User guide

ASUS M3A78 PRO 1-13
1.6.2 Installing the heatsink and fan
The AMD
®
Phenom™ FX / Phenom™ / Athlon™ / Sempron™ processors require a
specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition
and performance.
Make sure that you use only qualied heatsink and fan assembly.
Follow these steps to install the CPU heatsink and fan.
1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, making sure that the heatsink
ts properly on the retention module base.
• The retention module base is already installed on the motherboard upon
purchase.
• You do not have to remove the retention module base when installing the
CPU or installing other motherboard components.
• If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, make sure
that a Thermal Interface Material is properly applied to the CPU heatsink or
CPU before you install the heatsink and fan assembly.
Retention Module Base
CPU Heatsink
CPU Fan
Retention bracket lockRetention bracket
Your boxed CPU heatsink and fan assembly should come with installation
instructions for the CPU, heatsink, and the retention mechanism. If the
instructions in this section do not match the CPU documentation, follow the
latter.