Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
cover and store it with the other small parts in the parts box. If you ever re-
move the processor from the socket, replace the socket cover to protect the
fragile socket contacts.
Open the processor package. Once again, ground yourself to the power sup-
ply or chassis frame before you touch the processor itself. Snap off the black
plastic processor cover and set it aside. Store the processor cover later for pos-
sible future use.
Pin 1 on the processor is indicated by the gold triangle visible on the lower-left
corner of the processor in Figure 4-22. Pin 1 on the socket is indicated by a bev-
eled corner on the socket body. The processor and socket are further keyed
by two notches on the outer edge of the processor to accommodate the two
corresponding posts on the inside edge of the socket. Make sure pin 1 on the
processor and the socket are aligned and that both keying notches are aligned
with the corresponding posts, and then drop the processor straight into the
socket, as shown in Figure 4-22.
Leave the socket lever in the fully open (vertical) position as you lower the load
plate into the closed position, as shown in Figure 4-23.
Lower the processor lever slightly, which cams the load plate into locked posi-
tion. Make sure that the notch on the front of the load plate mates with the
shoulder screw cap, as shown in Figure 4-24.
Continue lowering the processor lever (which takes noticeable pressure) and
snap it into place under the latch on the load plate, as shown in Figure 4-25.
Examine the surface of the processor carefully. If there are any fingerprints,
dust, or other contaminants present, use a clean paper towel to polish the sur-
face of the processor, as shown in Figure 4-26.
Remove the CPU cooler from the processor box and examine the bottom of
the cooler. The gray patches visible in Figure 4-27 on the copper bearing sur-
face of the cooler are phase-change thermal compound. (Phase-change is just
a fancy way to say that the stuff melts each time the processor heats up and
solidifies when the processor cools down.) The thermal compound ensures
good heat transfer between the surface of the processor and the base of the
heatsink.
If any of those patches are missing or damaged, carefully rub the remaining
patches off the copper surface and replace them with an approved thermal
paste. If you ever have to remove and replace the processor, don't reuse the
existing thermal compound. Rub off any remaining residue from both the pro-
cessor surface and the heatsink base, and replace it with new thermal com-
pound. (We keep a tube of Antec Silver thermal compound on hand for just
this purpose.)
The CPU cooler mounts to the motherboard using four push-posts with twist
locks. The tips of the posts protrude a few millimeters on the back side of the
motherboard, so you can't install the CPU cooler with the motherboard on a
hard surface. We simply tilted the motherboard slightly while mounting the
cooler to give clearance for the posts.
