Impossible Push Pins

[ccubed]

I'm past the end of my rope. Have a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 and there's no way I can get the push pins to work. I've tried the stock fan as well and I haven't been able to get more than 1 push pin to stick at a time. I have an Asus P5Q-E mobo and I don't know if it's thick or what, but I can't get either push pins to do much of anything.

Unfortunately I got some bad advice HERE suggesting THIS mounting bracket. I ordered it without investigating enough and have now discovered THAT item will not work with stock Xigmatek. It doesn't have the cross mounting brackets that actually attach to the cooler, just the X mobo bracket and the screws.

I'm going crazy here because I really don't want to have to ship my bracket back and try to get the right one since that will take time and money.

Anybody have some advice or experience here?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Experience? Only to say that I HATE the pushpin approach, even on the freakin' Intel stock coolers!!

I got an OCZ Vendetta 2, and it was hell to secure. I began to worry about the motherboard, even after I got all the pushpins in, and of course, it felt like someone had steam-rollered my thumbs . . . . for the good part of an hour, anyway.

I've been a bad boy lately, showing my willingness to spend money as I post on these forums. Truth is, and as good as the Vendetta 2 is at parity to the TRUE cooler, I just decided to dump $60+ more into the Noctua NH-U12P. The OCZ is now "part of my collection." Maybe I'll try and sell it . . . . but P-I-T-A.

The only reason I pulled the OCZ cooler off the system was in response to the badly-reported E8400 core temperatures with an older BIOS. I since upgraded the BIOS which obviously fixes the problem, and I'm using RealTemp in Windows. As far as I can tell, it proves the Noctua's edge over the TRUE.

The Noctua uses the same sort of bracket-design employed by the ThermalRight Ultra 120, Ultra-120-Extreme (TRUE), the Ultima 90 and the IFX-14.

Of course, there's George C. Scott's line in "The Hustler:" Ed-DIE!! It's MY MON-ey!! I WANT my MON-ey, ED-die!!"

 

[myocardia]

It sounds like maybe you've got the pins turned to the release position. Either that, or you aren't pushing nearly hard enough. It takes ~25 pounds of force on the last three pins, to get them seated completely. That's why you have to install LGA775 heatsinks with the motherboard removed from the case. That allows you to put your other hand behind the socket, so you don't damage your board.

 

[CALiFORNiA DREAMiN]

i have the same xigmatek heatsink and an asus p5q pro. i used this mounting bracket and it works great.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233019

 

[ccubed]

Does anyone think there's a reasonable way to modify the mounting brackets shown HERE with the back plate listed HERE? I already have both and would love to kick the push pins to the curb and go with the screw mounted back plate I have.

 

[o1die]

All you have to do is remove the motherboard and place the backplate under the board. All the screw in heatsinks I have fit fine. Just torque them down gently crosswise until all are snug.

 

[nyker96]

I have a OCZ Vendetta 2 and replaced the push pin with the following kit:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

works like a charm, even lowered a degree or two by using this.

 

[Zapper48]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I have a OCZ Vendetta 2 and replaced the push pin with the following kit:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

works like a charm, even lowered a degree or two by using this.

Same kit works fine on my E8400

 

[nerp]

I'm so glad i have a Tuniq Tower. Attach the bracket on the back of the board, apply thermal grease, line up the holes, place on top of the cpu, tighten screws. Done. No absurd pusing on pins causing the motherboard to bend.

I still think AMD's clip/hook and knob to tighten design is far superior to the push pins. At least once you have both clasps attached, all you have to do is turn a lever to lock in place.

 

[Gillbot]

Just bust the pins out of the oem bracket and replace it with the screws and backplate.

 

[tenax]

Good idea, Gill..And i agree, Nerp..i have found one day i have luck with the pins and the next i could destroy 8 pins. i've been using backplate/screw systems for my last 2 heatsinks and never looked back.

 

[rogue1979]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Just bust the pins out of the oem bracket and replace it with the screws and backplate.

This will work fine. If the screws that came with the backplate have the wrong spacing/offset,
just use the same size screws that mount a floppy or CD-rom but are the longer ones.

Use the little red soft washers that are for mounting a motherboard and make sure not to tighten them too much because without a stopper you can bend the actual heatsink brackets too far down.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Even though pushpins do suck, i've installed at least five systems with them without any problem. I guess i must have good manual dexterity.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I have a OCZ Vendetta 2 and replaced the push pin with the following kit:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

works like a charm, even lowered a degree or two by using this.

Yes!! Yes, yes yes yes!!

When I first saw the Vendetta 2's top-side bracket assembly with the push-pins, I had posted my speculations here on the forums that you could use that TR bracket-kit.

But you would have cut off the pushpins, wouldn't you? Or do they dissassemble for re-use or reee-sale?

On another note, if you are going to use the pushpins, best to have the mobo out of the case. And further, get two big squares of cardboard, lay them flat on a solid, flat surface so that each two diagonal pair of pushpins you are securing have their bottom-side tips between the two cardboard pieces.

There are probably better ideas to protect both the motherboards and the pins. I actually bent one split end of the barbed white-nylon pins, but didn't break it.

You'd think this thread is more appropriate for the "Cases and Cooling" forum, but no problem for me. Just thought I'd mention it . . . .

 

[Gillbot]

You can disassemble the push pins but it's easier just to bust them.

 

[geokilla]

Sorry to thread jack, but the best way to install the Vendetta 2 without a bracket would be to just push the pins in with brute force?! Sounds a bit dangerous...

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Bear in mind that I never looked as closely at how the bracket assembly of the TRUE, Ultima 90 or Noctua NH-U12P warps the motherboard. I just noticed an obvious bulge with the OCZ's pushpins fully secured.

Further, while "people I know" have expressed unease about bracket-assemblies touching solder-pins and shorting the motherboard, and our fellow-member IdontCare apparently DID have a short-out with his, these brackets are now well insulated. Even if they weren't, a plastic spreader and a tube of automotive silicone adhesive-sealant applied in a thin layer would do the trick.

But it is obvious to me that a bracket assembly is rigid and stabilizes the installation, probably reducing the warpage . . .

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Even though pushpins do suck, i've installed at least five systems with them without any problem. I guess i must have good manual dexterity.

+5 to Dex!

Yeah, guess after you get the hang of them, push pins are easy to work with. I've done many without problem, and even have one retail boxed unit I use for testing that I've reinstalled at least 20-30 times without problems.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I can LIVE with 'em, but after being spoiled by the spring-loaded screws of TR and other coolers, they really make me crabby. And I still believe the bracket assemblies help "keep things straight . . . . "

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I have a OCZ Vendetta 2 and replaced the push pin with the following kit:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

works like a charm, even lowered a degree or two by using this.

I've been using the Sidewinder kit also and can't imagine using anything else...it just works!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Old people find themselves telling the same story more than once, forgetting what they said yesterday, so here goes:

If you're motherboard standoffs are only the 0.25" variety, the TR bracket-plate will remain in place with the screw-fitting extrusions still in the mobo holes, and you don't need to remove the board to remove and replace the cooler.

If not, see if there's a way to shim the bracket with cardboard with mobo still installed before pulling the spring-loaded screws from the mobo top-side.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck
Experience? Only to say that I HATE the pushpin approach, even on the freakin' Intel stock coolers!!

I got an OCZ Vendetta 2, and it was hell to secure. I began to worry about the motherboard, even after I got all the pushpins in, and of course, it felt like someone had steam-rollered my thumbs . . . . for the good part of an hour, anyway.

I've been a bad boy lately, showing my willingness to spend money as I post on these forums. Truth is, and as good as the Vendetta 2 is at parity to the TRUE cooler, I just decided to dump $60+ more into the Noctua NH-U12P. The OCZ is now "part of my collection." Maybe I'll try and sell it . . . . but P-I-T-A.

The only reason I pulled the OCZ cooler off the system was in response to the badly-reported E8400 core temperatures with an older BIOS. I since upgraded the BIOS which obviously fixes the problem, and I'm using RealTemp in Windows. As far as I can tell, it proves the Noctua's edge over the TRUE.

The Noctua uses the same sort of bracket-design employed by the ThermalRight Ultra 120, Ultra-120-Extreme (TRUE), the Ultima 90 and the IFX-14.

Of course, there's George C. Scott's line in "The Hustler:" Ed-DIE!! It's MY MON-ey!! I WANT my MON-ey, ED-die!!"

Here's a tip on the pushpins. Get a highlighter pen (one of the big ones with the hexagonal tip covers) and use that. Works like a charm for me. The Intel stock cooler was a lot easier for me than the stupid lever/strap gizmo ThermalTake and ThermalRight make you use. Yeah, for now I give away 100-200 MHz, but I don't really care - 3.4 GHz on stock voltage with stock cooler on an e6750 is jsut fine. At least until my E8600 comes from NewEgg.

 

[dug777]

Hmm, I didn't realise I should have put the stock intel hsf on when the mobo was out of the case

Oh well, it was hell, but it all works and the temps seem fine (highest load I've seen is about 52'C in coretemp).

 

[ccubed]

Dissassembled the push pins and went with the kit, but now I'm having new problems.

Here's my desperation thread. Since so many have been helpful here, I hope some of you will check that thread and give me some support.

Thanks for everything.

 

[Zenoth]

I hate the push-pin method too. My motherboard has some passive cooling even on its back side to the point that the natural bending of the motherboard is severely impaired, I kid you not that installing my OCZ Vendetta on it took me at least three hours trying not to break both of my thumbs apart to start with, and trying the perfect angle with one hand while the other trying with all of its humble force to bend just a millimeter that could make the difference between the pins getting in all the way or having to revert back to Intel's default cooler.

A good push-pin cooler is a dead one!