Wraith stealth cooler screw lasts a lifetime
Wraith stealth cooler screw lasts a lifetime
I adjusted the cooler to improve performance. The first three sides were tightened until they resisted a bit, then I turned them back. The fourth side took much longer to secure—about 45 seconds compared to the others which took 15-20 seconds. Is this an issue? What should I do next?
It seems like it might have removed the threads. (This can occur if a crossthreaded component is forced in at the wrong angle—it strips the threads, making it just a screw in a hole.) If the cooler feels stable and temperatures are normal, it could be fine. Otherwise, consider swapping out both the cooler and the backplate it attaches to. (Wraith stealths are affordable online, but many users opt for aftermarket coolers; the backplate might be harder to locate.)
When using stock cooler, you should manually tighten until resistance appears. Your temperatures likely stem from low mounting pressure. The endless turning may indicate the screw isn’t gripping the thread properly. Insert each screw in a cross pattern, turning a few times first, then secure them in a cross pattern again, rotating two to three times until you notice a stop on each.
It looks like you've already removed the thread and are considering a replacement. Make sure to use a new backplate to avoid uneven pressure problems. This adjustment seems like it might have been missed in the earlier steps.