Is this CPU cooler not compatible with my MOBO / AMD socket?

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RATLieutenant

Commendable
Mar 23, 2016
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Hello, I recently received an Arctic Freezer 13 for my AMD Athlon X4 860K processor. The motherboard is an ASUS A68HM Plus.

Because of my idiocy, I only realized that it did not fit at all, right after placing the heatsink on the CPU with the pre-applied thermal compound. I attempted to clip both sockets to the bars near the processor. After realizing that every attempt wasn't working, I quickly removed it and placed the whole cooler back in the box while panicking.

Why does it not fit on my motherboard, even though both the cooler and motherboard support FM2+ AMD sockets? Am I doing the installation wrong? If I really did it wrong, do I have to use a new paste? If it isn't compatible at all, can I get a refund even if I used the pre-applied thermal paste?

My motherboard:
jk8YVE4.jpg

The heatsink and the sockets:
BXdagTD.jpg
 
Solution
B
I can see your dilemma. If you are not happy with it I would just return it. I will answer some of your other questions.

They should accept it as a return even if the pre-applied thermal paste has been used. And ideally you want to reapply thermal paste each time you remove the heatsink.

If you do return/exchange for something different I would suggest a heatsink with its own backplate that the heatsink screws into as they are a lot more secure and stable.
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RATLieutenant

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Mar 23, 2016
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Intel and AMD have completely different installation instructions, which makes this video sadly useless for me. :(
 
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R

RATLieutenant

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Mar 23, 2016
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As seen in the first photo, there is only 1 bracket on each bar above and below the processor slot. This makes it very unstable, as the CPU cooler installation needs 3 from what I have seen from multiple videos. When I try to screw them together, the screws that came with the cooler doesn't even reach the included socket.
 
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B

Baralis

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Jun 10, 2010
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I can see your dilemma. If you are not happy with it I would just return it. I will answer some of your other questions.

They should accept it as a return even if the pre-applied thermal paste has been used. And ideally you want to reapply thermal paste each time you remove the heatsink.

If you do return/exchange for something different I would suggest a heatsink with its own backplate that the heatsink screws into as they are a lot more secure and stable.
 
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Solution
R

RATLieutenant

Commendable
Mar 23, 2016
5
0
1,510


I have decided to return it back, in exchange to buy another one. I am thinking about getting this one (Cooler Master 212 EVO). I hope it actually fits this time. :D

Thanks for the help mate! If there's anything else I should know about installing the / any cooler, please do respond. Other than that, thanks again.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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Jan 1, 2013
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Bear in mind the evo needs full backplate removal & replacement.
If you're happy doing this then fine.
I would take the raijintek themis over the evo personally.

If you want a decent cooler that is quick to fit using the stock mounts look at the deepcool gammaxx 300/400 or the cooler master hyper 103.
 
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R

RATLieutenant

Commendable
Mar 23, 2016
5
0
1,510


That's alright for me, there's a hole below where the motherboard is supposed to be which makes installing the backplate easier. Thanks for the warning though! :)
 
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