Zalman 9700 orientation on an Asus P5E Mobo

[Lexxie]

Hi guys, hope you can help me with something. I've just put together a Q6600 on an Asus P5E with a Zalman 9700 HSF.

I followed the instructions for fitting the fan but I'm a little concerned I haven't fitted it the right way round. I have the fan aligned vertically* and the HSF retaining clip also vertical across the CPU. All seems nice and tight but I can rotate the entire HSF quite easily on top of the CPU. Is this normal? SHould I have oriented the HSF horizontally instead?

Can't find anything via Google so I'm hoping the gurus here can help poor little me!

Note I use an Antec P180 chassis with rear & top fans, so it could fit either way round for airflow purposes.

EDIT: *When I say the fan is aligned vertically I mean the front-rear axis of the HSF assembly is vertical rather then right-left.

 

[mpilchfamily]

It can face any way you want it to face really. As far as the movement there may be some movement.

 

[Tim]

The optimal alignment for best heat dissapation is with the airflow blowing out the back exhaust of the case.

Like this image I found on google.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/8751/pict0064wi2.jpg

 

[Lexxie]

Ah, so it doesn't really matter & the movement is normal? Brilliant! Thanks guys

 

[9nines]

So the Zalman 9700 will fit the Asus P5E X 38 motherboard well?

 

[PianoMan]

Every 9000 series I've installed (9500 LED on 939 boards, 9500 AT and 9700 NT on 775 boards) allows you to twist the HSF after install. It's really disconcerting - but now I used this "feature" to spread around the paste after mounting, giving the HSF a gentle "one, two" twist.

There are little nibs on the bracket and the top of the HSF plate that are supposed to minimize this, but they don't seem to work that well. Just make sure you line it up perfectly the way you want before the paste sets. I had mine 1 degree off in the windowed case after the paste cemented it in place - I ended up redoing it, since I'm anal retentive that way.

For an Antec 900, I would orient it upwards and use that monster fan on the roof. Too bad Antec hasn't upped the top fan on their 180/182 series like they did on the mini-P180.