Can an air cooler fall off?

[Fat Cat11997]

I've heard that sometimes air coolers can fall off and damage parts in a pc, and after building my own not too long ago im a bit paraniod. Is this likely to happen especially with the frequent california earthquakes? I'm using the Thermalwright Frost Tower https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-Heatpipes-TL-C12B-Generation-Technology/dp/B0BR84PRP8/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wyYdyhS8dmM7rY_3tQKP1pVezh5cGpK6B1ZjL-YoJLrdCsNy43MHHKHzi-XjdEU198O48SuOyOT3bPUq1KgorNjhrZZzl9cpAU8g6vMmpVaZA_TopvAeoJk7uaCBHvMaAiyV4VdvbudTfe2livYLFmYvAyCi0G0QDJwCOG1SW_rby5Ij7weg1eADzNp6-R-f1iFe41BE6vmEVJD_gusUSfyDZgDTc0DdgmeupPxPhruUeP7ck4WHUIJNgGPvGprlIE-5VEMg8E-F_mVC_RCgeA_QXw6cAf0O6drCHt3jj3Y.uf3tsi-26N9O_oflQMFgTXD2L1efU7S4IEx24VtD3xQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=frost+tower&qid=1711789594&sr=8-2

[porina]

Fitted correctly it'll be fine. That cooler probably uses a mounting system that attaches behind the mobo. It isn't going anywhere. Well, unless the earthquake is a massive one, in which case you have bigger problems to worry about.

 

Maybe there is some chance the ones with push pins could fall off if not installed correctly, but that is more user error.

[podkall]

if the cooler is properly screwed (but not overtightened) onto the motherboard and potential brackets, it shouldn't fall off while the case just stands somewhere,

 

I'd be more worried about GPU.

 

 

 

[Needfuldoer]

If it's installed incorrectly and/or the PC is subject to violent shaking, yes. (Especially if the cooler uses Intel OEM style push pins, or it's a large tower cooler.)

 

That's why it's a good idea to either brace the inside of a PC with and expanding foam bag or to remove the cooler and GPU before shipping.

[Vishera]

I have been building PCs for 13 years and this has never happened to me.

If you screw the screws correctly everything will be fine.

[RevGAM]

On 3/30/2024 at 5:07 AM, Fat Cat11997 said:

I've heard that sometimes air coolers can fall off and damage parts in a pc, and after building my own not too long ago im a bit paraniod. Is this likely to happen especially with the frequent california earthquakes? I'm using the Thermalwright Frost Tower https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-Heatpipes-TL-C12B-Generation-Technology/dp/B0BR84PRP8/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wyYdyhS8dmM7rY_3tQKP1pVezh5cGpK6B1ZjL-YoJLrdCsNy43MHHKHzi-XjdEU198O48SuOyOT3bPUq1KgorNjhrZZzl9cpAU8g6vMmpVaZA_TopvAeoJk7uaCBHvMaAiyV4VdvbudTfe2livYLFmYvAyCi0G0QDJwCOG1SW_rby5Ij7weg1eADzNp6-R-f1iFe41BE6vmEVJD_gusUSfyDZgDTc0DdgmeupPxPhruUeP7ck4WHUIJNgGPvGprlIE-5VEMg8E-F_mVC_RCgeA_QXw6cAf0O6drCHt3jj3Y.uf3tsi-26N9O_oflQMFgTXD2L1efU7S4IEx24VtD3xQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=frost+tower&qid=1711789594&sr=8-2

If the violence of the quake exceeds the structural integrity of the mobo, screws, plates, cooler, etc, yes it can happen. As @porina pointed out, though, you have bigger worries in that situation.