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Install a processor and heat sink

This task has instructions for installing an assembled processor and heat sink, known as a processor-heat-sink module (PHM), a processor, and a heat sink. All of these tasks require a Torx T30 driver.

Attention

  • Each processor socket must always contain a PHM or a cover and heat sink baffle. When removing or installing a PHM, protect empty processor sockets with a cover.

  • Do not touch the processor socket or processor contacts. Processor-socket contacts are very fragile and easily damaged. Contaminants on the processor contacts, such as oil from your skin, can cause connection failures.

  • Remove and install only one PHM at a time. If the system board supports multiple processors, install the PHMs starting with the first processor socket.

  • Do not allow the thermal grease on the processor or heat sink to come in contact with anything. Contact with any surface can compromise the thermal grease, rendering it ineffective. Thermal grease can damage components, such as electrical connectors in the processor socket. Do not remove the grease cover from a heat sink until you are instructed to do so.

  • To ensure the best performance, check the manufacturing date on the new heat sink and make sure it does not exceed two years. Otherwise, wipe off the existing thermal grease and apply the new grease onto it for optimal thermal performance.

Note

  • PHMs are keyed for the socket where they can be installed and for their orientation in the socket.

  • See Lenovo ServerProven website for a list of processors supported for your compute node. All processors on the system board must have the same speed, number of cores, and frequency.

  • Before you install a new PHM or replacement processor, update your system firmware to the latest level. See Update the firmware.

  • Installing an additional PHM can change the memory requirements for your system. See Install a memory module for a list of processor-to-memory relationships.

  • The maximal capacity the system supports varies with the processor(s) installed:

    • L processors (model name ending with L): 4.5 TB

    • M processors (model name ending with M): 2 TB

    • Other processors that support PMM: 1 TB

  • When using Intel Xeon Gold 6126T 12C 125W 2.6 GHz Processor, Intel Xeon Gold 6144 8C 150W 3.5 GHz Processor, Intel Xeon Gold 6146 12C 165W 3.2 GHz Processor, Intel Xeon Platinum 8160T 24C 150W 2.1 GHz Processor, or Intel Xeon Platinum 6244 8C 150W 3.6 GHz Processor, please note the following:

    • The ambient temperature should be less than 30°C.

    • When operating above 30°C or in the event of a fan failure, the server will continue to function as long as all the component’s temperature requirements are met. However, the performance may be reduced.

    • The noise level will be significantly higher than the base models.

Before you install a PHM:
Note
The heat sink, processor, and processor retainer for your system might be different than those shown in the illustrations.

  1. Read Installation Guidelines to ensure that you work safely.

  2. Power off the corresponding compute node that you are going to perform the task on.

  3. Remove the compute node from the chassis (see Remove the compute node from the chassis).

  4. Carefully lay the compute node on a flat, static-protective surface, orienting the compute node with the bezel pointing toward you.

  5. Remove the compute node cover (see Remove the compute node cover).

  6. Remove the existing PHM, if one is installed. See Remove a processor and heat sink.

    Note
    Replacement processors come with both rectangular and square processor retainers. A rectangular retainer comes attached to the processor. The square retainer can be discarded.

  7. If you are replacing a heat sink, replace the processor retainer. Processor retainers should not be reused.

    1. Remove the old processor retainer.

      Figure 1. Removing a processor retainer
      Processor retainer removal
      Note
      When the processor is out of its retainer, hold the processor by the long edges to prevent touching the contacts or the thermal grease, if it is applied.

      With the processor-contact side up, flex the ends of the retainer down and away from the processor to release the retaining clips; then, remove the processor from the retainer. Discard the old retainer.

    2. Install a new processor retainer.

      Figure 2. Installing a processor retainer
      Processor retainer installation

      1. Position the processor on the new retainer so that the triangular marks align; then, insert the unmarked end of the processor into the retainer.

      2. Holding the inserted end of the processor in place, flex the opposite end of the retainer down and away from the processor until you can press the processor under the clip on the retainer.

        To prevent the processor from falling out of the retainer after it is inserted, keep the processor-contact side up and hold the processor-retainer assembly by the sides of the retainer.

      3. If there is any old thermal grease on the processor, gently clean the top of the processor using an alcohol cleaning pad.

        Note
        If you are applying the new thermal grease on the top of the processor, make sure to do it after the alcohol has fully evaporated.

  8. If you are replacing a processor:

    1. Remove the processor identification label from the heat sink and replace it with the new label that comes with the replacement processor.

    2. Apply the thermal grease on the top of the processor with syringe by forming four uniformly spaced dots, while each dot consists of about 0.1 ml of thermal grease.

      Figure 3. Proper shape of the thermal grease
      Proper shape of the thermal grease

      1. Carefully place the processor and retainer on a flat surface with the processor-contact side down.

      2. Apply half a syringe of thermal grease, approximately 0.65 g, to the center of the processor top.

  9. If you are replacing a heat sink, remove the processor identification label from the old heat sink and place it on the new heat sink in the same location. The label is on the side of the heat sink closet to the triangular alignment mark.

    If you are unable to remove the label and place it on the new heat sink, or if the label is damaged during transfer, write the processor serial number from the processor identification label on the new heat sink in the same location as the label would be placed using a permanent marker.

  10. Assemble the processor and heat sink, if these components are separate.

    Note

    • If you are replacing a processor, install the heat sink onto the processor and retainer while the processor and retainer are in the shipping tray.

    • If you are replacing a heat sink, remove the heat sink from its shipping tray and place the processor and retainer in the opposite half of the heat sink shipping tray with the processor-contact side down. To prevent the processor from falling out of the retainer, hold the processor-retainer assembly by its sides with the processor-contact side up until you turn it over to fit in the shipping tray.

    Figure 4. Assembling a PHM in the shipping tray
    Heat sink and processor assembly

    1. Align the triangular marks on the processor retainer and the heat sink or align the triangular mark on the processor retainer with the notched corner of the heat sink.

    2. Insert the processor-retainer clips into the holes on the heat sink.

    3. Press the retainer into place until the clips at all four corners engage.

Figure 5. DIMM and processor location
DIMM and processor location
Table 1. DIMM and processor location
1 DIMM connectors 13-184 Processor socket 1
2 Processor socket 25 DIMM connectors 7-12
3 DIMM connectors 1-66 DIMM connectors 19-24

Complete the following steps to install a PHM.

  1. Remove the processor socket cover, if one is installed on the processor socket, by placing your fingers in the half-circles at each end of the cover and lifting it from the system board.
  2. Install the processor-heat-sink module on the system board.
    Figure 6. Installing a PHM
    PHM installation
    1. Align the triangular marks and guide pins on the processor socket with the PHM; then, insert the PHM into the processor socket.
      Attention
      To prevent damage to components, make sure that you follow the indicated tightening sequence.
    2. Fully tighten the Torx T30 captive fasteners in the installation sequence shown on the heat-sink label. Tighten the screws until they stop; then, visually inspect to make sure that there is no gap between the screw shoulder beneath the heat sink and the processor socket. (For reference, the torque required for the nuts to fully tighten is 1.4-1.6 newton-meters, 12-14 inch-pounds).

After you install a PHM:

  1. Install the air baffle (see Install the air baffle).

  2. Install the compute node cover (see Install the compute node cover ).

  3. Install the compute node into the chassis (see Install the compute node in the chassis ).

  4. Power on the compute node.

Demo video

Watch the procedure on YouTube