Installing my Socket A heatsink - need help
 

I'm trying to install my heatsink, and I'm a little nervous about this already. It doesn't look quite like it does in the manual and the video from amd's website. In every picture I've seen, the HS has an indentation on one end that sits over the processor socket. This one is flat and has a processor sized square coming out the bottom. What worries me is that the HS hangs over the edge of the socket (this was described as very wrong in the manual), but it doesn't touch like the picture.

Also, about the thermal compound: The documentation all had it covered by a thin layer of film, but other than the plastic that was around the bottom of the HS, it seems uncovered. I can't find any evidence that there is something over it. It appears to be a grey, tacky substance. Smooth to the touch, and not at all sticky... just dry... is this right?

Thanks for your help.

Could you provide a pic from the manufacturers website of your heatsink? Well as long as it sits flat I wouldn't worry.. The way I do it is put the heat sink flat on there (don't do it at an angle..thats bad) and the slide the clip on one side and then use a screwdriver to put the other side on.

Exactly which hsf did you get? The ones I have used were very straight forward as to installation. I usually install them so the wires point toward where I want then to go. Look at your clips that reach from the heat sink, to the motherboard. You know, the slots in the heat sink clip line up with the tangs on the base for the cpu. Pick which way you want to place it, as it can only go two ways on most mobos, 180 deg. As long as it clears everything on all sides and sits squarly, you should be fine.

As for the gray stuff, I don't know. I use a silver compound in a tube, and use just a tad. A tad is less than a smidgen, and a smidgen is less than a scoshe, so you see I don't use much.

Clean the bottom of the heat sink thouroughly, place a tad on the cpu, place them together. Engage the clip on one side while holding it in place with your fingers, then push the clip down and in to lock into the base around the cpu. Oh, don't use the wrong pusher down tool and gouge the mobo when you slip. I have a narrow, around 3/8 inch, screwdriver that fits right into the pusher down notch. A narrower one will work, but, you don't want it to slip out and gouge. Usually, clip the non pusher side towards the power supply, and use the push down notch side toward the ram, but it is your choice.

Yeah what you described it the thermal pad on the heatsink, it works just fine for normal use (no crazy overclocking). As long as the heatsink sits flat and the pad covers the CPU die you're fine.

for AMD processors, it's not adviseable to use the thermal grease (arctic silver, etc). The stuff works great, but if the processor dies for any reason, AMD tests for the greases and if they find them, they void the warranty.

Having re-read the directions, I am somewhat more confident. If I had paid closer attention to the sheet that came with the processor, I would have seen that it says the heat sink will have either a plastic cover on the bottom or a piece of tape (or something similar) covering the thermal pad. After I installed the HS, I saw that even though it hung over the edge of the socket, it cleared it by a good 3/4 inch. Everything appears to be kosher now.

I didn't have a whole lot of time last night to work on it, but I got the processor and heatsink and RAM mounted on the motherboard, and get the drives physically installed. When I get home from work today, I'll finish it. If I can find somewhere to host some pictures, I'll put some up for you to see.

Don't forget to attach the processor fan for the love of god.

No kidding... it came pre attached to the heatsink... one more level of idiot proofing, I guess.

Everything seems to be working fine at this point. I booted into Knoppix last night. Just a few misc things left to plug in (usb, 1394, audio ports) and I should be up and running.

when applying arctic silver or comparable thermal goo i'd suggest using a business card to smooth it out before plopping the heatsink in it...you only need a layer about 1/64 inch thick for good thermal conductivity.

but he is correct about AMD voiding warrantys due to thermal paste evidence, so think before you goop it.

if you think your stock hs has trouble fitting ill show you how my 80mm ax7 fits, its a goddamn miracle it fits over everything on the board... :D


Insert CPU and lock it down.
->
Apply thermal grease as needed, smooth with credit card or simmilar.
->
Mount heatsink on cpu, secure one side of the clip, preferably the back(non cpu lock side/no pusher), then with a narrow screwdriver push and move the clip into place over the tab.

A friend of mine didnt know to take the sticker off the heatpad on his hs the first time he built a computer, his system ran fine...smelled like ass though. :D

http://www.brian1.net/computers/grease/

That should answer your questions about thermal grease. And please DON'T USE THE THERMAL PAD, thermal pad are junk compared to a nice tube of Arctic Silver 5.

Yes, but I had to weigh the value of using a less desirable cooling solution with the value (or lack thereof) of a voided warranty. I'm just going to run this thing stock for now. After I've had it a while and am ready to do some overclocking, I will move to a better option. i.e. Artic Silver

btw it's normal these days for heatsinks to hang over the edges of the socket. They're getting bigger due to the increased heat buildup.