Install The CPU Cooler

A superb guide to installing a CPU cooler is Dan's CPU Cooler Installation - Getting It Right. Another good reference is the Socket A AMD Processor Installation Guide available from AMD. In addition, Thermaltake provides excellent installation guides for each of their processors on their web-site. If you purchase the Thermaltake Volcano 9 CPU Cooler or any other Thermaltake CPU cooler then you might want to take a look at the Thermaltake CPU coolers product installation page.

If you've never installed a CPU cooler before then be sure and do some practice tries until you have the general feel of it. By practice tries I mean practice hooking the CPU cooler onto the CPU socket. While practicing, leave the protective cover on the factory thermal paste on the bottom of the CPU cooler if it has any (the Volcano 9 does not come with thermal paste already applied). Then get the feel of pressing down the latch without twisting the CPU cooler while you're doing it. Most CPU cooler latches are too tight to push all the way into position with just your thumb and you'll need to use something like a screwdriver to give you extra pushing leverage. My own experiences with installing a CPU cooler are included on my How to build a computer like My Super PC - CPU Cooler page.

	The CPU cooler I'm using is the Thermaltake Volcano 9, shown here with it's many wires and connections, as well as it's little "goodie" bag.
	It's possible to install the Volcano 9 without using all of the items in the goodie bag, such as the jumper and thermal sensor. But I'll be installing it in such a fashion to give me the most options in how I use it, so I'll have more to say about some of these items.
	Unlike other CPU coolers I've used before, the Thermaltake Volcano 9 does not come with thermal compound already applied to the base. You can see the base is clean and the copper portion is plainly visible. In my case that saves me a step because normally I clean the old thermal compound off first so I can use Arctic Silver 3 compound and get that one or two extra degress of cooling. If you're using a different CPU cooler and it already has thermal compound applied then it's fine to use it that way.

In my case, I used Arctic Silver 3 thermal compound. Excellent instructions for applying thermal compound onto the CPU cooler and processor core can be found by following the links provided on Artic Silver's home page until you arrive at the Artic Silver, Arctic Silver II, and Arctic Silver 3 thermal compound installation instructions. If you'd rather use Arctic Silver 3 thermal compound as well then the same link also provides instructions on how to remove the factory thermal paste.

	Here's how the base of the Volcano 9 CPU cooler looked before I applied Arctic Silver 3 thermal compound.
	And here's how it looked after applying it as directed in the instructions from Arctic Silver.
	Here's how smooth and even I could apply the thermal paste to the processor core. Looks fine to me.

At this point the CPU cooler is ready to be installed, either using the factory thermal compound or having prepared the processor core and CPU cooler with Arctic Silver 3. Reference the CPU cooler installation links above for details on how to actually lock the CPU cooler onto the processor. Just so you know, I used a screwdriver to get me the leverage I needed to force the locking clip into place.

Here is how the motherboard looks now with the CPU cooler installed over the processor.

The last step is to plug the fan into fan header FAN1 since that's where it will be best supported by the BIOS and utilities. Be careful because FAN2 is right next to it on the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard.

I'll be using the Volcano 9 configured so that it automatically adjusts the CPU cooler fan speed up and down as necessary to keep the processor cool. I was a bit leary of this at the time and seriously considered configuring the Volcano 9 such that the fan speed was set with the manual control. I'm picky about fan noise, and I was concerned that the Volcano 9 would be too noisy. But I can tell you now that I'm glad I went with the automatic configuration. The fan noise is quite acceptable even when running flat-out, and the fan really does only run as fast as necessary to keep the processor reasonably cool.

There are several connections that need to be made. I've color coded them in the first two pictures to help make them easy to find. Make the connections circled in yellow and blue. The yellow connection allows the computer to know how fast the Volcano 9 CPU cooler fan is spinning. It connects to the motherboard onto the 3-pin prong labeled FAN1 since that's where it will be best supported by the BIOS and utilities. Be careful because FAN2 is right next to it on the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard. The blue connection is a 3-pin to 4-pin power adapter so that the Volcano 9 can be powered using the beefier power supplied by a 4-pin connector from the computer power supply. The 4-pin connector is circled in red and does not need to be connected at this time. The third picture shows how it looks with these connections made.

Now remove the manual control, circled in blue, unless you plan to use it. The second picture shows how things look now with it removed.

Now connect the thermal sensor. This allows the Volcano 9 to "sense" the processor temperature and to increase or decrease the speed of the fan on the CPU cooler appropriately. Again, the second picture shows how things look with the connection made.

Next: Computer Assembly - Install RAM - System Memory

My complete recommendations for building a computer with quality components at unbeatable prices is on my home page at Build A Computer Like My Super PC - Cost To Build A Computer. Here again are the recommendations for a motherboard! Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Motherboards - AMD Socket AM2 ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition Newegg $179.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This socket AM2 motherboard is feature-rich with support for SLI to run two identical NVIDIA video cards in parallel, RAID, 8-channel on-board sound, and plenty of Serial ATA ports, USB 2.0 ports and IEEE 1394 Firewire ports. Be aware that this motherboard did not support the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ processor until BIOS version 1201 which came out June 28, 2007. Although the one I purchased from Newegg in November 2007 came with this BIOS version, motherboards with older BIOS versions can still be found in the retail channel. If the motherboard has a previous BIOS, it can be flashed to a newer BIOS if it's booted with a slower processor. Otherwise, it will have to be sent to ASUS to be upgraded. Motherboards - Intel Socket LGA775 ASUS P5N-E SLI Newegg $119.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. ASUS has an outstanding reputation for making quality, feature-rich motherboards. This one packs in all the essential features with top-notch performance. ASUS P5N32-E SLI Newegg $199.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This motherboard is the next step up, but most would probably find the ASUS P5N-E SLI a better buy. The ASUS P5N32-E SLI offers similar performance, and the feature differences would not be compelling for most, such as the improved audio, an extra Gigabit Ethernet port and an additional two USB 2.0 ports. Bundles, Barebone Kits AMD Bundles TigerDirect Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the page for bundles and systems. All of the components in My Super PC were purchased separately so that I got exactly what I wanted. But if you come across a bundle you like then you can be sure that all of the components are compatible. Bundles typically include at least the processor and motherboard, but can include much more. Intel Bundles TigerDirect Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to Intel bundles and systems. Combo Deals Newegg Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the combo deals page. Once there you can search by category, such as "AMD Motherboards" and brand, such as "ASUS".

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How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List [go]
	Tools [go]
	Antistatic Wrist Strap [go]
	Computer Case and Power Supply [go]
	Motherboard [go]
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound [go]
	RAM - System Memory [go]
	Video Card [go]
	Monitor [go]
	Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	Floppy Drive [go]
	Hard Drive [go]
	CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW [go]
	Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Modem [go]
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard [go]
	Install the CPU Cooler [go]
	Install the RAM - System Memory [go]
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case [go]
	Install the Video Card [go]
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard [20-pin Connector  or  24-pin Connector]
	Connect the PN1 and PN2 Indicators to the Motherboard [KS-282 to EPoX 8RDA+  or  Sonata to MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Ready the Monitor [go]
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	First Boot [go]
	First Boot Common Problems [go]
	Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW Drives [go]
	Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive [PATA Hard Drive  or  SATA Hard Drive]
	Connect the Speakers (if using built-in sound) [go]
	Second Boot [PATA  or  SATA]
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Test The Hard Drive [PATA  or  SATA]
	Install a Second SATA Hard Drive For RAID (optional) [go]
	Install the Operating System - Windows XP [on PATA hard drive  or  on SATA hard drive]
	Driver Installation [go]
	How To Copy Big Files From Another Computer Using Just a Floppy Drive [go]
	Install the Modem [go]
	Install the Motherboard Chipset Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Monitor Driver [go]
	Install the Video Card Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Install System Information Utility - EVEREST [go]
	Diagnostic Test - DirectX [go]
	Speed Test - System Memory (RAM) Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Hard Drive Performance [PATA and SATA results]
	Speed Test - CD Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Total System Performance [go]
	Stress/Torture Tests [go]
	Connect Front Panel Ports For Audio, Firewire and USB 2.0 [go]
	Install Rear Panel Ports For Firewire And USB 2.0 [go]
	Install The Computer Case Fans [go]
	Post Assembly Needs [go]
	Graduation [go]
	Video Card Driver Settings [go]
	BIOS Flash Update [go]
	BIOS Settings [go]

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