I replaced the thermal paste on my AMD processor after about two years, but I can't reinstall the original stock cooler on my Gigabyte B450 motherboard. The cooler's screws don't seem to reach or catch the threaded holes in the motherboard backplate, even after several attempts. What is the correct way to align and secure it?
1 Answer
Check that the AM4 backplate is still positioned behind the motherboard and that the cooler is aligned with all four threaded holes. The backplate can move or fall away when the cooler is removed, which makes the screws impossible to catch. If necessary, lay the motherboard flat and hold the backplate in place while starting each screw by a few turns. Tighten the screws gradually in a diagonal or cross pattern, and don’t force them if they aren’t aligned.
I’m trying to put the cooler back on, so I’ll check whether the backplate has shifted and make sure all the screws line up before tightening them.