LGA 2011 Cooler? Motherboard backplate is not removable?

[Zhenya]

Hey guys, I am building a cheap old server for a project, and I can't seem to get the right CPU coolers.

The motherboard is a Dual Xeon e5-26xxx compatible Asus Z9PA-D8: https://www.nix.ru/autocatalog/motherboards_asustek/161373_2245_draft.jpg. This board has standard LGA-2011 sockets.

 

I've tried several LGA-2011 coolers, for example: https://gelidsolutions.com/product/rev-5-tranq, but it seems that all of them require you to install their own backplate. The CPU backplates on this motherboard are not removable.

I feel retarded. The main issue is that the screws that come with the coolers are too thin and/or too long, even though the retention mechanism does line up with the holes correctly.

 

My memory is playing tricks on me. Is this because it's a server board? For example, the screws on this cooler look correct by the shape and relative size: https://www.ebay.com/itm/284658618446, and it specifically says it doesn't come with a backplate because your motherboard should already come with one. Other server coolers look correct too: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314677372718.

 

So what's the deal here? Are there two variants of coolers and motherboards for the LGA-2011 socket? Ones that require their own backplate, and ones that don't? I mean if that's the case, that just seems ridiculous.

 

I don't feel like paying $80 bucks for a Nactua, but regardless, how would I know if an LGA-2011 cooler is actually compatible? Is there a specific cooler I need to look for? I don't mean a brand, I mean like a standard which is more than LGA-2011?

[johnt]

I'm a bit confused. Did you already purchase that cooler and tried installing it on the CPU socket? How do you know the screws that the cooler comes with are too thin or too long?

[Zhenya]

59 minutes ago, johnt said:

I'm a bit confused. Did you already purchase that cooler and tried installing it on the CPU socket? How do you know the screws that the cooler comes with are too thin or too long?

I did purchase it. The installation calls for installing its own custom backplate, and the screws only screw into the custom backplate.

Watching different youtube videos, it's clear that at least 3 scenarios exist:
1) The cooler screws in directly into the default? motherboard backplate.
2) There are adapter screws of sorts, that screw into the motherboard, and then you install the cooler on top of them.
3) You replace the motherboard backplate entirely.

But--is this luck of the draw? random? I mean isn't there a way to know ahead of time when the cooler says it's LGA 2011 compatible?

There are other posts about this I see online. But it's bewildering that this just seems random.