Installation

Installation begins with selecting the right mount-hole spacing for the pre-fitted bolts on the back-plate. The Easy-Select Clip mechanism locks the blot into three positions: furthest from the center being for LGA1366, in the middle for LGA1156 and LGA1155, and closest to the center for LGA775. Now you know that LGA1155 and LGA1156 have the same exact mount-hole spacing. So don't fall for "Supports LGA1155" marketing. If it supports LGA1156, it will support LGA1155. Drive the bolts through the mount-holes of the motherboard, flip the board for the next steps.


Slide the H-shaped retention plate through the gap between the CPU base and the aluminum fin array. The central beam should fit into the grooves of the upper side of the CPU base. While holding the retention plate, tilt the heatsink, fasten the heatsink to the retention plate with the four screws provided.


Apply the thermal interface material (TIM) provided. Akasa's TIM is not as viscous as silver-based compounds. Apply a small dab in the center, let the heatsink's pressure spread it out. Another method is to use an old plastic card to create a thin layer of TIM. Be sure to keep the layer very thin, too thick a layer, and it will actually pose as an insulator.


Now place the heatsink onto the motherboard with the bolts passing through the holes on the H-shaped retention plate. At this step, you get to pick the orientation of the heatsink, whether you want it to blow hot air out from the rear of the case, or from the top vents of the case (if available).

Place washers around the threaded parts of the bolts that are protruding out the retention plate. Then fasten the retention plate onto the bolts using the thumb-nuts provided. First loosely fasten all four nuts, then tighten them gradually. This makes sure that when tightening the nut on one corner, the retention plate doesn't slip out of the opposite bolt.


First attach all four rubber bolts to the heatsink, then pass the bolts through the holes on both sides of the fan frame, stretch the rubber bolts to lock them into the holes on the side facing the heatsink. The rubber bolts provided with Venom aren't very flexible. This step takes quite some time and effort. Connect the fan to the 4-pin CPU fan header.

On a scale of 10, I'd rate the ease of installation at 8. Installing the Akasa Venom requires that you have access to the back of the motherboard. If the motherboard tray of your case doesn't have a hole under the CPU socket area, you will have to dissemble your system and pull out the motherboard. A cumbersome task. Rubber bolts as fan retention can also be cumbersome to install or remove, compared to metal clips.