Installation and Lighting

Installing the Raijintek Forkis Pro RBW can be on the more involved side of things but mostly because it's old-school in having extensive CPU socket support. This also means there are different sets of Intel and AMD mounting kits in addition to the socket-specific hardware itself. I am going to demonstrate installation of the block on Intel's LGA 1700 platform that is also the test setup used for this review. The included manual (online copy here for LGA 1700) does detail the process for first-time users well enough, and having the Intel mounting bracket already installed further helps here. Begin with the placement of the backplate on the underside of the motherboard and ensure the corner pieces are in the correct place so that the threads fit through the socket cooler mounting holes in the motherboard, and are accessible through the other side. Now use the provided four stand-off screws and thread them into the backplate, wherein the hex wrench might well come in handy if you don't have enough grip simply with your fingers. I would also suggest removing any installed RAM sticks at this time to facilitate the process.

Now apply—and spread if you are a proponent of this method—the provided thermal paste on the CPU IHS or use your own if you have one you prefer. Then place the CPU block carefully over the stand-offs such that it sits fairly uniformly over the CPU and the thermal paste itself. The plastic washers and springs go over the four stand-offs now before you carefully use the locking screws in a diagonal manner to firmly install the block in place. This can be easier said than done since there isn't a lot of room for you to push the screw/spring/washer assembly down to catch the threads in the stand-offs without tilting the block upwards on the opposite corner. This can be somewhat frustrating compared to more simpler installation from the likes of EKWB and CORSAIR as we saw recently, but once you get it done it's simply a matter of rotating the screws until you run out of thread. Then do make sure to connect the RGB cable properly and don't do as I did, since that can burn out the LEDs.


Given I had the LEDs not powered on correctly leading to a quick and permanent over-load, I could not take my own photos/videos of the block lit up. That said, between Raijintek's own photos seen above and other content shared by fellow reviewers and customers alike, the Forkis Pro RBW does look nice lit up without being all up in your face. I will once again urge Raijintek to reconsider changing the LED connector itself to remove any ambiguity here!