AM4, AM3 retention bracket on some motherboards question?

jonerkinsella

Hi.

I've spent quite a while looking for a definitive answer without success...

Example, On a MSI B450-A motherboard, are the supplied plastic cpu heatsink clips and backplate compatible with older AM2- AM3+ mounting brackets (clip type) ?

I note that to mount an AM4 cooler, these clips have to be removed.

I don't want to change my cooler if I don't need to.

And before anyone tells me to contact the manufacturer for an upgrade kit, that is not an option as it's a very old but still very good cooler

Thank for looking.

K.O.Kiki

Won't work.
They are completely different sizes from what I gather.

CPU socket | Length | Height
AM3 | 96mm | 48mm
AM4 | 90mm | 50mm

jonerkinsella

The image of the AM4 socket above has the retention bracket facing the wrong way. Here it is on an MSI board,

I think I found the answer,

This was linked from this thread,
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/am3-cooler-on-am4.3302564/

This will save me a few quid and I get to keep my beloved Royal Knight :P

K.O.Kiki

Jaysus that thing's not even rated for AM3/LGA1150!

jonerkinsella

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

Jaysus that thing's not even rated for AM3/LGA1150!

It took me a while to sort the post out... :rolleyes:

Aye, Another video confirming the AM2 - AM3+ cooler fits on an AM4 socket (skip to 8 minutes),

TerrorFirmer

The mounting holes are different alright but the clips are the same. So most coolers wouldn't work, only basic/stock models that use the older style clips.

The stock coolers that come with Ryzen are very decent though.

jonerkinsella

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

The mounting holes are different alright but the clips are the same. So most coolers wouldn't work, only basic/stock models that use the older style clips.

The stock coolers that come with Ryzen are very decent though.

The legacy of the Royal Knight lives on :P

I like the cooler because it blows air around the mobos vitals, + it does a good job while very quite. It's been cooling my 5930k in this phase of it's existence and that has never been seen the 70s c. I replaced the fan about 2 years ago to revive a noisy one.
It looks gaudy as F, but it does it's job.

K.O.Kiki

I kinda wish I could just exchange my Noctua NH-U14S for a NH C14S.

TerrorFirmer

Aha, just googled the cooler there.....eh....hmmm.

jonerkinsella

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Aha, just googled the cooler there.....eh....hmmm.

Class or what

http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/premium5-coolers-shootout-may2k9-part1-p1.html

jebidiah

jonerkinsella wrote: »

Class or what

http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/premium5-coolers-shootout-may2k9-part1-p1.html

It's certainly in a class of it's own

yoshiktk

jonerkinsella wrote: »

Class or what

http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/premium5-coolers-shootout-may2k9-part1-p1.html

It gives "anime" vibe to me, like a cooler which I could see in Code Geass pc's.

jonerkinsella

I suppose it could be classed in the Marmite category alright

I honestly don't care what it looks like. I bought it because it's all copper and it had very good reviews. Copper is over 30% more efficient than aluminium at transferring heat, and it's an all soldered design that's very quite. I like the engineering of it.

Anywayzz...

Anyone that has an older AM2-AM3 lever type fitting for their heatsink will know it works on the AM4 now (if the motherboard comes with the plastic retention bracket as pictured above, that has to be removed before fitting a true AM4 retention bracket).

Thanks again for all the input lads.