Corsair Air A50 User 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 A M D
S y t e m s
An illustrated guide to mounting the Corsair Air Series A70 and A50 coolers
onto AMD based motherboards.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—AMD
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—AMD
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. For the AMD mount, no tools are
needed. 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 in-
cludes a second fan. The A50 kit includes same mounting hardware and a single
fan.
The AMD installation uses the stock AMD mounting bracket and has no back plate.
AMD installation can be performed with the motherboard mounted in a case. Our
illustrations are given with the motherboard outside the case.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—AMD
2AMD TIM and Retention Tabs
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 AMD CPU as shown. A
drop the size of a small pea or grain of rice is sufficient.
Once the TIM is applied, the next step is to sit the cooler on top of the CPU. The
AMD retention bracket attaches to the 2 retention tabs that are on each side of
the CPU socket. One tab is circled in red above. This method emulates the stock
AMD mounting method and therefore requires no aftermarket back plate or re-
moval of the stock CPU cooler mount.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—AMD
3 Locking the AMD Retention Lever
Once the retention lever is attached to the 2 retention tabs and over the base of
the cooler in the unlocked position, you simply rotate the locking mechanism
clockwise and the cooler is mounted.
Here, the lever is in
the unlocked position.
Be sure that the lever
is attached to both
retention tabs.
Rotate the locking mecha-
nism clockwise as shown.
Your Air Series CPU cooler
is now mounted.

A70/A50 Mounting Guide—AMD
4 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—AMD
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—Intel
http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90108
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.