Incompatible HSF size

[ekadziela]

I bought a boxed Intel motherboard D945GCZ (which is a microBTX for
factor) and a boxed Intel D 920. The intel support website says thes
are compatible, and both boxes cite a program compatability guide o
"05A". Besides, i placed the processor on the motherboar
and know it fits. However, when i tried installing the heatsink fan
it would not mount because it is clearly a different size. I thin
the CPU fan that came with my processor is for an ATX motherboar
because it is shaped like a square. the 4 pegs which go into th
motherboard are about 2 inches apart on each side. When i measured m
motherboard's pegs, i noticed its a rectangle (about 3x5 inches). Ca
anyone please help me with this issue? Do i just have to buy a bt
heatsink or is my processor incompatible and how would i know th
correct size of the HSF which i should buy

 

[nobody]

I bought a boxed Intel motherboard D945GCZ (which is a microBTX form
factor) and a boxed Intel D 920. The intel support website says these
are compatible, and both boxes cite a program compatability guide of
"05A". Besides, i placed the processor on the motherboard
and know it fits. However, when i tried installing the heatsink fan,
it would not mount because it is clearly a different size. I think
the CPU fan that came with my processor is for an ATX motherboard
because it is shaped like a square. the 4 pegs which go into the
motherboard are about 2 inches apart on each side. When i measured my
motherboard's pegs, i noticed its a rectangle (about 3x5 inches). Can
anyone please help me with this issue? Do i just have to buy a btx
heatsink or is my processor incompatible and how would i know the
correct size of the HSF which i should buy?

This is the ultimate and guaranteed cure for your problem:

1. Return both the board and the CPU
2. Buy any Socket 939 board fitting your case (there are boards
fitting even SFF). Buy any Athlon 64 fitting your budget (you'll be
better off with X2 IMHO).
3. Let this be a lesson for you and others: never buy anything from
Intel, at least until they change their ways. D920 is not a good buy
because equally or even somewhat less priced A64 (that should be 3700
or 3800, can't tell off the top of my head) will outperform it hands
down, and the board it goes into will cost less as well. Oh, yeah,
you'll be also saving on the electricity bill for the life of your PC.
As for Intel-branded boards, they are always overpriced and
under-featured, and made these days in Taiwan anyway, if not in
mainland China, so you'll be better off with any offering of any
reputed board maker such as Asus or MSI.

NNN

 

[Tony Hill]

I bought a boxed Intel motherboard D945GCZ (which is a microBTX form
factor) and a boxed Intel D 920. The intel support website says these
are compatible, and both boxes cite a program compatability guide of
"05A". Besides, i placed the processor on the motherboard
and know it fits. However, when i tried installing the heatsink fan,
it would not mount because it is clearly a different size. I think
the CPU fan that came with my processor is for an ATX motherboard
because it is shaped like a square. the 4 pegs which go into the
motherboard are about 2 inches apart on each side. When i measured my
motherboard's pegs, i noticed its a rectangle (about 3x5 inches). Can
anyone please help me with this issue? Do i just have to buy a btx
heatsink or is my processor incompatible and how would i know the
correct size of the HSF which i should buy?

It sounds like you purchased the ATX version of the Intel Pentium D
920 boxed processor, you would require the BTX version of the Pentium
D 920. From Intel's notes about processor compatibility for this
motherboard:

"These Intel boxed processors currently include either a BTX Thermal
Module or an ATX Thermal Module. A BTX Thermal Module is required for
this desktop board."

The product code of the processor you need is: BX80553920T. It is
likely that the product code you purchased was: BX80553920 which is
FAR more common. You might be able to exchange the processor through
your retailer for the correct boxed kit. Alternatively you could try
to find yourself a BTX Thermal Module, but those are VERY rare (even
more rare than BTX motherboards, BTX retail processor kits or BTX
cases).

 

[ekadziela]

The product code of the processor you need is: BX80553920T. It i
likely that the product code you purchased was: BX80553920 which i
FAR more common. You might be able to exchange the processo throug
your retailer for the correct boxed kit. Alternatively you coul tr
to find yourself a BTX Thermal Module, but those are VERY rar (eve
more rare than BTX motherboards, BTX retail processor kits or BT
cases)

Yes that is true, my product code is: BX80553920SL94S. If i buy th
BTX Thermal Module, do you think my processor will still work

As for the other CPU/Motherboards, i bought all this stuff on ebay an
opened it already so that will probably be a hassle to return an
since i've spent some money i don't want to go through that proces
all over again. I'd just like to find the cheapest and easies
solution to my problem. I've found a couple places online that sel
the BTX thermal module, i just wanted to know if my processor wil
work cause i don't feel like sending it back unless i really have to

 

[Nate Edel]

the BTX thermal module, i just wanted to know if my processor will
work cause i don't feel like sending it back unless i really have to.

Yes.

The processor is the same; you just need a compatible HSF. The Intel fans
are pretty good, and right now as far as I can tell they're the only game in
town on BTX - but you might see if anyone (Zalman, Arctic, etc) in the
quality aftermarket game has started making a BTX fan kit - odds are it
would be better, and when sold as a one-off probably no more expensive.

 

[Tony Hill]

Yes that is true, my product code is: BX80553920SL94S. If i buy the
BTX Thermal Module, do you think my processor will still work?

Definitely. The only difference between the two packages is the
heatsink and fan kit that they contain.

As for the other CPU/Motherboards, i bought all this stuff on ebay and
opened it already so that will probably be a hassle to return and
since i've spent some money i don't want to go through that process
all over again. I'd just like to find the cheapest and easiest
solution to my problem. I've found a couple places online that sell
the BTX thermal module, i just wanted to know if my processor will
work cause i don't feel like sending it back unless i really have to.

It should work with no trouble. Glad to hear you were able to track
down a BTX thermal module, because I came up dry on a quick search.
Just make sure that it's sufficient to cool your Pentium D 920 (I
would guess that all BTX thermal modules would be, but best to check
just to be sure).