I bought a prebuilt PC a few years back, and it came with a peculiar Cooler Master cooler. The backplate has screws that go into the motherboard holes, with spacers for the cooler, but now I want to switch to the stock AM4 cooler. The issue is that the spacers are too tall. Is there any way I can continue using this odd backplate, or do I need to purchase a different one altogether?
7 Answers
You should check out the Peerless Assassin. It's only $20, comes with a full mounting kit, and can replace your weird backplate.
Could you share what motherboard you're using? Knowing the exact model could help in figuring out this backplate issue.
Isn't the backplate just the screw holes showing through? Can’t you attach your cooler to those?
No, there are actual screws sticking out where the screw holes normally are.
It seems you might need to purchase a standard AM4 backplate. Sorry, but that's likely your best bet for compatibility.
Yeah, that's probably the case. Kind of frustrating though, I've made different cooler mounts work before with this motherboard.
Why do you want to switch to the stock cooler in the first place? Did you get it from somewhere?
I've built a few PCs after getting this older one and had leftover parts. Just trying to save some money by reusing them.
You actually don't need the spacers when using the stock cooler. Just check how the backplate is designed; sometimes, it can fit without those spacers.
I get that in general, but this backplate is unusual. It has screws sticking out instead of the typical holes for secure fitting.
If you really need a backplate, you can usually buy the stock AM4 one separately. It might solve your problem.
It's an Asus Prime B550M-K. It was put together by a local business, so I doubt the backplate is the original one.