ASRock 939 owners

[igowerf]

I just got an ASRock 939SLI32, and I found that many users have the 939Dual here. I'm assuming that the retention bracket on both of these boards are similar, so I'm hoping I can get some help.

I bought a Zalman CNPS 9500 cooler and I can't figure out how to install this thing. There are two sets of instructions for 939 motherboards:

The first says to simply screw the cooler into the retention bracket, but the holes in my backet are too wide to hold the screws.

The second says to remove the push pin and install the hardware supplied by Zalman, but my motherboard doesn't have the pushpin type installation.

The two installation processes are shown in this Flash video but neither example seems to describe my motherboard.

 

[Navid]

Did you check the compatibility list on the Zalman site to make sure that it works with this motherboard?

I have Asrock 939 SATA2 and I know that if I want to install some coolers, I will need to get a backplate that does not come with either the cooler or the motherboard.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Does that heatsink come with its own retention bracket? Does it also need a backplate (that the motherboard doesn't come with - mine needed one)?

If it does come with its own retention bracket (which mine also did), you can just remove the stock bracket by using something like a flathead screwdriver to lift up the push-pin type fasteners on the inside of the bracket... (assuming of course your board is the same as mine)

 

[igowerf]

Hmm... my motherboard is not listed, but I'm not sure how up to date this list is. The compatibility list seems to be for clearance around the CPU socket though.

Where can I get a backplate if I were to need one? I thought that heatsink installations would be more standardized by now... The last time I installed a heatsink, you could just use a screwdriver to slide the metalbracket down over the notches that were built into the socket itself.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Does that heatsink come with its own retention bracket? Does it also need a backplate (that the motherboard doesn't come with - mine needed one)?

If it does come with its own retention bracket (which mine also did), you can just remove the stock bracket by using something like a flathead screwdriver to lift up the push-pin type fasteners on the inside of the bracket... (assuming of course your board is the same as mine)

It does come with brackets, but those are supposed to be for P4 motherboards. I might be able to use them if the brackets are the same size though. I didn't even think about that. I'll give it a try this weekend. What cooler are you using in your system? Thanks!

 

[Navid]

You can get a backplate here.

I did not like to have to remove the motherboard everytime I wanted to change the cooler or to just re-apply thermal paste.
So, I only use coolers that can mount exactly as the retail AMD does like the Freezer 64 pro from Arctic Cooling for example.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: Navid
You can get a backplate here.

I did not like to have to remove the motherboard everytime I wanted to change the cooler or to just re-apply thermal paste.
So, I only use coolers that can mount exactly as the retail AMD does like the Freezer 64 pro from Arctic Cooling for example.

I might just give up on this Zalman and do what you do... This stupid cooler cost nearly $70 too.

 

[igowerf]

Ok. I just ordered an Arctic Freezer 64 from Newegg. Anyone want to buy a Zalman 9500? 🙂

 

[Navid]

I don't know about 64. I have heard good things about 64 pro.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: Navid
I don't know about 64. I have heard good things about 64 pro.

Oh yeah. That's what I meant. From the reviews, it sounds like a great card. If I had ordered this in the first place, my system could have been up and running last night. Thanks for the suggestion.