How to Install a Fan in a Core 2 Duo E8400

The Core2Duo E8400 model, designed with an LGA775 socket specification, requires a compatible socket 775 cooling fan to work properly. Such fans either use screws or plastic knobs to fasten themselves to a motherboard, unlike the fans from previous socket generations that clipped onto the socket directly. The change to a fan that clips to the motherboard led to a much larger cooling-element capacity, allowing the fan to occupy much more space than the previous socket 478 fans.

• 1

  Place a drop of thermal grease or paste from a syringe on the center of the surface of your CPU.

• 2

  Use a thick sheet of construction paper to spread the thermal component around the surface until it embraces the core completely.

• 3

  Mount the fan on top of your processor with the metal plate below the fan touching the processor's surface.

• 4

  Push down on the clips surrounding your fan and twist them so they lock. If you have screws on your fan, push them in and use a Phillips-head screwdriver to screw them in.

• 5

  Connect the fan's power cable to the motherboard's "CPU FAN" connector to install the fan.