STEP
6 : Install Heat Sink/Fan
As mentioned in the
previous step, slotted processors usually have the heat sink/fan combo installed
before the CPU is actually installed onto the motherboard. But, with socket
processors, this cannot be done because the fan is actually clipped to the
motherboard.
Well, I'll get right to
it. Some of these steps are unnecessary on modern machines, but are here for
the sake of covering all setups. I will highlight these legacy steps in red.
- Attach the fan to the heat sink. This
step is almost always already done for you, but if not, you must do it
yourself. This is done using the four screws that came with the CPU fan.
- Apply the Heat Sink Compound. Heat
sink compound is something that many do not use anymore, myself included.
But, in some older systems, it will be necessary. Or you may wish to in
order to increase the conductivity of the heat from the processor into the
heat sink. To do this, apply just enough to cover the surface of the chip.
If you have portions of the chip higher than others, apply compound only
to the raised areas. The layer should be thin. More won't hurt anything,
but will be a mess when you press the heat sink down.
- Attach The Heat Sink. Place the heat
sink/fan combo squarely on top of the processor, pressing down lightly.
Most newer heat sinks use a set of clips on each side to fasten itself
down. These clips attach to a pair of tabs on each side of the socket. It
will probably take a little bit of force to bend the clip down over the
tab. Other heat sinks wrap around the processor, then just sit on top, the
compound being the only real attachment.
- Double-Check Contact. If you are using heat
sink compound, you need to make sure all areas of the chip are in contact
with the heat sink. The best way to do this is to temporarily remove the
heat sink again and see if there are any areas of compound that remain
smooth because it didn't touch the chip. Apply a little more compound to
any such areas, then refasten the heat sink. Repeat this until all areas
are in contact with the processor.
- Clean The Mess. If you applied too much
compound, some will have oozed out the sides. Wipe this up. After that,
you're done.
- Attack fan to power source. Unless
your CPU fan is powered via a standard power supply plug, it is probably
powered by a wire attached to a 3-pin power lead on the motherboard
itself. You can attack this now. The CPU_FAN power lead is located near
the CPU interface somewhere. The lead will have two small pins on each
side, and these pins surround the power plug and the pins are inserted
into the holes in the plug. It should be pretty easy and obvious
- STEP 1
: Purchase/Collect The Components
- STEP 2
: Remove Case Cover
- STEP 3
: Case Preparation
- STEP 4
: Configure Your Motherboard
- STEP 5
: Install the CPU
- STEP 6
: Install Heat Sink/Fan
- STEP 7
: Install the Cache Module
- STEP 8
: Install Memory
- STEP 9 :
Install the Motherboard
- STEP
10 : Install the I/O Connectors & Mouse
- STEP
11: Hook the Motherboard to the Case
- STEP
12 : Install Floppy Drive
- STEP
13 : Configure the Hard Drive & CD-ROM
- STEP
14 : Mount Hard Drive
- STEP
15 : Install the CD-ROM(s)
- STEP
16 : Connect the Floppy Drive
- STEP
17 : Connect the Hard Drive
- STEP
18 : Connect the CD Drive(s)
- STEP
19 : Install The Video Card
- STEP
20 : Post-Assembly
- STEP
21 : Initial Boot-Up
- STEP
22 : Configure The BIOS
- STEP
23 : Test The System
- STEP
24 : Prepare the Hard Drive
- STEP
25 : Install The CD-ROM Driver
- STEP
26: Install The Operating System
- STEP
27: Tweak Your Creation
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