Sphere Installation and Operation:
The
Cooler Master Sphere uses the same mounting design as the Z600, but the process was a bit easier. The reduced size and weight helped, and with this cooler there is no backplate to worry about. The cooler bolts through the motherboard and plastic washers isolate steel nuts from coming in contact with any electrical traces. The whole process wasn't difficult, especially after handling the Z600, but it could be easier. As mentioned earlier in the review, the Sphere seems small and light enough that it could use push pin mounts without problem.
The images below show the Sphere installed on an ASUS P5KC LGA 775 motherboard. It fits easily, and clears all major features. The Copper finish makes it blend in well with the motherboard's heatpipes, and in some images it may be hard to tell what pipes belong to what device.
The next set of images shows the cooler from another angle, and provides detail on how the cooler attaches to the board. For both the Z600 and the Sphere, a mounting bracket with a reverse threaded screw is mounted through a washer, then the motherboard, and then through another washer, and then a nut.
The last image in this section shows the four nuts and washers used to tighten everything up on the back of the motherboard.
The Sphere is compact enough that it should not create problems with installation in most cases.
