DRat25

well, that didn't work. the way HP designs their pcs creates a very limited cpu heatsink selection. in this case the big typ revo. cooler is just to big for the case layout. If you look at the picture above, that big cooler will fill up the entire area where the cpu is and hit the bottom of the case and the bottom of graphics card. i'm pretty much losing my patience this. hp parts list lists Common Heatsink, 125W for the heat sink but doesn't tell you how to find or order one. this is the HP part number for the heatsink they used on pcs with fx-8150: 656333-001 oh well, try again another time.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03117539&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en According to the specs from HP, the motherboard can take the fx-8150. it list the socket type am3-b or am3b, which is another name for am3+. I do know for a fact that the motherboard will not take the fx-8350. I test fitted the 8150 into the socket and it drops right in without any issues.

after looking around, it looks like the Big Typ Revo fan might be the better choice because it looks like the bracket provided may go around the capacitors. what do you guys think?

i'm looking to use air cooling because it is a small form case and the mobo is micro atx. the other thing is that if you look at the picture, the mounting situation is not that simple. as you can see the capacitors are too close and in the way to use brackets, hence the screw in solution. the second one is the internal setup of my pc before the psu upgrade to cx600m.

my hp pc comes stock with amd fx-6100 and, instead of amd mounting brackets, it uses intel lga 1155 mounting setup for the cpu cooler. it comes stock with CM12V from Cooler Master. it uses mounting screws instead of push pins to mount the cooler to the motherboard. i want to upgrade from fx-6100 t0 fx-8150(the motherboard is rated for the cpu) and i've tried a cooler with the push pin setup but 1) it was to tight of fit to get my hands in there and 2) the pins themselves just weren't going into the holes, so the mobo wasn't having it. what cooler do you guys recommend i go with? i'm not overclocking the cpu.