Installation
Installation for the V10 is rather simple especially if you’re installed a Cooler Master CPU cooler before. The same installation applies to the V10 as all of the other Cooler Master coolers we’ve reviewed. Simply start off by applying a thin layer of ThermalFusion 400 which came as a sample packet for this V10. Be sure to also remove the protective sticker on the base at this time.
Since we will be using an LGA 775 processor we’ll follow those instructions. There are four retention plates provided with the V10. Two will be used for LGA 775 and two will be used for LGA 1366 installations. They both look very similar except for the LGA 1366 is imprinted on the plates for that installation. On the two LGA 775 retention plates are two threading, making four total. The double threaded screws will need to be attached, but make sure you twist them to the left as this is the only way to install them. Then just attach both of the retention plates to the base of the cooler with the four smaller screws; the double threaded screws should be facing away from the base.
Four rubber anti-vibration soft pads will then need to be attached over the four double threaded screws. The V10 should then be attached to the motherboard with the extended portion of the cooler facing over the RAM. To fasten it to the motherboard you’ll have to flip the motherboard over and either decide to use or not use the backplate; I chose to use it. Place the backplate over the four screws and then attach the four nuts using the provided hex wrench. I found this part to be rather difficult because the screws weren’t sticking out far enough to attach the nuts. The problem was mainly caused to me not placing the anti-vibration pads on correctly.
Once the V10 is installed on your motherboard chances are it’s going to stick out over the edge of the motherboard if you have a standard ATX board. This could result in problems with people with smaller cases as they might not have enough room for the extension of the cooler.
To get a good look under the engine of the V10 you’ll have to remove a total of six fan screws and two hex screws; needless to say it’s fairly secured to the cooler.
Plenty of problems arose once I attempted to install my motherboard back into my case. Let me just say that I don’t recommend this cooler for someone with an upper mounted motherboard case. I was unable to install two motherboard screws to securely attach my motherboard to my case. I also had a rather difficult time trying to squeeze my hand under the V10 to attach the power cable to the motherboard.
The V10 also came rather close to the top and side of my case, so this could definitely be a problem for someone that may have a fan or other material attached to the side panel.
After all the frustration of trying to install everything properly you realize how much space this cooler takes up in your case.
Both fans do however give off a nice red illumination from the two 120mm fans.
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