Heatsink can't fit onto motherboard!!!!! PLEASE HELP!

[MRiddle]

I bought a AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and it came with a heatsink/fan that goes on top. The processor is the right kind for the mother board (AM2 socket) and it fits in fine. The problems begin when I try to add the heatsink. The heatsink has problems because it has these golden tubes that stick out of different sides to it. I've looked over the paper that came with the processor that shows how to install the heatsink, but the heatsink in the picture is different than the one that shipped with the box.

I've tried putting it on there, but it goes on crooked and really worries me. It is very hard to remove after it goes on too.

What can I do? The heatsink had pre-appled bonding agent so I know I need to clean off both surfaces now and apply bolding agent again when I try to put it on again, but what can I do? What kind of object should I use to clean off both surfaces?

ARG!

 

[raanemaan]

Can you post pics

 

[lenjack]

Did this heatsink come in the same box as the proceesor? Was it a seperately purchased item? Sounds like you didn't get the retail heatsink which is packed in the AMD box with the processor. Yes, we need pictures.

 

[MRiddle]

Yes, it was in the same package. It still had the seal on it with the serial and everything. I'm TRYING to find my digital camera right now but I am having no luck.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

haha are you saying the stock amd cooler doesn't fit on your motherboard? i dont believe you...

you must rotate it!

 

[MRiddle]

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3019/computer1tm3.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1893/computer2zi5.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3622/computer3dp9.jpg

I don't have a picture of it on because it's hard as heck to get on there. When it is on, it is sideways and seems to touch the ram.

 

[MRiddle]

I've tried rotating it, but then the cord that hooks it up to the power for the fan has to stretch around it, which doesn't work. You can only really put it in one way, and the metal pipes press into the orange sides and dent it and it is crooked and yeah.

This is how successful my first PC build is going.

 

[sutahz]

It looks like you got it on there. Don't be afraid to apply a little more pressure to the hook part to get it to latch on fully. How much does it touch the ram? Does it push the ram over a few mm's or just fit right up aginst it? What are you using to (try) and secure the HSF to the mobo? Flat head screwdriver or your fingers or..?
Sidenotes/questions: I dont know how much dual-channel actually matters (probley not much) but is your ram in the right slots for dual-ch?
Your 8800GT(?) is in the 2nd PCI-Ex16 slot, does it run in x16 mode there or x8 (not that it really matters either I'm sure, but why not have things where they can run their fastest).

 

[kb2114]

Switch the ram to the other slots...

 

[MRiddle]

Things might not be in the right spot because I am stupid and don't know where to actually put them. I didn't know the two places for the video card were different.

The thing looks like it literally touches it. It doesn't push the ram in any direction, but it looks like it touches it. So much that if it vibrated, I feel it would vibrate the memory. It doesn't look straight like it should when on there. It should go straight on there. I literally have to take put my entire weight into it to get the heatsink on there. It doesn't use screws or anything, just those metal grabbers on each side that latches onto to plastic pieces that stick out.

 

[MRiddle]

About the ram, I looked at the manual and it was marked like ram a1 and ram b1 and then the other two slots were a2 and b2 or something like that. So I put them in a1 and b1.

looking at the book now, they were marked DDR2A1 AND DDR2B1 where I put them.

 

[MRiddle]

I found someone else having the same problem.

"I just bought one, the cooler was included, just one problem! The cooler does not fit onto the retention module properly. AMD sent me another (K8), same thing. On the first, the pipes come out of the cooler too low and as a result, will not let the cooler seat onto the CPU, on the second they sent, one side is fine, the other does not seat properly either, the brackets on one side go outward instead of inward, preventing the proper seating as well. The cooler is different that the one that comes with the 5600, which works fine. I use a Biostar TF570 SLI motherboard."

 

[MRiddle]

"I upgraded from a 5600, which fit fine. The cooler for the 6000 has pipes, whereas the cooler for the 5600 does not, this causes the problem with trying to seat it properly. AMD it working on it and I'll repost when I get some more information."

 

[MRiddle]

Have I confused people now?

 

[sutahz]

Your not stupid, ignorant at worst (at least your building/upgrading your own computer instead of paying someone gobs of money to do a simple task). Just so ya know, those tubes are heatpipes, they help carry heat away from the cpu very fast and effectivly.
Can you use the HSF (heatsink+fan) that you used for your 5600+? If your not overclocking I'm sure it will do the job. As for the RAM, personally I wouldnt worry about it slightly touching it in A1 and B1, but alternativly you can switch to A2 and B2 to keep dual-ch. I'm not confused (I think), I just don't see how it's not fitting (but I'm sure to accuratly show that you'd need a camera man and like 20pics).

 

[MRiddle]

I didn't upgrade from a 5600+, that was something someone else posted that I found on google.

I kind of don't want to use the heatsink on my other computer since I'd like to have 2 working computers.

I wiped off the bonding agent on both items and have put the heatsink back in the box. I'll come back tomorrow and see if anyone has any solutions.

Thanks for your help everyone!

p.s. I will probably have to buy another heatsink/fan, but that's not a big problem, I was going to in the first place anyways.

 

[SX2012]

you can pull off the socket fixture by unscrewing it, then file or grind down the places where its bottoming out so the heatsink will fit, also put the ram in the furthest slots if its touching or really close. You shouldnt have to do this but if your desperate this could work.

 

[sutahz]

One thing you can try if you'd like, is say what city your in and see if anyone lives nearby. You could also take it to a comptuer shop (local shop or a national chain) and see what ammt they'd charge you to install it.
The bonding agent is called thermal paste. Aftermarket HSF's can be very good, but you usually get what you pay for.

 

[MRiddle]

It's a new week, and I am wondering if there are any new suggestions?

 

[myocardia]

Just grab one of these. It'll cool your hot 90nm processor considerably better than the stock heatsink, it's quieter, and it'll definitely fit. Oh, and it's the cheapest heatsink on the planet.

 

[MRiddle]

FREE! Nice!

What kind of thermal compound do I need to get? Or does all thermal compound work on all processors?

Expect another thread with other problems soon. Hopefully with pictures.

 

[myocardia]

Yeah, all thermal compound works on all heatsinks. If you don't already have some, the three best are listed here.

 

[Zepper]

I got my rebate on my TX2 a few days ago, so I can vouch for that one. I don't have anything to use it on yet, just thinking ahead.

re. Three best goops - AS5 isn't particularly good on CPUs with heat spreaders. Best on open die CPUs - not many of them any more...

.bh.

 

[cubeless]

but u need to change the clip on the tx for the am2... not dissing this guy too much, but i hope that's not beyond him...

i just had a annoying parallel to this: got a tuniq 120 from scv for $30 a couple weeks ago, planning to put it on the kids' 650i/c2d... dang thing won't fit... there are caps right next to the socket on the top side of the stupid board... the base on the hsf is too big... could have got out the hacksaw (there'senogh spare material to the side of the heatpipe to prune), but left the tx on it... probably the worst mb choice i've ever made, gigabyte 650i sli...