OCZ tempest

[Scott]

I just checked out your review on the new OCZ Tempest hsf. I'm a bit dissapointed, there are no thermal benchmarks, or audio ones. I'd like to know how it stacks up against the stock cooler in cooling capabilities and noise. The stock cooler for the X2's are surprising efficient, and reasonably quiet, so why spend $60 on something, if you don't know how it preforms compared to the stock cooler, its main competition?

PS. I'm not trying to be an asshat, I'd just like to see a complete review with benchmarks, the only way to tell its true (not advertized) preformence.

--Scott

[Michael]

It can out perform the reference heatsink for AM2 components especially when overclocking. Once LM_Sensors can accurately detect all of the sensors, the thermal results will be added.

[kmroach]

I have a asus a8n-vm csm/nbp 939 motherboard and prior to installing

the cpu i put the ocz tempest together and i read the manual and it

says to remove the backplate and replace it with the tempest

backplate for 939. i removed the black plastic mounting frame [which

i've seen on 3 website reviews, but its not in the manual] and then

removed the old backplate and i did it with the cpu socket empty to

try it out. so i used the silver long screws to secure the tempest to

the backplate but the screws appear to be threaded badly they wouldnt

turn more than twice. which left the cooler wobbly. i replace the

backplate with the original and same problem, whouldnt thread

properly. i then tried the black screws with the original backplate

and they threaded perfectly. i noticed with the black plastic frame

missing the cooler sits right on the socket but if the black plastic

frame is present the cooler appears to be too far from the cpu. also

if i line up the cooler bracket holes with the motherboard holes

exactly then part of the rectangular heatsink base sits on the thick

end of the plastic 939 socket. but if i move the heatsink away from

the end, then the holes dont line up and the metal fin that shows on

the cut side of the heatpipes touches a row of black cylinders. Is

the cooler supposed to sit right on the socket end? or is it supposd

to be clear and almost sit on the cpu? if not directly on it

cause i dont see there being any room between the cooler and the cpu

had i placed the cpu on the socket before trying to work things out

with the cooler installation first. help!

[Michael]

The CPU heatsink should sit directly on top of the processor. The thermal paste on the heatsink should come in contact with the heat spreader on the CPU.

[kmroach]

So the rectangular base shouldnt be sitting on the socket end at all?

when i tried to have the base flat on the cpu the holes didnt line up with the motherboard holes where the black retainer was removed from.

if the base cant rest/touch on the back part of the socket i'm not sure what to do considering the holes wont line up. any ideas?

thanks

[Michael]

The copper base should only be coming in contact with the top of the processor... Are you able to take a photograph to show where exactly the OCZ Tempest is touching?

[kmroach]

yes I can but I dont know how to send it to you. the forum says i cant post attachments.

however the heatsink is about 2 or 3mm on top of the biege plastic socket that says socket 939. if the heatsink base was square like the socket instead of rectagular i dont think i'd have this problem however on several sites they say installation was a breeze which is pi$$ing me off. i tried placing the socket without the cpu and when i screw the screws in, the heatsink dips down to touch the end of the socket towards the black cylinders and it looks very wrong. if i move the heatsink off the back of the plastic socket where its labeled 939 so that the heatsink is snug on the socket square while theres no cpu in place then the motherboard holes dont line up. its a micro atx board and i think maybe thats the problem but i havent heard this from anyone else.

[Michael]

yes I can but I dont know how to send it to you. the forum says i cant post attachments.

Use http://www.imageshack.us/ or another free image hosting service.

[kmroach]

http://i77.imagethrust.com/images/1tUn/view-image/tempest-on-back-of-socket.html

http://i77.imagethrust.com/images/1tUo/view-image/tempest-on-socket-square.html

http://i77.imagethrust.com/images/1tUm/view-image/base-of-tempest.html

http://i77.imagethrust.com/images/1tUl/view-image/a-8-n-vm-csm-nbp-939.html

these are the pics of the problem

[Michael]

I'm sending off a message right now to a contact at OCZ, so he can have their engineers look at the problem.

[RyderOCZ]

Kmroach,

If you put the CPU in the socket....then you have everything just fine. The top of the CPU sits higher than the socket itseld and thus the heatsink will set on the CPU and not touch the socket.

Everything you have there looks just great...put the CPU in the socket and then set the heatsink on the CPU...you will see what I mean.

[kmroach]

I was afraid the cooler was too heavy for the cpu, i've always heard never press down on the cpu when you put paste on it; how does the weight of your finger tip compare to a 580 gram heatsink sitting on the cpu for months/years. And all the heatsink companies say the same thing, they wont accept responsiblilty for their products damaging the cpu - a $300-$500 investment. so i did trial runs first with the heatsink by itself and each time it looked bad, as i originally posted the manual didnt say remove the retaining frame first. so i was very iffy about what to do. i'm told to place it squarely on the cpu and screw it down. I will try a dry run though, sticker in place and no paste. thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

[kmroach]

Thats a load off my mind the x2 4600+ with the tempest heatsink on top and screwed down looks good the holes match up this time. im a bit nervous about the silver screws only allow 2 turns before they stiffen up but i think it will stay in place. im not putting the whole thing together till the weekend though. I appreciate your help Michael and RyderOCZ I would have sent the cooler or motherboard back otherwise. Many Thanks!!!