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XP-90 install help

J

JE78

Golden Member
I just picked up the XP-90 today with a panaflo fan and I plan on installing it tomorrow because I have to work tonight. I took it out of the box to check it out and I was looking at the bottom and the part that goes on top of the processor doesn't look like it will fit the entire CPU. Thats my first concern the next thing i'm wondering about is how hard is it remove stock mount on the motherboard and if there is anything I should be aware of before I do so? I have an Abit AN8 Ultra motherboard incase that matters. The last question I have is what should I use to remove the old thermal grease from the CPU? And of course if there is anything that will make this as painless as possible please feel free to share. Thanks.
 
1) It doesn't, but the parts of the heatspreader that are left uncovered don't get very warm anyway.

2) You may need to take the mobo out to take off the RM, if you're lucky you can just unscrew or unglue it.

3) Lint free clothes and pure (at least 70%, but 90% is best) isopropyl alcohol works fine.
 
I think the heatsink-base on the XP90 is about the same size as the base on the XP120, but it will certainly cover the processor cap.

I'm not sure what you mean "remove the stock mount on the motherboard." Oh, wait . . . it's a socket 939 AMD, is it not? So you require use of the special frame that comes with the cooler. There are just push-pins, I think. And I think you just pull the vinyl center out of the push-pins. Just be careful not to scratch or damage the motherboard while you do it.

Not knowing for sure what sort of thermal paste is on the processor, it could either be brown wax like Intel's, silicone grease or something like Arctic Silver. I can't imagine that it would be a thermal adhesive or ceramic -- which would be something of a b***h to undo.

Whatever it is, go down to the local electronics supply house -- every city has one -- and look for a small brown bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol. It should be a few dollars per bottle -- no more than $4. Then just get a clean cotton cloth and use it a few drops at a time, making sure to keep the cap closed -- the stuff is volatile -- no sense having it evaporate. I don't know how flammable it is -- it's alcohol after all -- but you'd use the same caution using paint-thinner or acetone. If whatever is on the processor cap is stubborn, I'd personally get a defunct or expired credit card and scrape a little -- then wipe a little.
 
Thanks guys. I have a tube of Zalman thermal grease that i'm going to put on once I get the CPU clean. Whats the best way to do this? Also when i'm cleaning off the CPU is it best to take it out of the MB? Dumb question i'm sure, so i'd assume yes.
 
I don't take it out, then again my temps are quite on the high side (could be for other reasons, though). I believe Zalman recommends to spread th ethermal paste evenly before you install the heatsink.
 
I couldn't find any 90% isopropyl alcohol at Wegmans or Wal-Mart today, I'll check a hardware store tomorrow. So to apply the thermal grease just spread it around the heatsink in an even layer. Does it matter if its thick or thin??
 
Originally posted by: JE78
I couldn't find any 90% isopropyl alcohol at Wegmans or Wal-Mart today, I'll check a hardware store tomorrow. So to apply the thermal grease just spread it around the heatsink in an even layer. Does it matter if its thick or thin??
Click to expand...

Less than 90% will work, its just recommended to use the highest %age possible. Put the TIM on as thin as you possibly can.
 
Well here's the good news. I got my XP-90 installed and working great. I'm looking at my temps using Everest and they have come down 10c from the stock AMD HSF.

Now the bad news. I can't get the Panaflo fan to run when its plugged into the 3 pin hook up on the motherboard. I have it hooked up to my Vantec fan controller at the moment. I'm assuming I have to bump up the voltage but when I went into the BIOS to do so it was already up to 12v and wouldn't go any higher. Also the Panaflo fan only has 2 wires coming from it, a red and black. Well any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a Abit AN8 ULTRA motherboard as well.
 
Originally posted by: JE78
Well here's the good news. I got my XP-90 installed and working great. I'm looking at my temps using Everest and they have come down 10c from the stock AMD HSF.

Now the bad news. I can't get the Panaflo fan to run when its plugged into the 3 pin hook up on the motherboard. I have it hooked up to my Vantec fan controller at the moment. I'm assuming I have to bump up the voltage but when I went into the BIOS to do so it was already up to 12v and wouldn't go any higher. Also the Panaflo fan only has 2 wires coming from it, a red and black. Well any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a Abit AN8 ULTRA motherboard as well.
Click to expand...

Is it plugged in to the cpu fan 3 pin? Are you using anything like SpeedFan or a BIOS setting that controls your cpu fan speed? The black wire goes to the right and the red goes in the middle of the 3 pin connection. If you had a yellow (rpm monitor) wire it would go on the left. Your 3 pin connec could be shorted as well if you tried hooking the fan up the wrong way.
 
Yes, i've tried the 3 pin on the MB labled CPU Fan and it won't start and my computer beeps at me. I haven't tried any of the other 3 pin hook ups on the MB I will try that now. I'm 99% sure that the black wire is in the right and I'm 100% tha the red is in the middle.
 
Ok guys, i've just tried every 3 pin hookup on my motherboard and none of them will run my 92mm Panaflo fan. My Vantec fan controller will though and thats what I have it hooked up to at the moment just so I have some air blowing on the xp-90 but I don't want to keep it hooked up to that for any longer than I need to. I'm not sure what else to try, I have all the 3 pin hooks set at 12v in the BIOS but for some reason it won't run it. The black wire is on the right, the red is in the middle. Any suggestion please let me know. Thanks.
 
Yeah the stock 3 pin worked fine. What the problem was is the sock Panaflo M1A fan only had 2 wires coming from it. The MB didn't like that and wouldn't run it for some reason. I went back and got a 3 wire 3 pin hookup for $1 and then it worked fine. The M1A doesn't have the RPM sensor which is the only draw back but its not that big of a deal. It works fine now.
 
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