Fix for Tuniq broken screws

[COPOHawk]

After breaking 2 of the thumbscrews tightening this PITA down...I needed a fix. I had searched between here and the Cooling forum on Anandtech and couldn't find what size replacement screw I needed...so I headed to the local small town hardware store.

I found that the screws are M3 x 30. I was able to buy 4 of them plus some M3 washers and a small right angle Chinesium #1 phillips for about $4 total.

I also used a tiny bit of silicone on the threads and put back together while carefully tightening down.

So far...this is working great. I should mention that this wasn't a new install of the Tuniq Tower. I built this computer about a year ago with an E6400 OC to 3.0 ghz. The temps were always OK...but higher than I thought they should be. I had to reseat everything due to a bad MOBO RMA'd through EVGA.

After looking at the broken screws, it looks like the shaft of the screw was soldered or glued to the thumbscrew only around the perimeter of the screw and that the design was created with the screw body and the thumbhead are two seperate pieces. What a joke.

I hope this helps something else in the future.

 

[nyker96]

thanks, I got a tuniq myself, it is a PITA during installation but temp wise works very well. Like your info on the screws in case I break any. Also I wonder if I need to apply some silicon or some lubricant around the spring since when it tightens makes screwing down very hard.

 

[COPOHawk]

I don't think that it would hurt to apply a thin layer of grease to the mating surfaces of the springs as well. The cool thing is that even with the MOBO installed...the 90* screwdriver should allow for periodic re-tightening in the case...whereas the thumbscrews were tough to get to installed.

SIDE NOTE: After running Orthos for 3 hours with the OC in place, this did seem to provide better cooling. With the fan manually set at the halfway between low and high...the full load temps were about 53-54C. Before with the thumbscrews, the temps were about 61-62C. This is with a non-lapped HSF and CPU and the Arctic Silver Ceramique paste.

System specs:

E6400 (OC to 3.0 ghz) - CPU voltage set to 1.325 in bios.
EVGA 680i SLI MOBO
2 GB (1 GB DIMM each) PC-6400 Corsair XMS2 - voltage set to 2.1 in bios
8800GTS 640
650 Coolermaster Extreme PSU
Offbrand Case with 120 mm rear case fan and one 80mm front case fan.

I know I could push this system a bit higher...but it is a friend's system and he is fine with it at 3.0 ghz. I will save the testing for my own Q6600 build in a few weeks with another Tuniq Tower.

 

[Ika]

Your temps seem really high with the Tuniq... my E6420 (same CPU, except 4mb cache) is at 3.2ghz, 1.425v in BIOS, and full load in Orthos won't run higher than 50C on my Big Typhoon. Granted, I'm using Arctic Silver 5 and my CPU/heatsink are lapped, but I don't think it should make that much of a difference...

 

[COPOHawk]

I thought that lapping was good for about a 5C reduction in temps...which I could see.

However, I haven't optimized this OC due to the fact that the user doesn't really do anything that would utilize the processor 100% full time for any extended period of time.

He just does some gaming and file sharing...and doesn't run the computer 24/7...so the Orthos test is probably the most stress this system will see

 

[RFV]

thanks COPOHawk, this has helped me big time, one of my thumbscrews snapped as I was removing the Tuniq to put it on a new board. I'm glad I googled to find this solution, I see many Tuniq users posting the exact same problem. The retaining screws are weak.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: COPOHawk
I don't think that it would hurt to apply a thin layer of grease to the mating surfaces of the springs as well. The cool thing is that even with the MOBO installed...the 90* screwdriver should allow for periodic re-tightening in the case...whereas the thumbscrews were tough to get to installed.

SIDE NOTE: After running Orthos for 3 hours with the OC in place, this did seem to provide better cooling. With the fan manually set at the halfway between low and high...the full load temps were about 53-54C. Before with the thumbscrews, the temps were about 61-62C. This is with a non-lapped HSF and CPU and the Arctic Silver Ceramique paste.

System specs:

E6400 (OC to 3.0 ghz) - CPU voltage set to 1.325 in bios.
EVGA 680i SLI MOBO
2 GB (1 GB DIMM each) PC-6400 Corsair XMS2 - voltage set to 2.1 in bios
8800GTS 640
650 Coolermaster Extreme PSU
Offbrand Case with 120 mm rear case fan and one 80mm front case fan.

I know I could push this system a bit higher...but it is a friend's system and he is fine with it at 3.0 ghz. I will save the testing for my own Q6600 build in a few weeks with another Tuniq Tower.

that's a very high temp with a tuniq on that cpu. I had an e6750 at 3.4 with 1.52 vcore in bios for 9 mos. It ran 57-58c in orthos with the fan on 50%.

 

[COPOHawk]

I am glad that helped RFV...

As a side note to my original post about the e6400...we tweaked it a bit more and have the temps at just about 50c under full extended load...this is more than enough to satisfy the owner.

I have used a Tuniq on two other q6600s (including one of my own) and have them overclocked at 3.3 ghz with full load temps at 56C under extended load. I played with my own q6600 at 3.6 ghz...but wasn't happy with the voltage/temps under full load...

Since I am more concerned with longevity...I have mine set at 3.3 ghz.

I know that other cooling options are out there...but I am happy with the results/fit of a Tuniq on my P35-DS3R.

 

[imported_Husky55]

Thanks OP, I also have a Tuniq. Replacements screws are a rare commodity. I also have a hell of a time removing the the original sticking gooey stuff on the back plate of the 775 socket. Whatever that stuff is, it was really gooey!!!