Corsair A50 Installation instructions manual

Performance Hardware
User’s Guide
Version 1.0 September, 2010
C o r s a i r A i r S e r i e s
A 7 0 / A 5 0 M o u n t i n g
G u i d e f o r I n t e l
S y s t e m s
An illustrated guide to mounting the Corsair Air Series A70 and A50 coolers
onto Intel based motherboards.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
The Corsair Air Series A70/A50 CPU Coolers
The Corsair A70 High-Performance CPU Cooler uses advanced ther-
mal engineering technology to deliver superior air cooling perform-
ance: four 8mm copper heatpipes directly contact your CPU, and
the surface is planed to increase heat transfer efficiency. Dual speed
-selectable 120mm fans, mounted on rubber studs, spin quietly in a
push-pull configuration for optimum airflow.
Protect your valuable investment in your CPU, and enjoy faster
overclocking performance.
Features
 Compatible with Intel and AMD systems
 Four 8mm copper direct-contact heatpipes
 Aluminum fins
 Low-noise, low-vibration 120mm fans mounted on rubber studs
 Selectable 1,600 or 2,000RPM allows you to select the cooling
performance you want
 Two-year warranty
Designed to fit Intel LGA 775, LGA 1156, LGA 1366, AMD Core AM2,
and AMD Core AM3 motherboards.
If you’re serious about high-performance computing, you already
know that you’ve got to keep your PC’s CPU cool. Cooling not only
gives your CPU the headroom it needs for reliable overclocking… it
can also extend the life of your valuable investment. And, you need
something that not only significantly outperforms your CPU’s stock
heatsink, but does it quietly.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
1The Air Series—Mounting Parts
The A70 and A50 Air Series CPU coolers both use the same mounting methods
and hardware for AMD and Intel motherboards. Mounting on both AMD and Intel
boards is very simple and takes only a few minutes. For the Intel mount, you will
need a Phillips head screw driver. The included parts are shown below and are
also shown in the illustrated installation guide included with your cooler. The kit
below is for the A70 and includes a second fan. The A50 kit includes same mount-
ing hardware and a single fan.
The Intel installation can be done with the motherboard mounted inside a case
assuming that you have adequate access to the back side of the motherboard to
install the back plate. Our illustrations are given with the motherboard outside the
case.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
2 Intel Mounting—Install the Top Plate
The Intel mounting mechanism requires attaching a top plate to the base of the
cooler. Place the top plate over the top of the cooler base as shown below and
install and tighten the 4 Phillips head screws.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
3 Intel TIM and Back Plate
We have included a tube of thermal interface material, or TIM, and you will need
to apply a small drop of the material to the center of the Intel CPU as indicated by
the red arrow. A drop the size of a small pea or grain of rice is sufficient.
Also, you will need to install the back plate from the back side of the motherboard
so that the 4 mounting posts, circled in red, protrude through the 4 mounting
holes around the CPU socket. Be sure to leave the plastic insulator on the back
plate to insulate the back plate from the back side of the motherboard.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
4 Intel—4 Mounting Screws
Sit the cooler in top of the CPU with the 4 mounting posts sticking through the 4
corresponding holes in the Intel top plate which is mounted to the base of the
CPU cooler. Install the 4 knurled threaded nuts onto the 4 mounting posts. You
may hand tighten them or use a Phillips head screw driver if needed. Tighten the
screws until they bottom out on the threads on the mounting posts. Do not over
tighten the screws. Your Air Series CPU cooler is now mounted.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
5 Air Series Fan Mounting
Fan mounting is the same for the A70 and A50. Different motherboard layouts,
chipset coolers, memory heat sinks, and other factors may influence the fan loca-
tion. Each system will be unique so use your own judgment to determine the best
position for your fan. Locking tabs on the plastic shroud on the fan click easily into
a groove on the cooling fins. As seen below, a gentle push is all it takes. As previ-
ously noted, the A50 has a single fan while the A70 has 2 fans.
The locking tabs are
circled in red. The
groove into which they
lock is indicated by the
red arrow. Left is a be-
fore picture. Push gently
and the locking tabs
click easily into place as
seen to the right. Re-
peat for a second fan if
needed.
This guide is intended to supplement the instructions included with the A70 and
A50 coolers. We would like to thank you for choosing Corsair Air Series CPU cool-
ing. Please see our Resources page for additional information on the Corsair Air
Series cooling products.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—Intel
Resources
Corsair A70 Product Page:
http://www.corsair.com/products/a70/default.aspx
Corsair A50 Product Page:
http://www.corsair.com/products/a50/default.aspx
A70/A50 Mounting Guide—AMD
http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90107
Corsair Cooling Products Support Forum:
http://forum.corsair.com/v3/forumdisplay.php?f=155
Corsair Blog:
http://blog.corsair.com/
© October, 2010, Corsair Memory, Incorporated. All rights reserved. All trademarks and registered
trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries.