[SOLVED] The stock heatsink for my AMD FX8320 processor doesn't touch the top of the CPU. Overheating

[kenhaley]

The stock heatsink for my AMD FX8320 processor doesn't touch the top of the CPU with everything clamped down. The issue is obvious: The fins of the heatsink (which are much wider than the part of the heatsink that should make contact with the CPU) are laying on top of the plastic frame of the heatsink/fan holddown that surrounds the CPU socket. The last time I assembled a computer more than a decade ago, Heatsinks should contact the CPU. This is still true, right? PC is running hot and even shutting down. Any problem with just die-grinding the obstructing fins away?

 

[drea.drechsler]

The stock heatsink for my AMD FX8320 processor doesn't touch the top of the CPU with everything clamped down. The issue is obvious: The fins of the heatsink (which are much wider than the part of the heatsink that should make contact with the CPU) are laying on top of the plastic frame of the heatsink/fan holddown that surrounds the CPU socket. The last time I assembled a computer more than a decade ago, Heatsinks should contact the CPU. This is still true, right? PC is running hot and even shutting down. Any problem with just die-grinding the obstructing fins away?

Did you try re-orienting the HSF (basically unmount, turn it 180 degrees, remount) to see if that helps? If not then yeah, grinding away the offending material shouldn't matter too much, if you have to.

But what motherboard do you have?

 

[kenhaley]

Turning it 180 degrees doesn't change anything. I am now questioning my initial post and eyesight. I just re-checked and the fins are very close but not touching. Yesterday I was twisting the heatsink after clamping it down and it moved so easily I thought there was a gap, but now I think it was just gliding on the thermal paste. I checked the smash pattern of the compound bead and it indicates contact. That being said I still have an overheating problem.

 

[drea.drechsler]

Turning it 180 degrees doesn't change anything. I am now questioning my initial post and eyesight. I just re-checked and the fins are very close but not touching. Yesterday I was twisting the heatsink after clamping it down and it moved so easily I thought there was a gap, but now I think it was just gliding on the thermal paste. I checked the smash pattern of the compound bead and it indicates contact. That being said I still have an overheating problem.

The usual warnings about applying thermal compound: too much is almost as bad as too little. Just small bead (small pea sized or large rice grain sized) in the middle of processor is usually enough, then twist the heatsink side to side bit as you put it on the processor to 'bed' it in before screwing it down tight. Most TIM's need a while to achieve full thermal transfer potential.

Are you overclocking? That's one hot processor, a stock HSF won't be sufficient when overclocking it. Also it presents a massive load to the VRM which will overheat on many motherboards and either throttle the CPU or just shut down to prevent damaging the FET's -- even if not overclocking.

Again: what motherboard are you using this on?