CPU cooler screw-down advice

robn · Apr 30, 2010

I've picked up one of the highly rated Akasa Nero S CPU coolers, and I'm using it on my X58 board.

I need advice on how much to tighten the bolts into its back plate.

It uses 4 bolt-thru-spring things to screw into its back plate, like this freedom tower. Only the last 1/4" of each bolt is threaded, the remainder is a wider smooth shaft to fit the spring.

Obviously it can only be tightened up the threaded section anyway. Should I screw it all the way? The installation leaflet doesn't specify!

a_ump · Apr 30, 2010

I've always screwed it down as tight as i could. The thing bout bolt-thru kits is they're supposed to apply alot more and equal pressure to your CPU so that heat transfer is improved. But like i said i've always tightened it to the point where i'd have to apply an obsurd amount of pressure to get it any tighter. You'll know when as it just doesn't seem like it'll screw in any further.

DRDNA · Apr 30, 2010

with the spring type you normally tighten to the point where it would seem knuckleheaded to tighten any more.

robn · Apr 30, 2010

Ok, nice one. Thanks guys.

kenkickr · Apr 30, 2010

I tighten them like when putting the lugs on when putting a tire on. Hand tighten first in a criss-cross pattern then a 1/2 circle turn with a screw driver or socket wrench in the same criss-cross pattern to make sure equal pressure is used.

JATownes · Apr 30, 2010

DRDNA said:
with the spring type you normally tighten to the point where it would seem knuckleheaded to tighten any more.

This is some awesome advice IMO. :toast:

Edit: @Ken - Your avy is making me stare at the Cubbies more and more. On second thought, those aren't cubbies, those are full blown Bears!!!

kenkickr · Apr 30, 2010

JATownes said:
This is some awesome advice IMO.

Edit: @Ken - Your avy is making me stare at the Cubbies more and more. On second thought, those aren't cubbies, those are full blown Bears!!!

The C and the S really stand out :roll:

Processor	i7 920 @ 3520MHz locked on 1.04V, all features on
Motherboard	Biostar T-Power x58 + ASUS U3S6 + Broadcom WiFi
Cooling	Akasa Nero S on the i7 + 2 Akasa Apache case fans
Memory	24Gig Kingston HyperX DDR3
Video Card(s)	XFX GTX260 216 XT
Storage	240Gig SanDisk SSD, 750Gig Spinpoint F1
Display(s)	BenQ E2200HD
Case	Coolermaster Elite 334
Audio Device(s)	Realtek(!) with M-Audio AV40 + Wharfedale SW150
Power Supply	Antec EarthWatts 650
Software	Win7 64 Pro / Fedora KDE
Benchmark Scores	wPrime 32M 7.265sec - 3DMark2001 57673 - Intel Linpack 50.6237 GFlops

System Name	Felix777
Processor	Core i5-3570k@stock
Motherboard	Biostar H61
Memory	8gb
Video Card(s)	XFX RX 470
Storage	WD 500GB BLK
Display(s)	Acer p236h bd
Case	Haf 912
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	Rosewill CAPSTONE 450watt
Software	Win 10 x64

Processor	INTEL CORE I9-9900K @ 5Ghz all core 4.7Ghz Cache @1.305 volts
Motherboard	ASUS PRIME Z390-P ATX
Cooling	CORSAIR HYDRO H150I PRO RGB 360MM 6x120mm fans push pull
Memory	CRUCIAL BALLISTIX 3000Mhz 4x8 32gb @ 4000Mhz
Video Card(s)	EVGA GEFORECE RTX 2080 SUPER XC HYBRID GAMING
Storage	ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB 3D NAND NVMe,Intel 660p 1TB m.2 ,1TB WD Blue 3D NAND,500GB WD Blue 3D NAND,
Display(s)	50" Sharp Roku TV 8ms responce time and Philips 75Hz 328E9QJAB 32" curved
Case	BLACK LIAN LI O11 DYNAMIC XL FULL-TOWER GAMING CASE,
Power Supply	1600 Watt
Software	Windows 10

Processor	i7 920 @ 3520MHz locked on 1.04V, all features on
Motherboard	Biostar T-Power x58 + ASUS U3S6 + Broadcom WiFi
Cooling	Akasa Nero S on the i7 + 2 Akasa Apache case fans
Memory	24Gig Kingston HyperX DDR3
Video Card(s)	XFX GTX260 216 XT
Storage	240Gig SanDisk SSD, 750Gig Spinpoint F1
Display(s)	BenQ E2200HD
Case	Coolermaster Elite 334
Audio Device(s)	Realtek(!) with M-Audio AV40 + Wharfedale SW150
Power Supply	Antec EarthWatts 650
Software	Win7 64 Pro / Fedora KDE
Benchmark Scores	wPrime 32M 7.265sec - 3DMark2001 57673 - Intel Linpack 50.6237 GFlops

System Name	Addison Clark
Processor	Ryzen 9 7950x3D delid
Motherboard	Asus X670E Hero
Cooling	Custom Bykski loop CPU, GPU, 2x 360 rads, and 1x 280 rad with Arctic P12 and P14 ARGB fans
Memory	G.Skill DDR5-6000 64GB CL30
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte 4090 Aorus Master
Storage	Kingston Fury 2TB and 4TB NVME
Display(s)	Samsung 57"
Case	Lian Li O11 mini
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Thermaltake 1000w SFX-L
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB SE
Keyboard	Corsair K95 Platnium
Software	Win 11 Pro

CPU cooler screw-down advice

robn

New Member

a_ump

DRDNA

robn

New Member

kenkickr

JATownes

The Lurker

kenkickr

System Name	Mr. Reliable
Processor	Ryzen R9 5950x
Motherboard	MSI Meg X570s Ace Max
Cooling	D5 Pump, Singularity Top/Res, 2x360mm EK P rads, EK Magnitude/Alphacool Blocks
Memory	32Gb (4x8Gb) Corsair Dominator Platinum 3600Mhz @ 16/19/20/36 1.35v
Video Card(s)	MSI 3080ti with Alphacool Block
Storage	2 x Corsair Force MP400 1TB Nvme; 2 x T-Force Cardea Z340; 2 x Mushkin Reactor 1TB
Display(s)	Acer 32" Z321QU 2560x1440; LG 34GP83A-B 34" 3440x1440
Case	Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic XL; Synology DS218j w/ 2 x 2TB WD Red
Audio Device(s)	SteelSeries Arctis Pro+
Power Supply	EVGA SuperNova 850G3
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V2
Keyboard	Das Keyboard 6; Razer Orbweaver Chroma
Software	Windows 10 Pro