal transfer going on between the CPU and the heatsink. Cricket

Very true. And the extra pad thickness may put additional strain on the bracket attached to the mobo. Those will commonly break in the area of the little square openings where the hsf tabs attach. Adding more thickness between the cpu and hsf could promote premature failure of that bracket.