you can remove the metal hold down but I wouldnt recommend it cuz you can bend the socket pins when removing the cpu may stay stuck to the wb and fall off when removing it and the plastic part where the pins are in doesnt come off

and since the AsRock Z77 Extreme 4 has the 775 holes you wouldnt need the mounting kit

edit: forgot to say i been running a 775 since 1366 also this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835708019

Is it me, or do all these blocks look the same lol!

I was thinking about getting the Heat Killer. that thing looks massive!

Any recommendations on a heavy duty water block like that?

Save your money...the differences are miniscule. ;)

Kinda like thermal pastes :Dizzy:

Gotcha - I can add chilling whenever needed any ways right!? :cool3:

I've also purchase 2x 40mm water blocks all copper for TECs as well.

Not sure how I can arrange all this, But I have 4 water blocks well 5 with the Cpu block, and some air coolers. I may try a peltier stacking technique that usually works somewhat. I have various size TECs and plan to purchase a couple more as well.

I may run this on the old 960T for testing and such. Seal the board and everything.

I'll start a new thread about all that when all the part are together.

black plastic casing on the motherboard socket :Dizzy: Have no clue what you're talking about :Dizzy: I'd leave the socket on anyway, you don't want any movement of the chip and can't think of what removing the socket would gain you?

The pins come through a plastic container that shells the processor.

I mod things. I remove things. I add things. That's why. I've run cpu's in AMD boards with the top part torn off, but I understand that's a different creature.

I'd like to remove it so it doesn't absorb heat. Does that make any sense? No doubt in my mind that's what it does.

The cooling device mounting is plenty pressure to hold it still isn't it?

Oh yea and the screws are super close if not touching my case. I could cut that part out, but the next board may have the Cpu located in a different area and I don't want to hack the motherboard tray up.

So look. The black plasic thing that holds the cpu in place. Not the metal hold down that's flipped up. The black thing is glued on right? No worries? The Cpu should pretty much stay put?

This is NOT an exact picture of MY board. just an example cause mine looks like this one.

Looks like a lot of work for little gain and lots of pain... ;)

Not sure I'm actually gonna do it.... I wa just wondering if this is a common thing that's done, obviously not then :lol

don't remove that thing dude! it's gonna yank the whole socket out!