How Do I Use a Dell Heat Sink With a 478 Motherboard?

Heat sinks divert thermal energy emitted from computer processors and send the heat as far away from the processor as possible. A heat sink normally looks like a metal radiator with many different layers of metal stacked on top of one another just small enough to fit above a processor. If you want to use a Dell heat sink in a socket 478 computer, ensure the Dell heat sink is compatible with socket 478. Other heat sinks might damage the computer.

• 1

  Turn the computer around with the rear facing toward you. Remove all the cables connected to it.

• 2

  Unscrew the two or three screws holding the right-side cover to the computer body. Pull back on the cover and lift it off.

• 3

  Place a drop of thermal paste or grease on the processor. Spread the thermal solution evenly on the surface until it embraces the processor neatly.

• 4

  Align the Dell heat sink with the metal plate on the bottom facing down on the processor. Push it down until it makes contact with the CPU surface. Clip the heat sink on using the socket 478 clips provided on each side of the processor's socket. Sockets with the ZIF478 architecture contain two protruding edges on which any heat sink or cooling fan can be clipped.

• 5

  Close the computer and connect its cables.