Can a huge CPU heatsink damage the motherboard?

[Ashkael]

Alright so I currently own an Intel Core i7 920 processor and I'm using a Xigmatek Dark Knight cooler. Looking to push my OC further on air, I decided to order a Noctua NH-D14 heatsink. However, looking at some unboxing videos on YouTube, I realized that this cooler is ginormous. The guy in one of the unboxing videos I watched holds it right next to his head and it's nearly the same size.

The Xigmatek Dark Knight is already a big cooler, but the Noctua NH-D14 completely dwarfs it. I've got my parts set up in an Antec Twelve Hundred case, so the motherboard is in a vertical position. After looking at the size of the NH-D14, I'm a little bit worried about having such a gigantic heatsink strapped to the top of the motherboard.

Is there a real possibility of damage when using such huge heatsinks with your motherboard on a vertical position? Can they bend the board?

 

[0roo0roo]

unless you drop the case i dont see how, its a large mass but unless you shock it, it just hangs off the mount brace which is rather sturdy, i think mb are fiberglass anyways.

 

[daw123]

If you are worried, then use a bolt-thru-kit, like this:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lga13sobbowi.html

or

http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/xigmatek-crossbow-lga1366-bolt-thru-kit.html

or

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thlgboreboxb.html

 

[zagood]

Daw: he's talking about the D14, which has a bolt-thru already.

Heavy heatsinks can warp a motherboard, yes. Pretty rare though. If you're paranoid about it you can jury-rig a stabilizer, something like a thin wire from the top of the heatsink to the brace on the top of the case. I'll see if I can track down an example or two for you.

Examples...

(from http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=629819)

 

[EarthwormJim]

You can damage a motherboard if there's no retention bracket to support the back. I remember some watercooling blocks that used bolts with no retention bracket would seriously warp motherboards when tightened.

Motherboards are pretty damn strong though, have you ever tried to break one with your hands? I'd honestly worry more about the heatpipes in the heatsink breaking than the motherboard.

 

[PCTC2]

I've shipped a computer cross-country, ground shipping UPS, with a Thermalright Ultra120 on it, with a little bit of duct tape holding it to the chassis. Computer is still 100% fine and I've moved 4 times carrying every computer I own up and down stairs, driving on bumpy roads in a moving van, with huge heatsinks mounted. As long as they have a back plate, you should be fine.