Stock Intel HS fits badly - LGA 775

[freeflyer]

Sorry for the cross post, but a lack of interest over on Motherboards led me to try here.

I'm putting together my first LGA 775 based system and got a Asus P5VD1-X and boxed Intel processor. Intel's instructions say to install the m/b in the case before installing heatsink, and then just push clips until they pop. It became very clear that the amount of force required to seat the clips would be way too much flex on the motherboard in that scenario so I took the m/b out and looked at it. If I fully seat all 4 clips, the m/b is visibly pushed out - convex - on the underside below the processor. This doesn't seem right nor healthy for the life of the m/b.

So the question is, is this normal? Or is there a problem with this m/b? Or the heatsink?

I have the processor correctly installed, I've booted from it and the BIOS is happy with things. It ran the Windows memory diagnostic overnight without errors. So the issue isn't processor installation.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I run Intel.

I doubt the retention mechanisim has gigantic burrs on it. You probably know what your
doing but are concerned about board flex. I would be too. That's why Intel says to install
the board first because they know the sink has got to fit tight.

I happen to have a new retail HSF for a P4 3.4e tucked away. Using a machinist rule and
a dial caliper w/depth gauge, it was determined that the stock TIM pad is 0.019"thick.
To reduce the clamping force/board flex remove the retail pad. Use Ceramique, Zalman,
CoolerMaster Premium, AS-5, ThermalRight retail or any other good paste.

Be sure to prep the CPU and HS base properly. Remove all traces of the stock pad.
Clean with alcohol. Arcticsilver.com has a tutorial, if needed.

Please report back with your happy result


...Galvanized

 

[freeflyer]

Thanks for the response. I operated the machine for a few hours with 2 of the clips almost but not quite fully seated. Apparently that was enough to squash the stock TIM down and I was able to fully seat the remaining two clips without putting as much flex on the board as I saw initially. Just knowing that this situationw is 'normal' helped a lot.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

When your ready for a 3~5C drop in temp with the retail HS, better TIM will do it

...Galvanized