I'm installing a Peerless Assassin 120 CPU cooler, but the spring-loaded screws with the coils seem to stay in place instead of catching the mounting bar when I turn them with a screwdriver. I believe the brackets are oriented correctly, and I've already applied thermal paste. The instructions appear to indicate placing the cooler over the CPU and tightening the two bolts, but I stopped because applying more force feels like it could damage something. Has anyone installed this cooler and can explain what I might be missing?
1 Answer
The screws usually won’t engage unless the cooler’s crossbar is lined up correctly and you apply some downward pressure while starting each screw. Double-check that you’re using the mounting hardware for your CPU socket and that the brackets are facing the right direction. If the screws still spin without catching, the brackets are probably reversed or positioned incorrectly. Also check the front fan clearance—on some builds it needs to be raised slightly to avoid touching the memory modules.
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