Installation

The HDT-S1283 comes with a very detailed, multi-lingual set of instructions. The instructions comes in three parts: Spoiler installation, AMD Installation, and Intel installation. The spoiler is universal, regardless of CPU architecture, but we're going to look at the Intel installation specifically.

The spoiler merely slides into the fins. Ideally, it should lock into place, but we had trouble getting it to stay. In the end, we left it off. It's meant to cool the components around the CPU by re-directing air from the fan. We don't feel this as being a giant necessity.

The next step is to screw in the legs for the Intel LGA775 push-pin screws. These screw in on the underside of the heatsink. While installing these, you'll notice the grooves between the copper and aluminum in the base. Normally, you'll want to "lap" or "mirror-finish" the underside of a heatsink for best thermal transfer. The grooves allow you to apply thermal grease without having to worry about damaging the CPU by applying too much. The grooves allow for an "escape" of excess grease.



After these are installed, you can apply the supplied (or your own) thermal compound to either the CPU or base of the heatsink. The manual suggests the bottom of the heatsink.

I hate Intel's latest method of installing heatsinks. I've also felt the good old-fashioned clips were the best. With the push-pin screws, you have to first ensure they are all turn to the right and expanded to full length. Then you have to align them perfectly with the motherboard so you don't break any of the plastic. Hopefully you get them all in on the first try, but chances are you won't. I didn't, and I had a hell of a time trying to work around the heatsink to turn the last push-pin.



The last step is to mount the fan to the heatsink. This should be done last, because you most likely won't be able to get to the push-pin screws while the fan is mounted. To mount the fan, Xigmatek supplies four rubber pieces that stick in the fan holes, then slide ito the heatsink's fins. The rubber prevents vibrations against the heatsink, reducing the sound the fan makes.



The fan comes with a 4-pin motherboard power connector, but Xigmatek also supplies a 4-pin to 4-pin molex adapter as well. Be warned, the fan runs at full speed when connected to a molex, and it's loud!



On a side note, you can see in the pictures that the heatsink does not lean downwards, and it seems quite firmly in place. So much for Intel's suggested maximum of 435 grams for a heatsink.