AMD 939 X2 4200+ ... Okay, WOW!!

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
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I jumped on the lower prices, and got my 939 X2 4200+ for $188. I put it in a new rig, using only my eVAG 7900GT KO. WOW!!!!! It is FAST!!!!

AM2 who???

But I do have one gripe. The heatsink seems to be doing it's job keeping the chip cool. But, damn, it was hard to install. In the end, I put the metal clips on the resevoir clips on the ASUS mobo without using that little, black plastic piece on the side of the heatsink.

It was literally impossible to get this installed using that little plastic piece. Every tiem I turned it, the clips would come off. Has anyone else had this problem? Do I need to worry about this. Like I said, the two metal clips on each side of the heat are securely latched to the mobo plastic clips.

I really didn't like this design. But it is keeping my proc in the low 40's C no matter what I do. Not bad.

Anyway, can anyone else corroborate my heatsink installation experience??

TIA
 

crimson117

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
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What did you have before your 4200+?

939 vs. AM2 isn't much speed difference at current ram speeds, but AM2 has more room to grow in the future.

Are you talking about a stock heatsink/fan? What motherboard? More info would be helpful :)
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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The socket 754 and 939 stock HSF's are the 2 easiest HSF's I've ever installed. I did RTFM though :)
 

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
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Sorry, the mobo was an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. And yes, it was the stock heatsink.

I was coming from an AMD 939 3700+. What is RTFM? And yes, I know AM2 wil lgive me more room to grow, but I may be going Intel in a year, so who knows...

Anyway, I didn't have a problem wit hthe 3700+ heatsink that I recall, but this one was awful. I had to install the clips of the heatsink onto the mobo using my fingers without using the little plastic crank. In the end, the crank was in the same position where it was when I started, but the metal clips were firmly on the mobo plastic tabs. It wasn't moving.

Do you think this is ok?
 

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: Aluvus
Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
I was coming from an AMD 939 3700+. What is RTFM?

When in doubt...


Ahhh :)

The manual, riiiiight. Did you mean the flimsy little paper with the little, poor-quality photos that came with the processor? The ASUS manual was better, but in the end, I followed the directions explicitly. Reading the couple of sentences, and pouring over the obscure photos granted me no new knowledge or insight. I already knew what I needed to do. It just couldn't make it happen with that little, black crank.

Given that, the heatsink's metal clasps are securely affixed to the plastic tabs of the motherboard.

MY QUESTION: Do you think this is ok? It is working fine from a heatsink perspective, and in the end, the heatsink is secured on the processor as it is supposed to. I just didn't use the crank which is still in its original position. i want to make sure that after spending the money, that this is ok.
 

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: Budman
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The socket 754 and 939 stock HSF's are the 2 easiest HSF's I've ever installed.

Yes they are VERY EASY to install.


Yeah, well where were you at 12am last night when I couldn't get it to do that?? Nevertheless, I have installed them before, and didn't have a problem. This was the first time I have had a problem. The mobo had a heatsink pipe running right next to where the heatsink clasps to the mobo, so maybe that was part of the problem. It was tight squeeze.
 

Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,980
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Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
Originally posted by: Budman
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The socket 754 and 939 stock HSF's are the 2 easiest HSF's I've ever installed.

Yes they are VERY EASY to install.


Yeah, well where were you at 12am last night when I couldn't get it to do that?? Nevertheless, I have installed them before, and didn't have a problem. This was the first time I have had a problem. The mobo had a heatsink pipe running right next to where the heatsink clasps to the mobo, so maybe that was part of the problem. It was tight squeeze.

Was there a pipe on the other side? you could have turned the sink 180 degrees if the pipe was in the way of the lever.
 

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
474
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Originally posted by: Budman
Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
Originally posted by: Budman
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The socket 754 and 939 stock HSF's are the 2 easiest HSF's I've ever installed.

Yes they are VERY EASY to install.


Yeah, well where were you at 12am last night when I couldn't get it to do that?? Nevertheless, I have installed them before, and didn't have a problem. This was the first time I have had a problem. The mobo had a heatsink pipe running right next to where the heatsink clasps to the mobo, so maybe that was part of the problem. It was tight squeeze.

Was there a pipe on the other side? you could have turned the sink 180 degrees if the pipe was in the way of the lever.


I tried that. Same problem. In fact, it was worse, because then the crank was butting up against the pipe. Either way, it was a tight squeeze, and very hard for me to get my figners in there. And I do not have fat fingers. Anyway, you think the thing is ok in there the way I have it now?
 

kmmatney

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2000
4,363
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As long as temperatures are OK, you should be fine. However I would give it a few pushes and tugs, to make sure its stable and won't pop loose in the future.
 

BlindBartimaeus

Golden Member
Jun 8, 2002
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What is funny about that manual is that dope is touching the heatspreader with his greasy finger. That is an enthusiat fopah IMHO.
 

richardrds

Senior member
Dec 7, 2004
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GD,

Sorry you are having pblms with you HSF and i hope it works out for you. If you don't mind coulkd you tell us what type of HSF you got with your retail 4200. In the past all the X2's came with the copper Heat pipe HSF except the 3800 (3800 came with AMD's standard Aluminum HSF), but i have recently seen new 4200 buyers saying they are not getting the copper Heat pipe HSF.

Which of the following types of HSF did you receive:

a.) Standard Aluminum like an A64 Venice 3200 ships with.
b.) 4 copper heat pipes on one side like the new Opty's ship with.
c.) Old style copper Heat pipe ( 2 copper pipes on each side).

Also were did you purchase from?

Thanks in advance for the info!!!!
 

lilila001

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2006
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I have AM2 version of X2 4200+.

It's a Foxconn? aluminum HSF. And I did exactly the same as OP did to attach it onto the socket of the MATX board. Temperature also > 40 in a JPAC MATX case.
 

NesuD

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,999
106
106
I've run across one stock A64 cooler that had problems latching with the lever. All the rest worked smooth as silk. I think you may have just gotten one of the few grumpy ones.
 

GamingDaemon

Senior member
Apr 28, 2006
474
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Originally posted by: lilila001
I have AM2 version of X2 4200+.

It's a Foxconn? aluminum HSF. And I did exactly the same as OP did to attach it onto the socket of the MATX board. Temperature also > 40 in a JPAC MATX case.


This is the same heatsink I got. I purchased it from MWave, though I think they are back-ordered now. Call them and check. I spoke with Sergio...great guy.

Glad to hear that a couple of people have had similar problems as i did. This was the first time I've had such a problem. It's definitely secure, and cool.