Is it a risk for a newbie to install an AMD Athlon processor?

[slicksilver]

This thing is worrying me........everyone is saying you have to be extremely careful why putting on the HSF to the motherboard.......so many precautions.............then there is this artic silver thing everyone is talking about........then shims.......etc.........this is lots of work........I am a newbie to the AMD processors.........I ordered my 1.4ghz retail cpu and ecsk7s5a a couple of days ago........and now I am worried about this problem...........and then I hear people telling me to use extra cooling and stuff...........is this required? I am NOT going to overclock at any cost.........isn't the fan in the amd retail box enough??

Raj
Scared to death

 

[pamf]

If the fan they give you wasn't enough, they wouldn't have given it to you 🙂

If you're not planning on overclocking, you dont need to worry about thermal paste, etc. Just make sure you take the plastic tab off the thermal pad on the bottom of the heatsink, then be careful putting it on. You don't want to apply too much pressure, or you may crack the core. My Volcano II lacks a clip and is insane to put on, i need 2 screwdrivers to clip it down/remove it. and I haven't cracked my core yet.. so I don't think you have much to worry about. 🙂

 

[Duh]

Just be very carefull!!

Dont put on the Heatsink while your mainboard is in the case, get it out put on cpu, put on heatsink and then build the mainboard in your case

And do not use Thermaltake HSF combo's. They are real AMD killah's 🙁

 

[IdahoB]

Everybody has a first time with installing the Athlon, even the most experienced computer techs have had a moment of anguish after discovering the amount of pressure required to stick some of those bastard heatsinks on. Just be cautious, and apply pressure gradually and you should be fine. I always prefer bending the clip on the heatsink a bit to make it easier for myself. And I'd ALWAYS recommend using artic silver over thermal pads even for a non-overclocked system as the cooler it is, the more stable it is in general.

 

[Wind]

Two things.

1. Read the MANUAL. Most probs arises due to negligence in setting jumpers, connecting cables & etc.
2. Be CAREFUL. Install CPU + HSF b4 mobo is on the case.

If u r not O/Cing. No worry bout heat, not enough power & etc.

 

[sandorski]

Most horror stories are from experienced users, for some odd reason. Putting a hs on a SocketA cpu is easy, as long as you do it right. Here's a basic hs install guide:

1) remove mobo from case and put it on a flat surface, preferably on the foam sheet that is packaged with the mobo.

2) make sure you have the slot of the hs(_____--- the slot part is the upper surface area) aligned with the plastic part of the socket, where it says Socket 462.

3) Remove the plastic tab that covers the hs pad or goop on the bottom of the hs. If you will be applying your own hs grease, then remove the pad as well.

4) set the properly aligned hs onto the cpu

5) put the clip with *no* handle onto the tab on the socket, don't worry about the hs being at an odd angle

6) using your thumb/finger, a screwdriver, or needle nose pliers fasten the other clip to the socket

7) plug in the fan

***WARNING*** Do not ever push down on the hs directly, that is a sure way of destroying the cpu.

 

[Carrot44]

If you follow what sandorski said and don't apply ANY pressure to the HSF at all you will do just fine.

 

[pamf]

You're supposed to remove the pad before putting thermal stuff on? *whups* ... i still lost 10C .. i wonder if it would be better 😉

 

[DimZiE]

you don't have to worry...

i am a noob but i don't find installing HSF on an AMD system hard in anyway...
just have to be careful...and put pressure only on the clip
you should be okay

 

[SuperSix]

Take time and read this..

AMD SocketA Proc Inst. Guide