Originally Posted by
Wily Coyote
Regarding the V8: Lots of talk. But quit drooling. I bought and installed one. Will most likely take it out when I get the energy. Want to know the biggest drawback to this thing? You have to attach it from the underside of the mobo. You got it. Was going to write a report when I get through testing, but, bottom line, so far it doesn't seem to be any improvement over my IX14.
The installation requirement is absolutely terrible. Want to check and replace the tim? Pull the mobo. Want to replace the fan? Pull the mobo. Want to do just about anything but gaze at it? Pull the mobo. It's attached to the underside with four nuts that you supposedly tighten up with a supplied socket that has screwdriver threads stamped into the top. Problem is, the X-shaped back plate has a rolled up flange all the way around it, including around where the nuts are installed. You guessed it. The socket is bigger than the remaining space, meaning you have to complete tightening the nuts with a pair of pliers.
Just two examples of brilliant engineering on this piece of hardware. There are more but I won't bore you with them. In a word, it sucks. The many positives are more than offset by the negatives. And it amazes me that no one who has actually installed and tested this thing has commented on it.
And, no, you can't jury rig hardware to fasten it from the top side. I tried. Unfortunately the attachment points are well underneath the body of this monster, which precludes reaching underneath to tighten whatever up. Unless, of course, you pull the mobo.