4 COOLING THE CPU
THESE stock Intel CPU coolers aren’t the best looking, but we
can’t expect miracles on a budget. However, these coolers
are easier to install than an AIO header with a radiator. With
no bracket on the motherboard, standoffs, or screws, you can
leave your tools to one side. The cooler uses clips to secure to
the board and comes pre-applied with thermal paste.
Make sure the cable on the cooler is long enough to reach
the CPU header connector on the motherboard—we made this
error first time around. Align the cooler clips with the bracket
holes on the motherboard, making sure the lines on the
corners point towards the middle of the cooler. Then push down
on opposite corners to click it down into place. To remove the
cooler, turn the arrows towards the center and pull them out.3 PROCESSOR INSTALL
WE ARE NOW PARKING the case to one side and turning our
attention to the motherboard and adding the components to
this mainframe. You can do this inside the case, but we would
recommend building the PC outside to give you that extra bit of
room. With no CPU bracket cooler required for this build, we
are able to get the CPU in straight away.
We gently press down on the retention and push outwards
to release it from underneath the hook. We take the CPU by the
sides and gently rest it in the socket by aligning the arrow on
the CPU to the arrow on the motherboard. Once this is done,
we bring the CPU retention arm down and secure it once again.
We take the plastic cover off before installing, but you shouldn’t
need to do this as it will automatically pop off.A
REASONABLE
MONOCHROME
SYSTEM
We’re on a
tight budget, so
what kind of rig
can we build?
LENGTH OF TIME: 1-2 HOURS
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: EASY$600 budget build
22 MAXIMU MPC MAR 2022