94 DECEMBER 2019|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE 382
HOWTOFITTHEMOTHERBOARD
ANDCPUCOOLER
W
ith thecore components in the
motherboard, it’stime to fit
everything into the case and then fit the
CPU cooler.While youcould fit the CPU
cooler at this point,we don’trecommend it.
Coolers tend to makeatempting placeto
grab asahandle, whichcancause damage
to the motherboard.
The oneexception is ifyouhaveacustom
cooler thatrequiresarear mounting plate
(stock coolers that ship withyour processor
don’t need one).Have alook atyour case.
If there’s alarge cutout behind wherethe
processor will be on the motherboard,you
canfit the mounting platelater .Ifthereisn’t,
youneed to do this step now. Checkyour
cooler’sinstructionscarefully,but in most
cases, youpress therear plateupagainst
the rear of the motherboardand screw in
the fanbracketsfromthe frontside. 1
ADDYOURMOTHERBOARD
To put the motherboardinthe case, slowly
loweritdownsothat the ports line up with
the I/ Oshield. When the ports arealigned,
push the motherboardtowardsthe rear of
the case until the screw holes line up with
the standoffs.Youmay needto gently lift up
acoupleof springs on the I/Oshield to get
the motherboardlined up.
While maintaining pressureonthe
motherboard, insertascrew and tightenby
hand.Youwantenough pressureonthe
screw to knowthat it’sinp lace, but don’t
overtightenit. This first screw will keep the
motherboardinp lacewhile youadd the
remaining screws. Addasmanyscrewsas
thereare screw holes,otherwiseyour
motherboardmay no tsit straight, whichcan
makeaddingexpansioncardstricky. 2
ADDTHERMALPASTE
TOYOURCPU
If youhaveabrand-newcooler,there’s a
good chancethat it is already pre-loaded
with thermal paste. If not, or ifyou’rereusing
an older one,you’ll needto add your own.
Take the tubeof thermal pasteand gently
squeeze apea-sized dollop on the middleof
your CPU.Don’t spread the paste: it will
naturallyexpand andcoverthe surfaceof
the CPU whenyouput thecooler on. 3
ATTA CHANINTELCOOLER
If you’reusing astock Inte lcooler or a
third-party model with push-pinconnectors,
now’ sthe timeto fit yours.
Take aflathead screwdriver and insert it
into the cooler’sscrew slot. Turn in the
oppositedirectionof the arrow until you
can’tturn thefoot anymore. This sets the
feet up to lock into place; turning thefoot in
the directionof the arrow unlocksthe foot
forremoval. Repeat
forall four feet.
Look at thecooler
and see which side
the powerconnector
sticksout of.Make
surethat this sideof
the cooler points
toward sthe CPUfan
cooler header on
your motherboard.
Nowlowerthe cooler
into placesothat the
feet line up with the
holes around the
processor socket.
Start with onefoot
and push down on
topuntil it clicksinto
position.Nowgo
diagonally oppositeand push down on the
connector until it locksintoposition.Repeat
forthe remaining twofeet.
When thecooler is locked into place, it will
feel firm; if itwobbles, it means at least one
foot is no tpushed through theretaining hole
in the motherboard.Undo anyloose feet
(turn against the arrow)and pull upto
remove,then turn thefoot to the lock
position and push down. 4
ATTA CHANAMDCOOLER
Official AMDcoolers clip onto the retention
frame surrounding the CPU.Line up the
cooler so that thefancable is closestto
the CPU header on the motherboard.
Open thecooler’shandle, then gently lower
the entireunit onto the CPU.
Fitthe metalclip without the handleover
the retention frame anchors on one sideof
the processor.Now,push theremaining
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