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Thread ID: 61283 2005-08-30 22:24:00 Lucky escape - and trap for young players Tony (4941) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
384702 2005-08-30 22:24:00 My CPU fan was making a lot of noise, so I decided to replace it and the heatsink. The replacement is a Nexus AXP3200 to go on my AMD Athlon socket 462 CPU.

Everything got installed, but when I powered up, the PC powered down again almost immediately - did it a couple of times.

I got some advice, and the diagnosis was overheating (!) and the suggestion was I had used too much thermal grease.

I stripped everything down, and sure enough I had used too much grease, but what was worse, I had installed the heatsink 180 degrees out! There is a step in the heatsink to match the socket, and I hadn't noticed, so I had forced the heatsink down and managed to clip it, with it sitting on the step!

The lucky escape was that I actually appear not to have damaged anything - I can imagine it would have been quite easy to break something (socket, mobo...) which would have been a bummer to say the least.

So the traps for young players are: Don't use too much grease (definitely a case where more is not better), and make sure you have everything the right way round!

Incidentally, the installation instructions for the heatsink were (in total) "Easy installation" - good, eh?
Tony (4941)
384703 2005-08-31 02:38:00 Oh God.

Incidentally I doubt it was too much grease that was the problem, more the fact the heatsink wouldn't have been anywhere near the die.

This is why they have toys for preschoolers where you have to put the right shape in the right hole.

Pick yourself up one of these (order.tupperware.com:8080), it might help with this kinda problem.
ninja (1671)
384704 2005-08-31 03:04:00 This is why they have toys for preschoolers where you have to put the right shape in the right hole.

Pick yourself up one of these (order.tupperware.com:8080), it might help with this kinda problem.I always knew I had a deprived childhood, and now it has been confirmed...
Tony (4941)
384705 2005-09-19 01:18:00 Tony, you should have asked me for advice :rolleyes:
Didn't you know I am an expert at useing too much thermal paste. A year ago I ruined two motherboards and one CPU. Just because of being to generous with the paste.
This is one instance where "the more the merrier" does not apply. :badpc:
:badpc:
:badpc:
JJJJJ (528)
384706 2005-09-19 03:24:00 There is a step in the heatsink to match the socket

Incidentally, the installation instructions for the heatsink were (in total) "Easy installation" - good, eh?
SHall I mention - there is a step in the heatsink to match the socket?
pctek (84)
384707 2005-09-19 04:27:00 Shall I mention - there is a step in the heatsink to match the socket?No, I'm embarrassed enough already! I still break out in a cold sweat when I think how lucky I was and that the whole shebang is is till in one piece and working. Tony (4941)
384708 2005-09-19 06:25:00 Well to make you feel better, I once worked at a shop where the tech, fairly new, built up a complete PC system for a customer. No problems, all worked nicely. Packed it up and sent it off by courier...Customer rings up after setting it up, seriously irate.
The tech had built the entire thing but left out EVERY single screw.
The whole PC fell apart into its components.
pctek (84)
384709 2005-09-19 08:53:00 Pick yourself up one of these (order.tupperware.com:8080), it might help with this kinda problem.
:lol: :lol:
I remember having one of those when I was a kid.
vapo (5203)
384710 2005-09-21 06:26:00 I put a crapload of grease on mine and no problems....... I'd hate to know how much is TOO much. :(

Glad it's working though. :)
doodaddy (8075)
384711 2005-09-21 06:28:00 depends on what temps you have..... Prescott (11)
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