Should i add this black piece onto my cpu?

[Dylan Weppler]

so i already added my fan onto my cpu, and there is this black square that came with my mobo the ziz0-a which goes around the cpu, is this required or just recommended

 

[Mattz982]

is it the socket cover?

 

[synphul]

If it's a flat square piece of black plastic it sounds like the socket cover as Mattz982 said. Does it look like this?

If so then no, it's just a protective cover for the cpu socket to keep it safe/clean until you install the cpu. Once the cpu is installed you mount the cooler to it, you don't add that piece of plastic back.

 

[Dylan Weppler]

If it's a flat square piece of black plastic it sounds like the socket cover as Mattz982 said. Does it look like this?

If so then no, it's just a protective cover for the cpu socket to keep it safe/clean until you install the cpu. Once the cpu is installed you mount the cooler to it, you don't add that piece of plastic back.

It's a black square piece that goes around the cpu, i think it is to just hold it in place, but i put it on without it and it seems fine, its comes with the Asus Z170-A ATX motherboard

 

[Supernova1138]

You're referring to the easy CPU installer that's included with the board. You don't need to use it if you don't want to, though it might make CPU installation a bit easier and help prevent you from bending a pin if you don't have steady hands. I didn't bother using the one that came with my board.

 

[synphul]

Oh ok, thanks for that Supernova1138. I wasn't aware there was a cpu installation tool being shipped with some boards now on the skylake platform. It's designed to be left in place if used so shouldn't be a problem. Maybe it helps people who have never installed a cpu before. Supposedly it helps reduce bent pins but I didn't think there was a huge problem with that to begin with. Either way no biggie, it doesn't have to be taken apart and removed.