Did I install my spankin new CPU wrong?

[CyberChild]

Hay all,

This is such a stupid question but I'm building a computer on my own for the first time. I purchased a sweet new Athlon XP 2800+ and spluged on a shim and the Thermalright SLK-800A. However, when I installed the heatsink I turned it so that the side of the clip with the screwdriver hook was facing inward towards the northbridge. The clip on the Thermalright is ambidextrious and so I had no idea if it made a difference which way I installed it until I glanced at the CPU installation chart supplied with my CPU and they showed the clip with the screwdriver hook on the outside (I know, I'm an idiot). Now I'm in the situation where I cannot get the Thermalright off without some serious effort that I'd rather avoid and I don't know if I've done anything that might damage the CPU. Someone please tell me whether it's ok or not to have my Thermalright installed this way. I have not powered up my sweet new computer only to have the CPU meltdown immediately because I installed it incorrectly. Thanks in advance.

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

if its an nforce2 board, then the socket is rotated from "normal" sockets...
but anyways, the part that you have to push down wtih the screwdriver and hook on should be at the top of the board, right beside the psu

its not ambidextrous if you look at it. You can see a raised portion on the heatsink, which should go ontop of the raise part of the socket

if you installed it backwards, you better hope that shim protected the cpu from being crushed

 

[Crucial]

I would think the shim should keep you safe from the pressure needed to remove it. You're actually lucky you had a shim on in this case. Good luck getting it off.

 

[BG4533]

The HS is not making good contact with the core now. If you are were to turn it on you would get very high temperatures. You are going to have to get it off somehow. It is difficult to crack a core if you put force down on it evenly. However, if you pivot the HS on the core with a bit of force, it will crack without much effort. Just don't wobble the HS and you should be fine. Goodluck.

Brian