Installation of Intel CPUs looks scary

[Moffat Cafe]

I'm an old AMD guy ready to order my first Intel Core 2 Duo and a motherboard so I checked out the lengthy, detailed installation guide found on the Intel site. This seems much more prone to pin damage than an AMD install. The pins looked really, really fragile. The more I looked the scarier it looked.

Is it any worse than an AMD install?

 

[VirtualLarry]

It's really not that bad. Just be careful, and keep clean. You don't want any dirt or junk to enter into the socket or get stuck on the CPU's pads.

The biggest PITA is Intel's push-pin design for their stock heatsinks. I recommend, for new builds, assembling the CPU HSF assembly onto the mobo before mobo installation. That way you can visually check the pins and make sure that they are installed properly.

 

[jonmcc33]

Actually, the older style installation for sockets was much more prone to pin bending. Intel really thought well for their design of the LGA socket.

 

[21stHermit]

I moved my Celeron D S775 back and forth between two different MB's several times. To me the pins were so short, they seemed impossible to bend. The CPU was polarized, just dropped into the socket and then you used the wire to hold down the cover plate.

Much easier and faster than to write the above. Go for it!!!

Hermit

 

[Captante]

It is harder to bend a pin on socket 775, however if you do manage it you'll be replacing your motherboard instead of the cpu which will certainly be more work.

 

[Toadster]

the socketed 775 Intel cpu's are great, the bent CPU pins were the worst RMA nightmare ever!

go with the Intel CPU - you'll be impressed! it's way too easy now!

 

[BroadbandGamer]

I just did my first 775 and it's simple. My biggest problem is with those stupid push pins!

 

[Keysplayr]

Push pins weren't thought through to well. I feel like I'm going to break traces in the mobo when I install the HSF.

 

[myocardia]

Put your other hand behind the cpu socket, when installing a heatsink with push pins, Keys. The board won't bend at all, if you do.

 

[sonoma1993]

for work, I built two core 2 duo for our marketing guy and our sales guy. Installing the cpu was easy, but the stock heatsink that comes in the retail package, i don't care for the push pin deal. I also built 6 xeon quad core systems in the past 3 weeks or so. Now the stock heatsink install on the Xeon systems I like, just put the heatsink on, and screw down the heatseat screws into the motherboard studs. Wish intel would have gone with this design for it core 2 duo retail heatsink package.

 

[AmberClad]

It's nothing to be overly worried about at all.

* The LGA775 CPUs themselves have the top heatspreader to protect the chip, and they're also pinless.
* The pins on the motherboard, as others have mentioned, are extremely short. The retaining bracket/socket cover protects it futher.
* The socket itself is keyed, and there's a plastic border all the way around it that's higher than the height of the pins. So the CPU is not going to touch the pins unless it's oriented in the correct direction.
* You just drop the CPU onto the socket, no pushing/force is required.
* After you install the CPU, you swing the retaining bracket cover onto the CPU and the motherboard socket. It's not going to shift or move unless you explicitly unlock the bracket.

No comment as far as the heatsink. I've never used a stock LGA775 heatsink. I will say this though -- the heatsink weight limit that Intel set down for LGA775 is technically 450g. But I've never had an issue using a heatsink that weighs twice that max weight on either of my LGA775 boards (plus there's also that additional force from pushing down onto the heatsink to install it).

- They're really not that easy to break or damage.

 

[A554SS1N]

Hi - thread hijack: Could someone name some cheap, but easier to install (i.e. no silly pushpins to worry about) heatsinks that could be used for Intel Core 2 Duo's? Would something like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro be ok and less risky? I must admit, the pushpin design is a little off-putting to me, and I wouldn't really want to mess around with unscrewing backplates off the motherboard for example either....

 

[fr]

I don't like the pushpin heatsink either. I could never tell if I have all four in place or just 3/4. Next time I'll put it on before mounting the motherboard.

 

[Hop]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Put your other hand behind the cpu socket, when installing a heatsink with push pins, Keys. The board won't bend at all, if you do.

Thanks for this thread. I'm still researching a processor, but this thread gave me a heads up big time. I like the idea of installing the HSF before mounting the motherboard, and using counter-force on the back of the socket to negate bending the mobo. Nice idea, although myocardia; what would you use to separate your hand from the back surface of the motherboard? Maybe it is overkill, but I always handle my hardware as if it was nitroglycerin, and evidence in a crime scene.

Recommendations for alternatives to a stock HSF would be welcome too, especially concerning overclocking, and even thermal paste. It's been a LONG time since I bought a tube or arctic silver, and I'm sure the product has improved.

 

[NXIL]

Would something like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro be ok and less risky?

Sadly, the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro has the same push pin locking mechanism:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134

These Zalmans install nicely, though you need to remove motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...8019%2CN82E16835118003

Watch out for the sharp cooling fins: many mentions of "blood sacrifices" while installing this.

Tuniq tower: I have never installed one, but, looks like it has screws and clamps:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...0+P4+%26+K8+CPU+Cooler

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835154001

Various other non-push pin style coolers: newegg has lots you can scan through, and narrow down to a choice:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...2c3710%3a28497&bop=And

HTH

NXIL

 

[A554SS1N]

Cheers