need help installing heatsink please

[mamaw00t]

hi, im new to the forums and a total harwarde n00b, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

i got a new computer and i have to install the heatsink but i have no clue how to do so.

its this heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-128-002&depa=0

with this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-510&depa=1

and an athlon 64 cpu. i also have a tube of thermal paste to use.

the instruction booklet for the gygabite heatsink is useless, the pictures are smaller than a stamp and they are black and white, its impossible to see what is going on. also, there is some left over thermal paste on the cpu and bottom of the heatsink; do i need to clean that off or can i just add some more paste to whats left? if i have to clean it off, how do i do that?

can anyone clearly explain how to install this thing? where does the metal clip with the plastic clamp go? which direction does the heatsink face(theres a little arrow pointing down on one side of it)?

thanks a lot.

 

[meltdown75]

Hi & welcome to the forums...

I've never had any experience with that style of heatsink, so I'm going to leave that for someone else. As far as cleaning, yes do it definitely before you put your new heatsink on. I use lighter fluid to clean my processors. What I do is drop a *tiny* bit onto a Q-tip and start scrubbing. You will see that it takes a little bit of elbow grease so be careful. You can alternatively use some lighter fluid on a paper towel. I would also recommend this procedure on the bottom of the heatsink as well if it isn't completely shiny out of the box. You will get varying opinions on what to use to cut through the existing gunk on your proc but lighter fluid is cheap and effective.

Does Gigabyte's website have any detailed guides on seating that heatsink? Check it out... I would think they would since it isn't your conventional square-shaped heatsink. Good luck!

 

[mamaw00t]

no, the guides on the gigabytes website suck. they are the same thing as the instruction booklet.

 

[meltdown75]

That sucks... After some googling, all I could find was that it was "very easy" to install.

There are several clips that come with the package. One of them is designed to fit your processor socket/mobo. What you have to do is figure out which one fits onto your motherboard (I ALWAYS drop my mobo try down to install heatsinks and you should too if possible!) and go from there.

Take your time... power the machine down, drop down the motherboard tray if possible, and TAKE YOUR TIME! You can do it!

 

[mamaw00t]

i found a guide here: http://www.hardwarezone.com/guides/amd-socket939/?pg=6

i just have one question that still needs to be answered: on the heatsink there is one side that has a metal plate thingy that extends further than it does on the other side(you can notice it at the bottom of the 4th pic down from the top), and i do not know which side of the processor that plate should go.

 

[mamaw00t]

if the thermal paste was put on less than a week ago, do i still need to clean it off and apply a fresh layer, or can i just add to whats left?

 

[meltdown75]

If you are referring to the clip which extends further on one side than the other, personally I would orientate it so that it isn't interfering with anything else inside your case, ie. power supply etc. Try to visualize the tray back up inside the case and see if the clip is better off on one side. That said I don't think it matters unless it is going to interfere or touch something else once it's installed. The clip on my cooler is the same on both sides so I don't have this issue, however my cooler is such that the 3-pin connector wire is on the same side as the connector.

I'm taking off for the rest of the night... good luck dude!!

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: mamaw00t
if the thermal paste was put on less than a week ago, do i still need to clean it off and apply a fresh layer, or can i just add to whats left?

Clean all the old stuff off, definitely. If you don't, you could get an air pocket or your heatsink might not be 100% in contact with the proc.

 

[imported_java]

definately clean off the old thermal compound. Using 99% pure isoprolyne alcohol (and don't drink it). U shouldn't have to remove the processor from its seating if u don't want to.