Introduction:  

    It all started around Thanksgiving '05. I just finished building a kickass computer system, but stayed with stock cooling. I was using a case with a window, and I spent a long time hiding all the wires the best I could. This task took some time to do, and little did I know I would pulling all my work apart... many, maNY, MANY times in the following months and repeating my hard work over and over.

   Well, the task of removing and reinstalling CPU coolers and having to remove the the motherboard at the same time to use the supplied cooler brackets got old. The straw that broke the camel's back this time was the Titan Amanda. With some coolers, you can use the stock bracket that came with the motherboard, or even the bracket from another cooler, but that's not always the case. With the Amanda, the cooler is actually screwed into place from the back side of the motherboard. UGH!!!!! That means it's time to remove everything once again.

The Target Area	Measuring Height	Transferring Height
Measuring Width	Transferring Width	Target Area Confirmed

    I could simply use my tech station to test CPU coolers, but a big debate was discussed in the forums on the temperature of a cooler in and out of an enclosure. So in order to avoid an argument, I do my cooler reviews in the case. Which means removing the motherboard to install the new cooler, then test it, and then remove the cooler and motherboard to reinstall my main cooler - over and over again.

   See where I'm going with this? I don't continue to use every cooler I get for reviews; some don't perform well enough or I just don't care for them. Anyway, I'm getting off track here just a bit. The main reason for this mod is to eliminate the need to remove the motherboard each and every time the end user wants to swap out CPU coolers.

My Instrument	FIRE!!!!!!
Target Area Destroyed	Shrapnel

    The first thing is to remove the right side panel from the case. Then grab a ruler and take some measurements of the CPU bracket location on the motherboard. Use those measurements to mark a large enough area on the motherboard tray.

   Next, remove the motherboard from the case for the last time, as well as any other components. Grab a Dremel with a cutoff wheel and start cutting away at the motherboard tray.

   Once the area is cut out, it's time to switch from the cutting wheel to a sanding or deburring tool. Clean up the cut area and remove any sharp edges and loose metal shards. If you choose, you can even add some molding around the area cut out to clean up the look and cover up any sharp edges.

    Next, test fit the motherboard to see that you have plenty of clearance around the opening to remove the CPU bracket back plate. If not, then enlarge the opening some more. Repeat this process until everything lines up and the back plate can be removed easily.

    That is it for this mod: nothing too difficult, and simple Dremel tools will do the job. The job of cutting out the access panel should only take 10 minutes or so, but the overall job including the prep work, such as removing the motherboard and other components, will take a great deal longer to do.

  This task isn't for everyone out there, but the folks who review CPU coolers or even swap out CPU coolers regularly will love this little mod. I would also recommend this mod to users who are building a new system and plan on upgrading the CPU cooler in the future. This way you can mod the motherboard tray before any components get installed. I would like to thank all the companies out there who forced me to use their CPU cooler brackets, thus making this mod possible {:-Þ

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