Phanteks PH-TC12LS CPU Cooler Review – Quiet and Low-Profile Ready

INSTALLATION

Installing the cooler went fairly well, the instructions are fairly clear with detailed illustrations of each component and step. On our LGA 2011-3 socket, it was about 8  steps in total.

We start by screwing in the 4 Socket Screws directly into the motherboard, and then placing the two Strip Adapters on top, ensuring they are positioned correctly for our socket type. We then fasten the 4 screw nuts that secure the Strip Adapters to the Socket Screws.

After that, we apply the thermal paste, and then attach the Mounting Plate to the Heatsink and insert the Mounting Screws, we then place the Heatsink directly on top of the Strip Adapters ensuring it is positioned correctly so that the Mounting Screws are aligned with the threaded posts on the Strip Adapters. We then fasten the Mounting Screws by inserting a screwdriver through the cutouts in the Heatsink, rotating back and forth between each side until the cooler is tightly secured.

Once the Heatsink is secured, we attach the Fan by placing it on top of the Heatsink and inserting the four partially threaded fan screws and tightening each corner until the Fan is secured to the Heatsink.

It is at this point that we faced our only gripe with this cooler, we do wish that the cutouts in the Heatsink were aligned a bit better with the actual mounting screws as you’ll find yourself getting awfully close to the edges of the Heatsink fins, which can potentially damage them. Thankfully, this didn’t happen in our case but we were definitely aware of the potential for it while installing.

Once the fan is attached and plugged in to the 4-pin CPU fan connector on our motherboard, we’re good to go.