Illustrative Guide: Modify your Scythe Infinity mounting system...

[deees]

I attached my Infinity to my AW9D-MAX using the Thermalright LGA775 RM:

and some ¾” long #6 socket-head cap screws.



I wasn’t concerned so much about overclocking as component fatigue. With the Infinity running almost twice the mass of the Intel reference design, I was concerned about the ability of the clips to maintain the necessary socket preload and about twisting of the motherboard around the socket.

I mounted the back plate to the motherboard after drilling out the 3mm tapped holes. I also filed off the small bosses around the holes. Small cresent-shaped plastic “washers” were made to insulate the ends of the back plate and to stand-off the plate so it doesn’t interference with the required motherboard deflection under the socket.



The heatsink clips sit on 0.1” “spacers” that I cut from 3/8”x 1" Nylon bushings. I original cut them using a X-acto Razor saw and miterbox, and then sanded them for hours, (or so it seemed.) Then it occurred to me to chuck them in my drill press and cut them out using the tip of an Xacto knife. I used one good one as a tool rest and cranked out the rest in no time. The 0.1” corresponds to the stand-off of the reference clips. Since I don’t know how to properly calculate or measure the required 18 –70 lbf preload needed to protect the solder joints in the processor socket, I’ll assume that Scythe factored that into the clip. If you're interested in increasing the pressure on the HSF/processor interface, you could use thinner spacers.



I wanted to mount my Infinity to exhaust out the top of my Antec 900. It just fits, but I’m crowding a couple capacitors, here:



and here:



The ¾” screws are a little long, but I drilled access holes in the motherboard tray so it wasn’t an issue. The next time I remount it I’ll probably trim them with a jewel's saw. (It make very clean cuts that won’t mangle the threads.) I think that using an allen wrench to reach under the heatsink and a nut driver from under the motherboard is actually easier than the standard clips, (at least on the MAX).



I did notice that I’ll need to be more careful with the alignment while I’m tightening the screws. (I had actually started to install push nuts to hold the screws in alignment, but removed them after reading the recommendation for rotating the HSF after it contacts the TIM. I’m reconsidering that option for the future.

[deees]

@ deees:
I think it's very true what you say and, as I mentioned above, I have already switched the zalman for the Thermalright backplate.
But a few things 'concern' me:

Since I don’t know how to properly calculate or measure the required 18 –70 lbf preload needed to protect the solder joints in the processor socket, I’ll assume that Scythe factored that into the clip. If you're interested in increasing the pressure on the HSF/processor interface, you could use thinner spacers.

Where are those spacers situated?

The spacers I was referring to in the version back at post #120 were the ones between the motherboard and the HSF mounting clips. The white part of the Intel pins are about 0.1” thin, and I cut my spacers to the same thickness. The logic was that the clips provide the necessary preload when compressed to that distance from the motherboard.

In later versions, I replaced the spacers with springs to maintain the preload while permitting me to increase the pressure by tightening the mounting screws

And do I need to drill out the holes of the TT backplate if I use Alphacool's 4M screws?

Yes, the Thermalright backup plate has 3mm threaded bosses.

And.... Now I took another look at you post, I am still very impressed by the very strong clips you made. Any chance you want to make the same for me? Of course I will pay you

Unfortunately, there is an awful lot of handwork needed for me to make these, so I’d end up charging you more than you’d want to pay. Also, I’d be reluctant to sell them since they could potential cause damage to other expensive computer components and I wouldn’t what to deal with the potential liability. (Don’t you just love the new litigious sociality we live in)?

Having said that, I’d certainly be happy to assist you in making your own. They’re time-consuming to make, but not terrible difficult. The tools I used were inexpensive and pretty easy to find. (Although this project has really gotten me thinking about buying a small milling machine). If you decide to try this and have any questions, let me know.