Review: LGA 775 CPU Cooler Mega Test - Cooling - HEXUS.net

Intel Socket LGA 775 Specification

The LGA 775 platform has a very detailed specification for the socket as designed by Intel. With many different rules and regulations to adhere to it's far from simple for third-party vendors to ensure their products are within specification.

In the lead up to our testing, we had to read a great deal of documentation to get up to speed with the LGA 775 specification. We needed to understand the rules that manufacturers are supposed to abide by and by just how much they are pushing the limits of the socket design.

The specified weight limit for a cooling device used with the LGA 775 socket is 450g. Out of the 22 coolers in our group test only one of them came in under the suggested specification. Indeed, one of them is over double the recommended weight.

Something we thought likely – and intended to check out – is that a cooler is more likely to weigh over the limit if it's compatible with more than one type of CPU or socket arrangement.

Throughout, we will look at the way coolers are mounted and evaluate how manufacturers have managed to distribute the increased weight to reduce the stress on the socket itself.

If you'd like to read up on the Intel design specifications for thermal solutions and the LGA 775 Mechanical Design Guide, check out the PDF files on the Intel links below:

Introduction to thermal Solutions

LGA 775 Socket Mechanical Design Guide