CPU Heatsink mounting holes removed confirmed by AMD

I have heard rumours for sometime that AMD has removed the 4 holes around the CPU from their spec guide and in fact has told motherboard makers to remove these.

I email AMD directly asking them if this was true or not. My inquiry ended up getting elevated because the level 1 support staff couldn't answer my question. The following is the response from AMD to my email:

Hello Mark,

Thank you for contacting AMD's Technical Service Center. The spec has
been removed from the motherboard design guide. AMD, and motherboard
vendors determined it was not necessary to include these holes for
Athlon thermal solutions, as solutions that were intended to use the
mounting holes are not recommended, nor necessary. I would recommend
contacting your motherboard manufacturer to determine if the board you
choose will still have the mounting holes. If you are referring to
future products such as hammer- a completely different system is being
used for the thermals, and the 4 holes will not be there at all.


Regards,
Ryan Gardner
CPU Specialist
AMD
TSC

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Sounds like it';s still up to the mobo manufacturers though. It's optional now.

I'd imagine we'll still see holes for awhile.

Yep, this was confirmed a long time ago. You can see they're still in demand though - witness the sales of NFS-7 v2.0 compared to earlier versions without the mounting holes.

Also look at the success of the EP-8RDA+ with all that space around the socket and the mounting holes.

Hammer will use a P4-like retention mechanism, which should be good.

Well this is crappy news for watercooling. Also I have seen air heat sinks that use the holes too.

Yes, but the newest boards just coming out do not have the holes.
Look at the FIC AU13, which is thought to be close to the same as the soon to be released Epox 8RDA3+.

If you read between the lines AMD is asking these holes be removed.

mounting holes are not recommended, nor necessary

Click to expand...

Mark

I'm willing to be $ 50 that the EP-8RDA3+ will have the mounting holes. Epox are asking for trouble if they remove the holes anytime soon.

Nothing a good drill bit can't fix.

Thanks for the info.. Nice thing that I choose that Swiftech after all ;-)

They think they're gonna slow me down...nope!
Not as long as the cpu is next to the edge of the mobo, I have no problem making a lexan C-clamp should the need arise.