HSF Bracket loses 2 of 3 nubs on one side -- big problem?

[WhipperSnapper]

So, I finally found a used Opteron 185 at a reasonable price. Actually, I got the Opteron 185, four 1 GB RAM sticks (PNY, ick!), an Asus SLI gaming mobo, and a monster HSF for $75.

Anyway, when I went to remove the HSF in my own rig, an Acrtic Freezer Pro, so that I could remove an Athlon 4400, apparently I ripped off 2 of the three nubs on one of the sides (the side that faces down). I popped in the Opteron 185 and was able to clamp the HSF back on.

Should I be really concerned that the HSF might not have a good connection to the CPU now? Do I need to worry about that last nub breaking at some point and the entire HSF smashing down onto my video card?

The motherboard says that the CPU temps are OK (about 35 C at idle, 44 at load).

I guess I can get a replacement K8 bracket, but having to rip out the mobo and essentially rebuild the computer sounds like a big pain-in-the-ass.

Can I coast for a while until I have nothing better to do but replace that bracket, or do I need to address this ASAP?

 

[hdfxst]

as long as the lug stays in place it will be fine but i would spend the 8 bucks and get the bracket.If that last lug breaks it will be an instant death for the cpu.

 

[someone16]

I would just lay the computer flat until you get the time to switch out the bracket. No risk of it falling off then!

 

[Zap]

Which ones broke? If the one in the center is still intact, then it is fine. Stock AMD heatsinks only use that center lug.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

It was the center nub and one on the side. The side that didn't break faces up so at worst, hopefully it would hold the hsf by gravity. I'm hoping to change the bracket this week.