I am planning on installing the thermalright 120 extreme today and had a few questions. 1. What is the best way to apply the paste and how much should i use? 2. What mounting brackets do i use . It looks like there are 775 or am2? 3. Which way does the fan go on the heat sink? here are my specs i7 920 CPU: EX58-UD3R Mobo 6GB Corsair XMS3 XFX Radeon HD4870 1GB WD5000AAKS 500GB HDD Corsair 650W TX PSU Antec Three Hundred Illusion
The mounting bracket are no good because the socket is different. I have the same awesome heatsink on my rig. You need the following mounting bracket for your CPU: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductID=892513&source=froogle
Thermal paste application: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1 There are a few good thermal pastes however this is the one I use: - TIM Consultants T-C Grease 0098.
I'll be honest with you, I have 2 fans on my 120 blowing out each way. I can't say for sure this is correct at the risk of sounding ignorant, maybe some Afterdawn heavyweights can make it clear.
Since most PC cases have a vent and a fan in the back of it pulling air out, Id recommend getting your airflow lined up with that. Unless you have a side vent with a fan drawing air out...Try in one direction, take a temperature test. Try in the other direction, take a temperature test. whichever is better use that one.
You can use it either way, but the standard practice is to have the heatsink running as a vertical line in the case, with the fan on the right hand side blowing towards the back of the case, like this: http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/show_image.cfm/22140