Installation

To install the Gamdias Chione M3 240W, you will need to attach the proper mounting brackets to the pump. Thankfully they are fully assembled, so you only need to use the four mounting screws to secure said brackets to the pump block. Keep in mind the brackets sit on top, while the four screws are threaded in from the bottom. With that done, you can then prepare the motherboard, which in our case, features an AMD AM4 socket. For this particular AMD platform, you must remove the plastic brackets while keeping the AMD backplate on the board.


This is where the point where the installation can be somewhat annoying. First, apply thermal paste, then line up the pump block with the mounting holes on the motherboard. You will need to have steady hands and a bit of luck to line up the four screws with the backplate. The easiest method I found was to insert the bottom two screws into the backplate and turn them by hand till they grab the backplate but are still loose. Then you can get the upper two screws in place. After this, tighten the screws while alternating between them. Upper left first, then bottom right, followed by the bottom left and then upper right. Work your way around, making a few turns to apply even pressure for a good paste spread.


With the pump now secure, I attached the radiator to the chassis and installed the fans. With that out of the way, you can plug in the various components, before being good to go.

Overall, the installation was pretty straightforward on AMD; it was not the best mounting solution, but it worked just fine. I would have preferred stand-offs or friction-fit spacers to keep the backplate in place, making for an easier install. On Intel, things were much easier. Threaded spacers hold the backplate on, and you secure the pump block to said spacers. The process there was simple, quick, and easy.