X-bit labs

Battle of the Titans: Super Coolers from Scythe, Thermaltake and Zalman Face to Face (page 9)

Category: Coolers

by Doors4ever

[ 10/21/2005 | 11:44 AM ]

Some reviewers pass over the installation process, producing the test results right after giving the description of a cooler, but installation is in fact one of the main problems with the Scythe Shogun. It seems easy to mount the cooler on Socket 754 or 939. You insert special screws into the back-plate. These hollow screws are threaded both inside and outside.

Then you should put the necessary bracket on the cooler and screw the bracket (or brackets) up to the back-plate. Seems easy enough.

The problem is that the CPU socket can be oriented vertically or horizontally on the mainboard while the cooler should be placed in such a way that its fan was blowing the hot air towards the system fan on the rear panel of the system case. Two types of fastening are used for that purpose: one big bracket for a vertically positioned socket and two separate brackets for a horizontally positioned socket.

Choose the necessary type and screw the bracket(s) up to the cooler.

Note, however, that you can fasten the cooler easily and quickly only when you use two separate brackets and nothing interferes with the fasteners. If you have to use one big bracket, the mounting holes will be right below the heatsink ribs, making it impossible for you to use a screwdriver. The screws will have to be fastened in a slow and inconvenient way with a small spanner (included with the cooler). Unfortunately, Socket 754 and 939 are usually positioned vertically rather than horizontally on the mainboard, so you are likely to meet some difficulties during the installation of the Shogun on K8 processors.