I found out why some Ultra-120 Extremes are loose [PIC]

[davexl]

I think I have found out why so many people are having problems with their Ultra-120 Extremes.

Some of them have a missing silicone washer/spacer.



I have bought 3 of these for my new Quadcores, and they have done an unbelievable job, but I have noticed some of them gave variable results and needed remounting. So looking at them I noticed that the mounts are different - both have exactly the same 17mm clearance, but one has a 1mm silcone washer.

The funny thing is that the last one I bought is missing this washer.

Either poor design decision or bad QC, or old stock

This mount needs work, but when it is on right, this thing rocks.

[xenoasd]

oh great mines doesnt have a washer.....

[njkid32]

The one I have has the washer and is still very loose.. I did this little mod and it really helped the temps on my kentsfield.

[fireice2]

no wonder this thing wiggles.

[LuckyNV]

hmmm i can't even remember, i installed it over a month ago

[BobHarris]

The HS moves because there is nothing to brace it on any of the sides. It is a poor design. Other HS are bolted on which prevent it from rotating.

[davexl]

The one I have has the washer and is still very loose.. I did this little mod and it really helped the temps on my kentsfield.

Good thread, and interesting that you have the washer and still had probs.

But I tell you, without the washer... it twists like a hula hoop.

[teyber]

wow! thats ridiculous!

[Speederlander]

Ha ha. My washer CAUSED my problems because it was bigger than the clearance hole on the base. I removed it and it totally quit sliding around. That screwhead dropped right into that hole on the top of the heatsink base and I'm good. No kidding.

[njkid32]

Well I think what the washer provides is more friction so it makes for less movement. But, if the X bracket isnt set to the right angle it wont allow for the correct amount of pressure. This is why my penny mod worked. Also, with the first attempt at this mod I used a piece of cardboard with gave more friction than the penny did with just about the same amount of pressure. I think when I change cpu's again I'll use an 1/8" rubber washer with a dab of crazy glue on it so it sticks to the X bracket for a more perm aplication.. That should work quite well.

[Speederlander]

Well I think what the washer provides is more friction so it makes for less movement. But, if the X bracket isnt set to the right angle it wont allow for the correct amount of pressure.

Weird. My washer was teflon or something. Super slippery.

[Fallengod]

Damn that sucks. Perhaps this is one of the reasons so many people have inconsistent results. TR seems like they have some QC issues on those things. Ive seen many pics of ones people bought with unflat bases. Now missing washers as well? Geezz.

[Eagleclaw]

I don't have the washer on mine...

@ njkid32 great tip I will give the 1/8" rubber washer a try

In the pics you can see even with the washer the head of the bolt still sticks out so thats not good either.

[davexl]

I don't have the washer on mine...

@ njkid32 great tip I will give the 1/8" rubber washer a try

In the pics you can see even with the washer the head of the bolt still sticks out so thats not good either.

It goes into the bevelled hole in the top of the heatsink - it is not the only point making contact.

Still needs more though..

[cozwin]

for a company thats meant to be "the best" its a pretty bad school boy error tbh.

[cozwin]

and when it costs so much tbh it should be perfect, for next to nothing more you could get the amanda which is pretty much perfect.

[Solarfall]

great find davexl. good thing that the missing plastic washer is pretty easy to replace with something else. and no heavy modding is required

[davexl]

Yeah, it is a pain, but hardly the end of the world. And the point is still that you can get world beating temps with this cooler.

I just remounted on a new motherboard, and found a great one - 2 strips thick of gaffer tape on the mounting bracket, then one large patch to cover the whole top of the heatsink base. The shiny sides of the gaffer tape then face each other, and provide a great grip, and the first time I have seen my quadcore temps all within a degree of each other under Prime95 load.

[crossg]

the first time I have seen my quadcore temps all within a degree of each other under Prime95 load.

Good find. My temps are not even close between Core 0 and Core 2. (4 cores at 100% folding). Hopefully some of the suggestions above will help. To me this mod will be easier to do first than lapping the cpu and heatsink. if the fit isn't tight then I don't imagine lapping will help that much, but that's just my opinion.

[LethalSmite]

Those temps seem fairly high ^^^

or am i wrong?

Do you have a fan stuck on that?

[crossg]

Those temps seem fairly high ^^^

or am i wrong?

Do you have a fan stuck on that?

Yes sure do. Scythe S-FLEX S-FDB 120mm, 1600 Rpm (Push)
I actually backed off the 3100Mhz OC because temps were 60+ under load. This CPU seems to run a lot hotter than the C2D.

[njkid32]

Yes, those temps are a bit high.. I have a kentsfield at 1.43v (ES B3) idle temps are 39c and loaded temps are 58c since I did my penny mod.

[lawrywild]

lol his temps are not at all high for 24/7 folding at stock volts on a quad core..

[njkid32]

lol, I didnt realize those were his loaded temps

[crossg]

Yes, those temps are a bit high.. I have a kentsfield at 1.43v (ES B3) idle temps are 39c and loaded temps are 58c since I did my penny mod.

Great temps for that voltage. Are your CPU and heatsink lapped?
Yeah mine is loaded temps but I should have posted a task manger performance screenshot to avoid confusion.