Cooling [SFF Network] The Noctua NH-L9a - Luxury in uSFF

confusis

John Morrison. Founder and Team Leader of SFF.N
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The L9a definitely uses shouldered screws - I can't personally vouch for the L9i variant though.
 

iFreilicht

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Feb 28, 2015
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The L9a definitely uses shouldered screws - I can't personally vouch for the L9i variant though.

It uses shouldered thumbscrews, too, similar to the ones of the L9a, but with a small plastic washer and a wider knurl part. That doesn't prevent them from being overtightened, though.
 

confusis

John Morrison. Founder and Team Leader of SFF.N
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The length of the threaded portion would limit the tightening of the screw to a predetermined level (you cannot tighten past the end of the threads!). I would say the distance between the bottom surface of the board and the top of the CPU heatspreader would be the same (within tolerance) for all Intel boards.
 

iFreilicht

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Feb 28, 2015
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That is correct, it is something between 8 and 10mm, IIRC. The mounting brackets of the NH-L9 coolers have shoulders as well, I'd say with those we are arriving at at least 5mm distance from the top of the board, which results in a bending angle of about 15° for the 75mm distance between mounting holes that sockets 15xx have.
I wouldn't call that healthy at all. Still, you immediately notice this during assembly.
 

CC Ricers

Shrink Ray Wielder
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Nov 1, 2015
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Sorry to bring up an old topic but does anyone with an NH-L9i know what thread size and length for the screws that mount the fan?
 

TinyAudio

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Jan 9, 2017
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NECRO!

My Google-fu has failed me tonight. Does anyone know the the size of the IHS contact pad (between the brackets) on the NH-L9i?