AMD Wraith Prism Retaining Clips

[Pixel13]

So we have two basically identical machines with AM4 motherboard and Ryzen 2700x with the Wraith cooler which was bundled with the cpus.  Somehow, I managed to get the retaining clips hooked on the tabs for them.  But that was like 4 or so years ago.  I just bought a pair of Ryzen 7 5800X cpus to upgrade these machines.  And I'm at the same sticking-point which gave me incredible trouble before, namely getting the 2nd clip (the one on the lever side) over its lug.  Is there a trick to getting the thing lined up and far enough down to clip in place? 

 

I suppose I could buy new coolers, but these have worked well and look nice with their RGB.  I'd much prefer to re-use them.

[BiotechBen]

4 minutes ago, Pixel13 said:

So we have two basically identical machines with AM4 motherboard and Ryzen 2700x with the Wraith cooler which was bundled with the cpus.  Somehow, I managed to get the retaining clips hooked on the tabs for them.  But that was like 4 or so years ago.  I just bought a pair of Ryzen 7 5800X cpus to upgrade these machines.  And I'm at the same sticking-point which gave me incredible trouble before, namely getting the 2nd clip (the one on the lever side) over its lug.  Is there a trick to getting the thing lined up and far enough down to clip in place? 

 

I suppose I could buy new coolers, but these have worked well and look nice with their RGB.  I'd much prefer to re-use them.

For getting it on: 

Side opposite the lever first, then the lever

 

Getting off:

Heat up thermal compound with a load to get it soft, then lever side all the way undone and push down slightly pulling the tab away slightly, should pop off.

[Crunchy Dragon]

11 minutes ago, BiotechBen said:

Getting off:

Heat up thermal compound with a load to get it soft

This is a crucial step. Do not forget this step.

 

It's entertaining the first time it happens with a cheap CPU, but it's not fun to yank an AMx processor out of its socket because the thermal compound was hard.

[Pixel13]

Well, didn't heat the compound/cpu, but once the cooler was unclipped, I twisted it w/o lifting.  This is on the first one, which I'll finish before doing the second, which I'm using right now.

 

Ummm...Biotech Ben, I guess you didn't grasp what I said and am asking. What I'm looking for is help with, specifically getting the second retaining clip down to, and on, its lug.  Again: I built these machines 4-6 years ago and managed to fasten the retaining clips.  Whatever I'm trying now to get that 2nd clip down to and onto its lug just isn't working--in specific, getting the clip down far enough to go onto the lug.  Not managing to get it down there. 

(I looked at a couple videos, one showing retaining clips, but those had a flange on the top, which comes out parallel to the top of the cpu--that is, horizontal; obviously is there so one can push down on it.  This cooler doesn't have that. Wish it did.)

[Blue4130]

19 hours ago, Pixel13 said:

Well, didn't heat the compound/cpu, but once the cooler was unclipped, I twisted it w/o lifting.  This is on the first one, which I'll finish before doing the second, which I'm using right now.

 

Ummm...Biotech Ben, I guess you didn't grasp what I said and am asking. What I'm looking for is help with, specifically getting the second retaining clip down to, and on, its lug.  Again: I built these machines 4-6 years ago and managed to fasten the retaining clips.  Whatever I'm trying now to get that 2nd clip down to and onto its lug just isn't working--in specific, getting the clip down far enough to go onto the lug.  Not managing to get it down there. 

(I looked at a couple videos, one showing retaining clips, but those had a flange on the top, which comes out parallel to the top of the cpu--that is, horizontal; obviously is there so one can push down on it.  This cooler doesn't have that. Wish it did.)

Do it outside of the case. Room is your friend.