View Full Version : WARNING!! SK6 HSF trouble.. read this if you are an owner.
My SK6 was nearly the killer of my 1 gig bird.
YOU MUST BE CAREFUL WHEN INSTALLING THIS HEATSINK!!
I include a drawing to show that you must get the heatsink all the way to the end of the clip(the end without the screwdriver insert. If is is not, the heatsink could be resting on the high edge of the socket A and not be completely resting on the core.
Please heed my advise, do a trial setting first.
I was in shock when after the temps began to rise rapidly I shut down and took the heatsink off. Only about 25% of the AS2 was disturbed. I even looked it all over good with a small mirror and couldn't see the error. It only takes a fraction of space to cause this so be careful.
killem1x1
08-10-01, 10:19 PM
I have one that will be here in the morning, thanks for the heads-up!
Here's that picture again in a format that works!
Here's that picture again. Didn't work as .bmp in initial post.
Good gods!! Seriously dangerous! Gotta give this a...
*BUMP*
I just ordered the Mighty Machine, Which has a SK-6. I'll have to keep this problem in mind while mounting it. Thanks a lot.
Maybe you can file down that area?
Man. Thats one of the best headsup i have seen and a great reason that these forums exist. Keep up the good work.
cjtune; filing it down is something I thought of, although I thought of it AFTER I put the darn thing back on. IF I ever take it off again (and judging from its performance it won't be very long) I will do just that. I can keep checking the fit on my A7V and get it right.
I just can't believe the manufacturer didn't catch this because the socket A would be the same no matter what board you use..
As I take another look at a Taisol alum heatsink, the clip cannot move when placed in the channel so the heatsink lines up correctly when the back side of the clip is engaged.
I wonder if I could modify the SK6 to accept the clip from the Taisol.....need to look at that again!!
The Cooler Master that came with my Duron is the same way, can't move once in the channel..
The FOP32-1 on the other hand CAN move but the offset measures 9/16". Checking the fit on my A7V it would be impossibe to move it far enough to have the same problem because it would meet the other end of the clip and still have clearance.
I've got a coolermaster I'm using now till my new HSF gets here. Maybe I'll try and throw the retension clip in there. The fins on the SK-6 look a lot closer together then they are on the coolermaster though. But I should be able to file it down some to fit the fins on the SK-6.
Most heatsinks DO NOT index the clip. When putting any heatsink on, make sure it is pushed back away from the "bump" as far as you can.
:rolleyes:
NOW HE TELLS ME!!!!
Is this made by the folks at Thermaltake? those guys just love to kill chips don't they.
No, it is made by Thermalright Inc.
Maybe it should be Thermalwrong Inc.
And those stupid wire clips for hilding the fan in place were a really dumb idea.
:mad:
freshy98
08-13-01, 01:15 PM
Thought you ment getting right the lower part of the clip it self above the CPU. But this is serious!!! I'm gonna install my own SK-6 in a couple of days (when the spacer gets here).
Thanks for the info!
savi have you tried grinding down that edge witha dremel or file or something? its 100% copper so it should be relatively soft.
let us all know about this hs.
I have contacted the vendor to see if they will take it back in exchange for something else. If I can't send it back, I will file down the edge and also try to make the clip indexed.
It performs OK but since I use cohesive air cooling an all aluminum heatsink actually works better. I believe it is because the aluminum has more fin surface areaand are further apart. The copper fins on the SK6 are very close together and the air needs to be forced into them the way the Delta fan does.
I'm thinking a Taisol with the copper plate set into the bottom would work the best.
From what I've been reading the SK-6 is supposed to be one of the very best coolers available on the market right now. I'm not sure about the affects of cohesive air cooling though, as I've never done it. But mine should be shipping tomorrow I hope. So hopefully by next week I'll get it in and let you guys know the results.
freshy98
08-13-01, 04:42 PM
Savi, you got a link on Cohesive Air Cooling? I have no idea what to think of it. Never heard of it (in English terms that is, maybe I know what it is in Dutch though).
bdf24; you better run down to the hardware store and get yourself some earplugs, maybe enough for the whole family.
I had that Delta fan on for only 1/2 hour at a time. Had to shut it down!!
freshy98; A 'Super Member' on this forum named "Hoot" came up with this concept of cohesive air cooling. He did a good article on it here:
http://www.overclockers.com/tips461/index.asp
and a follow up on the forum here:
http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13998
Works better for me than any HSF so far...and I DO have too many!
hehe, thats why i run sunon instead of delta so i can watch tv with the comp ON
freshy98
08-14-01, 02:37 AM
Very nice Savi, but hanging such a big cooler out of my case isn't very nice ;)
Also drilling and cutting out my case isn't something I would like to do. Guess I just stick with *normal* cooling.
I'm not using a Delta. The Wife would kill me if I did! LOL!
I've got an 80mm fan with an 60mm to 80mm fan adapter on mine. So it should still give good performance with a LOT less noise.
klosters64a
08-14-01, 11:13 PM
I've read that the actual Socket A fixture can be different. Molex and AMP make most of them. The dimensions of the "shelf," aka cam box cover are slightly different. AMP's and Molex's are not exactly the same.
prelude2005
02-25-02, 06:44 AM
Hello
my first post here, and I wanted to bring this up again.
I have burnt 2 athlon XP procoessors because of this issue, everyone that gets this HSF please be carefull.
Thanks
Charlie
ThermalRight is one of the best manufacturers of HSF combinations. Do any of you guys check that the HS is not resting on the cam box or do you guys just don't care if it's on right? Nobody can really say that a product sucks since you didnt install it properly.
SteenkyBastage
02-25-02, 09:38 AM
i dont think they're saying the product sucks, they're saying it's easy to mis-mount. seems like this could have been more easily avoided by the manufacturer if they wanted.
prelude2005
02-25-02, 02:17 PM
yea the product is great! i love it, its just you HAVE to be careful on install..
SteenkyBastage
02-25-02, 03:43 PM
btw, prelude2005:
welcome to the forums :)
The SK6 is no trouble to mount correctly.That pic is incorrect.The heat sink is machined so the socket area he points to is not in the way of mounting UNLESS you install the heat sink backwards.
I have never mounted a heat sink without first setting it on the processor to check for fit.I do this on all AMD heatsinks...Put the processor in socket and then simply set the new sink on it and look and feel for correct contact..This is best done with mother board on the bench.....
If I had to bet I would guess you instlled the heat sink Backwards.
AND Again the picture is toatly Incorrect as to the look of the SK6.If you loook at his arrow that part of the heat sink is actually machined so it sits above the socket !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look at this pic It shows the sink and its cut out area, that is pretty conclusive it is designed correctly and is NOT lol a core killer.
To mount as is stated in the top post you need to install it Backwards or set the base on top of the socket.No matter which way you mount it incorrectly it becomes noticeable when you try to instal clip as it will take MASSIVE preassure to clip to socket Lug.
I suggest prior to applying this much force to any clip you recheck your install as a matter of concern to say the least.
I aggree with diehrd I have the same heat sink and if you look at it there is only one way to mount it and you cant mount it wrong...mine works great and I dont see how you could mount it wrong....?
prelude2005
02-25-02, 08:22 PM
Originally posted by diehrd
The SK6 is no trouble to mount correctly.That pic is incorrect.The heat sink is machined so the socket area he points to is not in the way of mounting UNLESS you install the heat sink backwards.
I have never mounted a heat sink without first setting it on the processor to check for fit.I do this on all AMD heatsinks...Put the processor in socket and then simply set the new sink on it and look and feel for correct contact..This is best done with mother board on the bench.....
If I had to bet I would guess you instlled the heat sink Backwards.
AND Again the picture is toatly Incorrect as to the look of the SK6.If you loook at his arrow that part of the heat sink is actually machined so it sits above the socket !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
heh, well apperently it happend to me, so i dunno if that pics incorrect or not...
prelude2005
02-25-02, 08:23 PM
Originally posted by SteenkyBastage
btw, prelude2005:
welcome to the forums :)
thx buddy!
i've been having troiuble with my sk-6 constantly getting only one side of my core in good contact with the as2 i used... maybe this is the problem and i'll checkit out but i doubt it since i've tried all sorts of positions and configs for my sk6 on my ak31... people at the anandtech forums even told me that for tehe ak31 the sk6 needs to be cliopped with the clip backwards .... this heatsink is defintealy annoying i ordered it for the good reviw it gets but a good number of people just ahve trouble getting it mounted on right mroe than any other heatsink..bah...
francisamf
04-22-02, 01:52 AM
I have an SK-6 and have had no problems with it. You just need to be really careful with the "cut".
Also, as far as I know, all sockets are designed the same, so I don't think you should reverse the clip. I made sure that when I installed it, the "V" of the clip was above the core. That's it.
Good luck anyway!
F
Well, I guess I need to defend my point here. (previous forum name was SAVI)
Please review my initial post as it states that the sink must be all the way to the back of the clip AND I stated that you should do a test placement.
As for the picture that DIEHRD included, well, it doesn't take into account that the rubber pads set the sink higher. And as my pic shows the cam box isn't much higher so the slight difference is tough to see, but makes a world of difference in the temps.
And finally, the manufacturer could have done one of 2 things to completely eliminate this potential problem. Either index the clip, or cut the offset back a little more. Maybe the new ones have included one or both of these changes. I hope so because either one would be an inespensive fix.
If you got the thing to work fine, then good for you. But please don't call the rest of us 'stupid' if we got it wrong. There will be plenty of noise from the Delta fan so we don't need more greef!!
And BTW, if you want a GOOD HSF, get the PAL 8045!!
Emericana
04-22-02, 07:41 PM
Ehh... i had a sk6 and didnt like it that much. i then got a coolermaster hhc001 (heatpipe) and got much better results. it was a much easier install aswell... if i can recall correcly i got 42C max full load w/ sk6 and around 36C Max load w/ heatpipe (at only 1.75vcore tho). This was with a delta 38.
now i have my alpha and like it a lot cause it uses 80mm fans.
btw, you get much better results w/ both the heatpipe and the sk6 if you lap them. i read a article on virtual hideout about lappiun the sk6 and they got a 5C drop!
Originally posted by Emericana
E
btw, you get much better results w/ both the heatpipe and the sk6 if you lap them. i read a article on virtual hideout about lappiun the sk6 and they got a 5C drop!
Could you explain lapping more...? Thanks
Emericana
04-22-02, 08:26 PM
oh man there are like a million lapping threads in this board if you just use the search button... it is essentially the process of making the base of the hs completly flat so you can get the best transfer rate between the core and the hs. it is done by flatening out the base of the hs with low grit 400 sand paper, and then using 600-1500 grit to get the smoothest possible base.
http://www.virtual-hideout.net/articles/sk6_lapping/index.shtml
DO NOT POLISH IT LIKE MENTIONED IN THAT ARTICLE! It decreseas your results. it was once thought that polishing does nothing but make it look nicer but what it really does is fills in the gaps where the artic silver would be making the compound less effective.
I knew about the whole sanding thing just didnt know it was called that. Thanks a lot!
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