Installing Retail Heatsink/Fan for Intel Q9450 CPU

[TheDL365]

Hello,

I just put together a new system together. I've got a Intel Q9450 CPU on a Asus P5Q Pro motherboard. This has been my first system build since an Athlon system I've put together about 5 years ago.

The pushpin installation was a major pain literally in the thumb. I had to push the pins really hard, I was afraid I was going to break my motherboard at one point. I am troubled by what looks like motherboard "flex" with the heatsink and fan installed. Where the heatsink/fan is installed, there is "dip" in the motherboard. Is this normal? What is a normal temperature at idle for the CPU so that I know I've got the heatsink on properly? Thank you for your advice.

 

[five4o]

I have the same issue with my P5Q Deluxe.. I'm using the Xigmatek HDT-S1283
That huge bend in the MoBo scares me...

My temps are scary also.. my Q6700 running at 3.6 GHz idles around 45 and under stress around 77 celsius. Voltage is set to 1.45

 

[brandonb]

I have the same problem with by Gigabyte MB. My roommate told me of some plastic pins that can fit in the case in screw holes behind the CPU area (theres usually 4 in the case aroudn where the CPU would be mounted). You have to use the plastic pins to help stablize but they aren't needed to secure so theres no screw holes in the actual MB. It helps support the mb for when you push things into it.

I looked in my materials (screws, etc) and haev not seen the plastic pins he mentioned but I seen them in his collection. So I don't know where he got them. Try looking for them in your collection of parts.

 

[TheDL365]

Thanks for all of the feedback. So are you also getting a bow in your motherboard from the pressure applied by the push pin mechanism?

 

[brandonb]

Yeah...

I just got my Artic Silver 5 today so I just reapplied my heatsink and fan. I had to do that because the heatsink would previously pop off and the computer would overheat/shutdown. While doing this, I didn't put in the plastic spacers (since I have none) but I did take the MB out of the case and set it on the table. I used a straight head screw driver and pushed down with pressure, and doing that I was able to snap the heatsink on without any trouble. Once it was mounted to the mb correctly I put the mb back in the case. Now everything is secure and I didn't have to bow the MB in order to get the heatsink on. When I was mounting it, I had it on the table and there is enough plastic pins/support on the underside of the MB to apply the heatsink. It may not be the best solution but it worked for me. I'm happy now because I know the heatsink will not pop off now and I'll be good to go.

 

[TheDL365]

Thanks brandonb. I will go look in my collection and see if I have those parts somewhere. I will also take out the motherboard from the case and check it visually to make sure the pins are actually down. Thanks for all the help.

 

[brandonb]

Just as a side note, now that I do have my CPU secure and have Artic Silver 5 on it, my cpu has good contact with the heatsink and its alot cooler. It seems windows was slowing down because of it. Before when running Vista performance, I was getting a CPU score of 4.8 and a memory of 5.4 (thats with 4.4.4.12 memory and 2.4 core 2 duo conroe)... Now its getting 5.3 cpu and 5.6 memory score (I replaced the ram with my older 5.5.5.15 memory because I want to put the 4 gigs into my other computer, so I swapped the 4 gig with my older 2 gig ram)...

So it appears I'm getting alot more speed out of the CPU and memory now (probably because the FSB was slowing down because the CPU was hot?)

Anyways. I'm happy now that things are working even better.

 

[nyker96]

I got a Tuniq 120 that's like a ton. But my P35-E seems to hold up alright.