Installation

As is the case with most coolers on AMD platforms, installing it is a bit less than ideal on the Montech Air Cooler 210. To start, you will need to remove the default AMD mounting brackets. Then, while holding the backplate in place, feed the screw through the mounting arm and then the plastic spacer. With that done, secure the mounting arm assembly to the backplate. While not difficult on an open test bench or outside of a case, I imagine this process would be a bit more headache-inducing in a cramped chassis, which is something to keep in mind. Also, it would be easier if the mounting setup on AMD had more in common with Intel's mainstream sockets.


With the mounting hardware secure, apply the thermal paste before removing the screw plug on the heatsink's top cover for access to the mounting screw beneath the heatsink itself. Using the provided screwdriver, secure the cooler to the mounting brackets.


With the cooler mounted, attach the fan, connect the wiring, and replace the screw plug removed earlier in the installation process.

As noted above, on AM4, the installation process could be improved. Depending on your situation, holding the AMD motherboard backplate in place while also holding together the mounting brackets with screws and washers is not ideal. The use of friction-fit spacers on the screws would make the process a great deal easier without too much trouble and is a solution some companies, Montech included, may want to look into.

Meanwhile, on Intel, the process is exceptionally easy. The backplate screws slide through the backplate and are held in place with a plastic clip. Thanks to that, the backplate slots in place onto the motherboard and, for the most part, stays put, allowing you to more easily secure the mounting arms without feeling like you need a third hand.