Securing a heatsink

[Ughmahedhurtz]

I'm getting a Zalman with my parts later this week. If I can remember, I'll let you know how that goes vis-a-vis mount points.

[elo]

Last November I had to build some 30+ machines in about a week for my company. I had exactly the same problem you're describing, it was excrutiating.

After playing with all the nice new hardware though I couldn't resist the urge to upgrade my system to a Core 2 Duo but I purchased a different board than the company used. They had used EVGA (I have NO idea why) and I purchased a Gigabyte board. I cringed when I got to mounting the heatsink on something I'd spent my own money on.... pressed down on the pins and click click.... hrmm... pushed down on other 2, click... click... No muss, no fuss, perfect mount.

Morale of the story? Somehow certain board manufacturers are screwing this up. I did however, during the 30 pc run, discover that if I used a small screwdriver and pressed down on the plastic casing of the pins below where the top is then they would tend to click in and mount securely. So, if you've fixed the problem - awesome - otherwise you might try this trick. After I figured it out the next dozen or so were cake.

[Gallo]

I've technically fixed the problem, but I am very wary of moving or knocking into the computer. It may dislodge the work that I did. I did however purchase a $5 set of spring loaded heatsink fasteners that are apparently made for exactly this problem of a heatsink that isnt secure.

I'm going to put those in sometime this week. I'll post on how they did.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Update:I installed my Q6600 on a Gigabyte X38-DS4 this past week. The heatsink I bought is a Zalman 9700. If you look at this link to the parts pictures , you'll see the X clip that goes behind the motherboard, the circle positioning clip that goes on top of the mobo, and in the plastic bag is a 1/16" (2.5mm?) thick stainless steel clip that screws it down. Overall, this thing is solid. I used the fan to pick up the entire motherboard while installing it into the case and it did not wobble at all.

I'd say, as someone above mentioned, that this is almost entirely dependent on the manufacturer's quality as to how well the clips hold. This is the second huge-ass zalman heatsink I've used and both have been very well engineered from what I can tell.

[Heenan]

I highly recommend getting an upgraded HSF. I never liked the standard Intel "push-pin" style fans. I particularly like Thermaltake (but Zalman also rocks). You need something with good hardware, and most companies skimp when it comes to this. Check out the hardware that comes with the Big Typhoon from Thermaltake (this is an old build, but still a great HSF). This thing weighs over 2 pounds and doesn't budge!