Question Having difficulty mounting Intel stock cooler

[tibbakoi]

Hi guys,

I recently upgraded (from 4th gen!) to an i5-12600 with a MSI MAG B660M MORTAR WIFI DDR4 board, but I'm having trouble getting the stock Intel cooler to sit properly. I'm applying a decent amount of force, but the pins seem to pull the diagonally opposite one out, like it's rocking. Am I missing a trick here? I've applied fresh paste and had the same result. I've got idle temps of 40-50°C (with Noctua NF-S12B on front and back, and have adjusted the fan curves to increase the RPM at lower temperatures).

Edit - I should add, it feels reasonably secure (I wouldn't even have turned it on without that!), its just not quite in as far as the pins should allow.

 

[punkncat]

The stock cooler should not be rocking at all.

12th gen CPU are known to have an issue with "warping" in the stock socket. There are aftermarket solutions for that aspect. You might wish to use a straight edge and make sure the cooler plate isn't a manufacturer defect or something. Pretty doubtful on that aspect considering there is little to possibly go wrong on that part. I suspect it is the CPU.

 

[Lafong]

Unless the stock cooler has changed lately, it is known to be annoying to mount.

It's difficult to tell when a pin is locked in correctly. Best method is to mount when the motherboard is outside the case so you can visible inspect the back side of the board to verify that all 4 pins protrude properly and are locked.

Supposedly, you will hear a "click" when each pin locks in, but it's just very fussy and very difficult to verify by eyesight alone if the board is in the case.

Intel used to have a 6 or 8 minute video of the procedure, but that was a decade ago. Maybe you can find it.

 

[tibbakoi]

The stock cooler is known to be annoying to mount.

It's difficult to tell when a pin is locked in correctly. Best method is to mount when the motherboard is outside the case so you can visible inspect the back side of the board to verify that all 4 pins protrude properly and are locked.

Supposedly, you will hear a "click" when each pin locks in, but it's just very fussy and very difficult to verify by eyesight alone if the board is in the case.

Intel used to have a 6 or 8 minute video of the procedure, but that was a decade ago. Maybe you can find it.

I've been removing both sides of the case so I can see the pins on the back, it looks like they come through far enough but when I apply pressure to the diagonal opposite they retract slightly.

 

[hotaru.hino]

The last time I touched Intel's godawful push-pin mounting system, I learned you're supposed to only push the pins in until they click in place. The twisty thing on the top is if you want to remove the cooler. You also have to make sure the twisty thing on top is in the right position too when you push the pins in.

 

[tibbakoi]

The stock cooler should not be rocking at all.

12th gen CPU are known to have an issue with "warping" in the stock socket. There are aftermarket solutions for that aspect. You might wish to use a straight edge and make sure the cooler plate isn't a manufacturer defect or something. Pretty doubtful on that aspect considering there is little to possibly go wrong on that part. I suspect it is the CPU.

It's not rocking during operation, just feels like that when I'm trying to mount it. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll take a straight edge to the CPU and cooler and see if I can see any discrepancy.

 

[Lafong]

I've been removing both sides of the case so I can see the pins on the back, it looks like they come through far enough but when I apply pressure to the diagonal opposite they retract slightly.

Going purely by your description, that strongly implies at least one pin is not locking.

From memory, you have to rotate all 4 pins to a certain orientation before you start. I cannot recall if that is "all 4 counter clockwise" or "all 4 clockwise".

I think it's counter clockwise but stand to be corrected.