Pushpins.... aaargh! Help please?

[zarn]

I've re-built my system after many years. It's now all built, except for the CPU heatsink. I've got a Vendetta 2 (v silly name) by OCZ, which is big, but just fits into my case. The trouble is I can barely reach the push pins - and even when I do, I can't get more than two to clip at a time - there seems to be too much tension in the heatsink, so it pops up.

This is the last thing I need to do before re-installing the OS, so it's infuriating... any pointers?

Many thanks.

[MadduckUK]

your doing opposite corners and not two on the same side right?

[Pob255]

Try fitting the heat sink on the motherboard outside of the case.

Practice with the intel stock cooler, so you get used to them, the first time you use them can be a little challenging and require a bit of force.
Once correctly pushed in and locked they do hold very well and shouldn't "pop" out.
edit: if they are poping out then they were probably not fully locked in

Diagonally opposite corners, best if you can push in two at a time but you may only be able to get 1 in at a time.

Sometimes the motherboard will be bent by push pin coolers.

finally get a bolt through kit. (not sure if OCZ do one)

[Sputnik]

you should have put the cooler on before fitting the Motherboard in the case, So you could lay it on a flat surface and also not be restricted on access. Are the pushpins in the 'lock' position? With the socket 775 boards I prefer to use a support bracket kit because without one it really bends the board itself.

One of these http://www.ocztechnology.com/product...endetta_series

[Betty_Swallocks]

Those pushpins are one of the most stupid design decisions I've ever seen in my life.
You have one of the most important components in a PC, the CPU cooler, without which your expensive chip will fry itself, and stick it on with the technical equivalent of chewing gum and spit.
t's the one thing I hate about the Intel platform.

[MadduckUK]

did a 775 build for the first time a few days ago and didn't think it was that bad at all tbh, not as easy as am2's lever but nothing to complain about

[Lee H]

Those pushpins are one of the most stupid design decisions I've ever seen in my life.
You have one of the most important components in a PC, the CPU cooler, without which your expensive chip will fry itself, and stick it on with the technical equivalent of chewing gum and spit.
t's the one thing I hate about the Intel platform.

Yeap the pins don't look that secure at all do they!

I had the same problem with the push-pins and ended up ripping them off in frustration.

As a replacement to this feeble mounting system I've actually used a Thermalright LGA775 Bolt-Thru Kit to securely mount the Arctic Freezer to my Q6600.

[NightshadowUK]

That sounds very interesting Lee, any way you could do a quick how-to guide with some photos? *flutters eyelashes*

[Pob255]

Thanks Lee, that was the thing I was thinking about.
It's easy to fit Nightshadow, you remove the push pins from your current cooler, leaveing the metal bracket in place.
you then put that back plate on and feed the screws through where the push pins would of been.

I do like the Intel push pins, you have to remember they were designed for the intell stock cooler, which is much lower than a tower cooler and has a relatively small footprint.
It was also a good step up from the 478 stock bracket, which is also on advantage over the older plastic bracket on the motherboard that amd still use (I still remember all the requests for help after people cracked there brackets fitting aftermarket coolers)

[zarn]

Thanks for all the tips and ideas. I'm trying opposite corners, sometimes manage it and sometimes don't. I'm mounting the cooler in the case because it only just fits in my case, but won't fit out of the back if I remove the motherboard tray (makes me wish I'd gone for a different cooler... I liked the 120mm fan on this one).

I read elsewhere that I should carefully use a large scredriver to push down on the pins... good idea or suicidal?

So it looks as though my best bet is an after-market back-plate solution. To use these, I obviously have to take off the motherboard to fit the plate. Can I then put the heatsink on in the case, or do I need access to both sides of the motherboard?

Cheers for all the help.

[Jay]

Push pins are a real pain and I hate them. the skt 754 is one of the best in a long time but the push pin coolers really let it down.

I gaveup with them, they just didn't feel like they could apply enough pressure to the CPU IHS to get good cooling.