About attaching HSF's....

Has anyone found an easy or easier way to attach a HSF.

I mean, I use a flat blade screwdriver to do the job. I consider myself to have a very good mechanical feel for getting the clip on without damaging anything, either by slipping off the clip and ramming the screwdriver into the board or by exerting uneven pressure at one corner that could cause a chip in the cpu.

Still, depending on the design of the HSF, the angle at which the clip is bent, the thickness of the tab between the clip and the mobo, and the proximity of the memory it can still be a tricky job.

Something I have found that helps is installing (if included with mobo) the little expanded plastic standoffs in the holes around the cpu, between the mobo and tray. Maybe that is what these are supposed to be used for? They seem to provide additional support and keep the mobo from flexing too much when I get seemingly half my body weight pushing down over the cpu clip.

Anoter problem is it seems that the clip is always bent inwards towards the chip. This makes bending it out slightly to allow clearance for the slot tab difficult because you end up trying to leverage against the HSF itself to get it to clear the tab. Seems that if you are not careful you coud cause an unproportionate amount of pressure to be applied to a corner of the cpu.

OK after...this is turning out to be a longer post than intended...you get the correct tool, the plastic inserts in place, the clip bent out to allow for clearance and enough downward force to clip on the HSF, all while trying not to crack the cpu and to not to and wreck something, you end up grinding the tab into the surface of the mobo. See that was easy! Wait! Did I remember to apply thermal compund? arrrgggg! rinse and repeat.


Just seems that this process could be easier. I love the way the ZIF socket works.