Am I installing the CPU/HSF wrong?

[egravelfl]

I just got home last night from JavaOne and found my RMA CPU had arrived.
The darn thing stopped working within half an hour after having it installed
and though I doubt I installed it wrong I'd like to make sure. I'd hate to go
through this again; been waiting for TOO LONG for this damn computer.

So here's the steps I'll do in installing it; if someone could review them, I would
greatly appreciate it.

1- Put Artice Silver 3 (very thin layer) on CPU core.

Question: what happens if some should find itself on the cpu (not the core) gray
areay or on the side of the core where it meets the gray area. Could this cause
problems like shortings? How do I clean it or fix it if it does?


2- Install stand off for Alpha PAL8045 making sure there's washer on both side
of the screw meeting the mobo.


3- Install CPU on mobo making sure that angle corner meets where the lever and
base of socket meet


4- Install Delta fan on heatsink.

Question: Should the fan blow down towards the mobo or away?
I saw a few posting stating that it should blow away for hex type of pins isntead of fins.


5- Lay flat on CPU the heatsink.

Question: gotta do this flat right? no twisting around?


6- Screw in the HS by alternating the screw tightening.

Question: I should tighten by a few turns at a time until the nylon washer
on the back of the board is tight right? How do I know if it's too tight or not
enough? I'm worried about crushing the core or something?


7- Install mobo to case making sure that the only stands meeting mobo are
needed. Put washer on top of board where the screw meets the board.

Question: Should I put a washer on the other side where mobo meets case
standoff? There seems to be a type of ring insulator on the board. Maybe that's
not what it is.


Question: Would Best Buy have washers for sale? I think the kit that came with
ABIT board didn't have that many.


Thanks.

 

[WarCon]

You should avoid reposting (I know you want an answer, but patience is a virtue).

 

[Freshbrain]

I think you did everything right, the problem might be your motherboard or PSU, you're saying it's the 2nd dead CPU, right?. I saw two CPUs dead like that and the problem was that there was a scratch in the mobo that was making a short. Probably was made when installing HSF or something.

 

[egravelfl]

no, only 1 CPU failed. I RMA my mobo and cpu 2 weeks ago and only the cpu was found to be defective.
They replaced it and sent me back my old mobo. So this time (attempt #2), I want to make sure that it
doesn't happen again. That means making sure that I didn't screw up during my install. I don't think I
did but I'd like the opinion of others.