Installing HSF...did I do it right?

[jhammer569]

See bottom for question.

The Arctic comes w/ thermal paste on it already.

I installed the Q9550 in the LGA slot w/o any problems, lint-free, clean as a whistle.

The Arctic Cooling instructions told me to turn the anchor screws clockwise to make sure they were in the proper position before putting it on the motherboard...BUT the damn instructions didn't tell me to PULL THE ANCHOR UP AS WELL, it only said to turn them clockwise. So in a nutshell, the anchor was still in the down position so as I tried to push the 4 anchors (2 diagonals at a time) into the motherboard 4 holes around the LGA socket, it wouldn't go in.

After about 5-6 tries, I figured something was wrong, I pulled the HSF out and looked at it and realized that I needed to turn the screws clockwise AND pull them up so that the bottom part of the screws were 'skinny' enough to fit into the holes before the push pins splayed the anchors out AFTER they were through the 4 holes (hope this makes sense).

So I finally was able to put all 4 anchor screws into the motherboard holes, turn the anchor screws counter-clockwise to lock them into position and finish.

QUESTION:
-Since I had to put the HSF on & off the Q9550 like 5-6 times before I finally figured out the problem (LACK OF F'ING INSTRUCTIONS, GRRRRR!), the thermal paste was kinda messy on both the bottom of the HSF & top of the Q9550 by the time I finally got the HSF installed, wasn't the nice smooth paste it started out as...So is it still ok? There was no dust/lint/dirt on the paste, just kinda messy (like if you were to put vaseline on 2 fingers, touch them together & then pull them apart, it gets sorta mountain/valley & ridges with the grease on each finger if you know what I mean).

How can I tell if it's still a good installation? Just monitor the CPU temperature and as long as it stays within acceptable parameters (not sure what those are for a Q9550), then I'm ok?

Thanks....very frustrating that the Arctic Cooling left the "PULL ANCHOR UP" out of their damn instructions...

 

[z1ggy]

All you need to do is put the HSF into those small holes in the motherboard..make sure its flush with the cpu and press the pins down until you here it click in place. Do one.. then the diagonal of that one.. then the other two.. it should not take you longer than 2 mins unless there is something wrong with the HSF.

 

[Bulk Beef]

turn the anchor screws counter-clockwise to lock them into position and finish.

What?

 

[andrei3333]

like the second post

click and done, 2 minutes max - i have the same heatsink

 

[jhammer569]

Yea, but the pins came "down" already. The instructions didn't say pull them up. So they didn't fit into the holes until I first pulled the pins UP. So it took me 5-6 tries before I figured that piece out.

Can anyone answer my question at the bottom of the above post? If the thermal paste went up/down repeatedly between the HSF & CPU, is it still 'ok'? How will I ultimately know if the heat transfer is correct? Just take the temp? What should the temp of the Q9550 be?

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: jhammer569

QUESTION:
-Since I had to put the HSF on & off the Q9550 like 5-6 times before I finally figured out the problem (LACK OF F'ING INSTRUCTIONS, GRRRRR!), the thermal paste was kinda messy on both the bottom of the HSF & top of the Q9550 by the time I finally got the HSF installed, wasn't the nice smooth paste it started out as...So is it still ok? There was no dust/lint/dirt on the paste, just kinda messy (like if you were to put vaseline on 2 fingers, touch them together & then pull them apart, it gets sorta mountain/valley & ridges with the grease on each finger if you know what I mean).

How can I tell if it's still a good installation? Just monitor the CPU temperature and as long as it stays within acceptable parameters (not sure what those are for a Q9550), then I'm ok?

Thanks....very frustrating that the Arctic Cooling left the "PULL ANCHOR UP" out of their damn instructions...

What I am gathering from this question is... You pulled the HS of then placed it back on several times and never cleaned the Cpu or the HS? Hmmm....well best to do 1 thing. Remove the TIM and clean both HS and chip. To much Tim isn't good and to little wont help much either.

At the top of this forum, there is a sticky that gives information on how to apply the Tim. But to make it quick and easy, there are several ways and this depends on if it's a C2D or a C2Q. So, just do this, clean both cpu and HS with alcohol, wipe clean with a coffee filter then place a small "BB" sized drop in the center of the chip, use a piece of plastic wrap and place it on your finger. Rub the TIM in with a circular motion so that every spot on the chip is covered. Done. Replace the HS carefully


BTW, just make sure the pins are all the way up and then do what z1ggy and others have suggested

 

[jhammer569]

ok, tnx....guess i need to buy some paste (since I didn't buy because it was incl. w/ the Arctic Cooling).

Quick recommendation on which thermal paste to buy? And I don't mind buying Arctic Clean or something if that's the 'better' way to clean the gunk off....should I?

 

[myocardia]

70% (or higher) isopropyl alcohol is all that's needed to clean off TIM. Don't fall for the hype. And I'd recommed Arctic Cooling's MX-2, or Tuniq's TX-2.