Installation is a very straightforward process with the Enermax cooler. It follows suit from the likes of Prolimatech and Thermalright who employ similar tried and test mounting mechanisms. We will focus on installation on LGA1366 in the following steps but these don’t differ much to installation on other sockets. The full manual can be found here.


1. Locate the motherboard back plate and identify the appropriate socket mounting holes.


2. Place the back plate behind the motherboard as pictured above ensuring the mounting holes are aligned with the motherboard holes. For AMD systems, the back plate needs to be flipped such that the dark middle area is in contact with the motherboard.


3. Secure the back plate using the 4 pillar screws. Place washers between the screw pillars and the motherboard.


4. Install the brackets on top of the pillar screws. These should be placed longitudinally if you want the cooler facing towards the rear exhaust.


5. Fasten the nuts on the bracket mounts so they are hand tight. Don’t over tighten or else the motherboard may flex underneath.


6. After applying thermal paste to the cooler base, place it on top of the CPU and install the pressure mounting plate.


7. Secure the pressure mounting plate using the two nuts.

As mentioned above, installation was very easy. My only complaint, although a minute one, is that installing the screw pillars to the back plate can be awkward. A better method would have been to have a back plate with pre-installed screws that simply fed into the motherboard mounting holes so that users don’t constantly have to keep trying to line up with back plate while attempting to secure it from the top.