Ok, so this is the first time Ive installed a socket 775 CPU (last computer was a Dell, never again). Anyhow, so I have the CPU placed in the socket correctly (notches/triangle lined up), ready to lower the load plate. When I go to close the lever, it requires a LOT of force...enough that I feel like Im definitely going to damage it. Ive googled this and found a ton of people saying this will be the case, especially the first time, and others saying it should require little force at all. Official documentation doesnt indicate anything at all. So which way is it? I really dont want to damage anything here.

8/18/2008 9:30:55 AM

go for it. I thought the same thing with my first 775 install. It'll be fine.

8/18/2008 9:58:03 AM

you won't hurt it

you kids and your 775's...i remember the days of 478 and those damn pins

8/18/2008 10:22:10 AM

make sure you take the plastic case off the bottom of the processor, I know that's obvious. I've read where that has messed up a lot of people.


Surprisingly fooled a number of people

[Edited on August 18, 2008 at 9:40 PM. Reason : ]

8/18/2008 9:39:40 PM

The plastic should be over the pins on the motherboard, not on the processor.

Also, when I installed mine it took about 5-10 pounds of force to close the lever. However, it took about 40-50 lbs of force to attach the heatsink. I thought I was gonna break the motherboard. The heatsink should be really tough to attach because it needs all that downward force to minimize the gap between the CPU and the heatsink.

8/19/2008 1:33:19 AM

^when you buy a processor it has a plastic case over the bottom of it. My friend forgot to take it off and almost ruined his moo.

8/19/2008 7:01:24 AM

Thanks for the responses...yeah I had removed both pieces of plastic so that wasnt the issue (although I did place the CPU in the socket before realizing there was a cover on it, but didnt attempt to lock it in). I had watched some Youtube videos of people installing these hoping to see some mention of the force required and none do...they just lower the lever like theres nothing to it. I guess if you know what to expect, youre just going to do it with no hesitation. Going to finish this today...learned I needed some extension cables in order to do the cable management I planned, but Im going to go ahead and hook it up and just reroute things later.

8/20/2008 6:56:21 AM

Installing my Q6600 was a bitch. It took me 6-8 times to install the stock Intel heatsink. I was waiting for the price to drop on an aftermarket one. I now have a TRUE 120. I an having problems overclocking and I am stuck at 3.0GHz. I flashed the bios of my motherboard, but it still takes some really high voltages to get the fsb above 1333.

8/20/2008 5:12:42 PM

^ um what? The minimum multiplier on the Q6600 is 6. With a 1333 FSB, that's 8GHz. Unless you meant 333FSB and a 9x multiplier. You probably need to bump up your northbridge voltage. My Q6600 handles 3.2GHz at less than 1.25V.

8/21/2008 1:55:00 AM

lol yea, he def meant 1333 FSB quadpumped

8/21/2008 2:14:22 AM

Quote :

"Installing my Q6600 was a bitch. It took me 6-8 times to install the stock Intel heatsink. "

I had the same exact experience. Getting the chip in was a breeze, but putting the heatsink on was a pain in the ass - namely because I'd always get all but 1 pin on, and then getting the last one on would always just not cooperate.

That being said, I still love the LGA 775 design way, way better than the prior ones - like Socket A, where I really, really felt like I was at risk of breaking the chip every time I'd take the heatsink on and off.

8/21/2008 2:16:15 AM

^Me too, so i just bought an aftermarket cooler with screws instead of those clips

8/21/2008 11:02:38 AM

8/21/2008 11:06:14 AM

Has anyone ever lapped a heatsink and a processor? I don't really have any problem with mine except for the fact that the temps vary between cores by 3-4C.

8/21/2008 8:03:49 PM

yes i have, but lapping the cpu/heatsink isn't related to what you're talking about.

cores vary 2-3'C between them, that's very very common.

8/21/2008 8:07:44 PM

upgrading my first PC I mounted the HSF without lifting the latch.

8/21/2008 9:29:29 PM

Just do it. Yes it requires force.

8/21/2008 9:34:54 PM