Intel P4 Heats Sink and all that!!

[Piccolo22]

Hi All

I am getting the various parts ready for the assembly of my P4 system and have "found" the following out.

I intend to use the Intel HSF assembly as supplied with the chip, it does have a good press/forum reports!

However, I have cleaned off the parrafin wax and metal TIM in readiness for using the Arctic Alumina TIM and was looking at the lever tension mechanism. Comparing the lever cam action of the this to the Intel instructions on how to fit the HSF I think they are wrong.

The instructions say lift the levers into the upright position and attach the mechanism but with the levers in that position they are just about at their highest point. And as such I can not see how you would be able to attach the unit to the motherboard?

As far as I can see the logical way is start with them at their lowest point and then rotate them the 180degrees required for tension application.

I hope I have explained this clearly and would welcome any feedback and comments from others that have used the HSF mechanism.

Incidently, it must put one heck of a pressure on the CPU as the cam action looks like it has a 1cm lift action. No wonder they say the motherboard will bend/flex

[cheekymonkey]

Dont know if I've got the wrong end of the stick here but:

The lever mechanism on a 478 pin board is for inserting the chip, which the lever does need to be in the upright position to do.
You need to insert the chip BEFORE you put the heatsink on top.

On most of the Intel 478 heatsink and fans I've seen the heatsink is then held onto the chip by strange plastic clip jobbies which require only slight pressure to flex the plastic enough to hold them on (hard to explain) but theres one on each side and once on they rely on the plastic pushing against the heatsink and hold it in place quite firmly.

If, as it sounds, you are trying to attach the chip, heatsink and fan all at once with the lever up, I am sure you will have problems with the lever being in the way !!

[mickey_hwoarang]

exactly what CheekMonkey saids, you pull the lever to an upright position BEFORE you fit the processor into the socket with 0 force applied. AFTER processor is in proper postion, pull down the lever and lock the processor into place, then you can attach HSF.

[Piccolo22]

Hi both

It is the HSF assmbly I am refering to please note I refer to levers i.e more than one!-- the chip insertion no problemo!

The HSF unit has two levers that have a cam action that applies pressure at each end of the assembly.

What I was trying to describe was the actuality of the lever cams and Intel instructions. If the levers are upright they are already close to the highest point of the cam action on the HSF assembly.

So, the reason for my question was had anyone tried to follow the intsructions to the letter and been frustarted by the main reatining clips not reaching the mainboard retntion mechanism component.

Sorry, there I go again trying to describe in words some Intel pictures.

"On most of the Intel 478 heatsink and fans I've seen the heatsink is then held onto the chip by strange plastic clip jobbies which require only slight pressure to flex the plastic enough to hold them on (hard to explain) but theres one on each side and once on they rely on the plastic pushing against the heatsink and hold it in place quite firmly. "

Yes, cheekymonkey and the slight pressure you refer to is I suspect quite high pressure as the cams have something close a 1cm lift action. And the Intel (and others) say the motherboard will bend/flex.

Thanks for the input etc

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I have the Intel stock HSF unit you described. It has the two CAM levers yes. What you do is raise them up. Then hook the clips under the retention bracket on mobo. Now you push BOTH levers down at the same time so as to apply even presure to the cpu while fastening. If you look at the bottem of the levers there is a cam end to it. This is why it tightens as you press the lver down. It works well. Does that answer your question?