newbie still needs help with Duron and Abit mb!

[Teatowel]

Putting together my Duron 700 with my Abit KT-133 mb, the chip doesn't sit into its socket evenly, as the thermistor is too tall. I don't want to put too much pressure on seating the chip, so do I just bend the thermistor out of the way? It is about 5 mm too tall.

Also, the heatsink that I got has phase change thermal compound on the bottom, but it has a dirty great scratch across it. Presumably, when it heats up and melts, that will fill in properly?

Cheers

 

[RobsTV]

Bend the thermistor slightly, so that it still barely extends above the socket, but now at a slight angle. Insert the CPU and push it so that it bends the thermistor enough to allow the CPU to fully seat, and lock it down. It should not require much force at all.