Trouble Installing Noctua NH-U9S

[hgpot]

Hi all. I am building a new home server and have the ASRock Rack E3C246D4M-4L motherboard and the Noctua NH-U9S cooler in a 4U case. I am trying to install the cooler to the motherboard, and when I go to put on the backplate, the bolts will not go through the holes around the socket at all. I tried pushing a bit but it seems like this should just slide through. 

 

Am I missing something? Is this cooler just not compatible? If so, how can I tell if a different cooler will be compatible?

 

I don't really want to change motherboards because I want IPMI, onboard video, and plenty of SATA/PCIe and to support my Xeon E-2146G. 

[IkeaGnome]

Are the bolts threading into the backplate?

[hgpot]

The ends of the bolts are threaded, but I think they are threaded for the cooler to actually attach. The holes in the motherboard are also threaded. I'm not sure if the bolt could perhaps screw into the threads, but there are 4 of them and they are fixed in place so I have no way to screw them.

[IkeaGnome]

4 minutes ago, hgpot said:

The ends of the bolts are threaded, but I think they are threaded for the cooler to actually attach. The holes in the motherboard are also threaded. I'm not sure if the bolt could perhaps screw into the threads, but there are 4 of them and they are fixed in place so I have no way to screw them.

If you look at the plate where the bolts hit, there are threaded inserts.

It also doesn't look like that motherboard came with a backplate. Is that backplate from your last cooler? 

[hgpot]

Okay so maybe the threaded inserts are just in the way and can be removed?

 

The black backplate is the NM-IBP2 that came with the NH-U9S. The silver part is seemingly just part of the motherboard - brand new build with nothing from previous installations. 

[IkeaGnome]

4 minutes ago, hgpot said:

Okay so maybe the threaded inserts are just in the way and can be removed?

 

The black backplate is the NM-IBP2 that came with the NH-U9S. The silver part is seemingly just part of the motherboard - brand new build with nothing from previous installations. 

See how this hole has threads for a bolt?

Noctua is assuming you have a backplate for the stock style of cooler

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005762/processors.html

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Heatsink-Assembly-Cooling-BXTS15A/dp/B013U542QE

 

Edit:

You'll have to remove the silver backplate to install Noctuas.

Edited April 9, 2021 by IkeaGnome
Forgot to finish my thought

[hgpot]

So what should I do?

[hgpot]

It would appear that this LGA1155 cooler does not require a backplate, just screws through the motherboard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y892M38/

 

Perhaps that would work better? Looking at the video you linked, the Noctua backplate just slides in and that motherboard did not have the bigger silver part (a built in backplate?). Maybe I need to contact ASRock regarding compatible coolers with their built in backplate. 

[IkeaGnome]

9 minutes ago, hgpot said:

So what should I do?

I started editing above and got distracted with work. Remove the silver backplate and install Noctuas. 

[hgpot]

2 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

Remove the silver backplate

Sounds like I am in a similar situation as: https://www.reddit.com/r/ASRock/comments/f657go/x470d4u_backplate_has_adhesive_help/ . I did not expect an extra backplate. I may have to remove with a heat gun, or see if a different cooler is compatible...

[hgpot]

Found this: https://www.asrockrack.com/support/supportlist.asp?cat=Cooler

 

Looks like I may have to choose from that list.

[IkeaGnome]

19 minutes ago, hgpot said:

Sounds like I am in a similar situation as: https://www.reddit.com/r/ASRock/comments/f657go/x470d4u_backplate_has_adhesive_help/ . I did not expect an extra backplate. I may have to remove with a heat gun, or see if a different cooler is compatible...

 

12 minutes ago, hgpot said:

Found this: https://www.asrockrack.com/support/supportlist.asp?cat=Cooler

 

Looks like I may have to choose from that list.

The QVL list is the "safest" way to go. 

If you do the heatgun just be careful with how much heat you use. I can't open reddit on my work computer. Just be mindful of solder joints near the backplate. An adhesive shouldn't need near as much heat as solder to melt, but it's still something to bear in mind.

[hgpot]

An update to close the loop. I did remove the stock backplate by melting the adhesive with a hair dryer. The Noctua one slides in like a glove now. It took about 15 minutes of heat, then i was able to push it out from the top using the stock Intel heatsink. I waited 15 more minutes for it all to cool down (the metal of the backplate was pretty hot to touch; the rest was just warm, possibly not any warmer than normal operation of the machine) and installed the rest of the cooler, POSTed just fine with idle temps in low 30s. 

 

I went the extra mile and contacted ASRock who confirmed that this practice is encouraged and does not void any warranty provided I keep the stock backplate handy in case of RMA needs. I'm not sure why this backplate is glued on in the first place. I've built a few systems with Noctua coolers and never had this roadblock. It does seem to be a trend for ASRock Rack, at least.