Intel P4 Socket 478 CPU Heatsink Retention Motherboard Bracket Module

I had trouble getting the old retainer pins out of the motherboard of this Dell Optiplex PC. I thought I might have damaged the motherboard, they were so difficult to remove, but after inserting this retention, then putting the CPU heatsink and fan in place, everything turned out all right. Some people have posted that these retentions that depend on friction plugs that plug in tight to the motherboard are unreliable and need to be replaced by ones that have screws to firmly fasten the retention to the motherboard. But in my case it seemed impossible to get the motherboard out, to be able to put fastening screws in, so this type of retention worked the best for my application: once I got the old retainer pins out, the retention popped in place and seemed plenty firm for my purposes. Combine this with the StarTech.com Socket 478 CPU Cooler fan with Heatsink, and you have a good cooling solution for old Pentium-IV computers.

These brackets keep breaking for some reason, and this is an extra. Very inexpensive, It makes sense to keep extras for the older systems we keep building in this house. Recommended.

With the new heatsink/fan cooler, I needed this piece. It fits the MassCool 9T370B1M3G like a glove, as the stock bracket (via Dell Dimension 3000) was a bit too large. Update 10/17/17: Out of two purchased, one has broken on a corner where the cooler retention clip hooks into the bracket after two days. The system shut down when it broke before my eyes, I pray before damage took place. The second unit seems to be holding up. Hopefully the second unit will hold up long enough to get the system configured. Then I'll purchase the more robust metal variant offered via Amazon. I would NOT recommend this product.

It woulda worked great with a different heatsink but the one i used was a little big so i had to file some of the metal off to make it fit. Fits snug and secure after i changed a couple things, if i had stuck with the original heat sink then it would have fit perfectly. 4/5 stars though

I got this bracket and the Copper Core Socket 478 Heat Sink and Fan to replace the original one in a Dell Dimension 8200 that had quite literally broke and fell off during normal use. This one snapped right in and has held the replacement heatsink to this day with no issues. If you have a dell dimension 8200 or other proprietary socket478/ Pentium 4 HSF system then I strongly recommend you replace it with this and the standard Intel Copper Core Socket 478.

I bought the exact same bracket from another vendor about a year back, and it broke for some reason, sending my CPU temperature way past redline and into the 80 degree celcius territory. Curious, since the original bracket lasted since 2001 when I first built the system, and then in the last year and a half I have two of these things break. And now I need a new CPU because of it. We'll see how long this new one lasts. July 6th update; Well, it broke last week, so I had to order a new one. Why? I'm thinking the heatsink fan on the newer power supply is delivering too much hot air to dry out the plastic in the bracket.

This broke like the one it replaced after a couple of months. I'm going to try a metal one before giving up on this motherboard.

Used this to replace the stock Dell Dimension 2400 Socket 478 retention bracket. I purchased an aftermarket Rosewill heatsink which required an aftermarket retention bracket, which I only found out after the fact. Research led me to believe that in the process of trying to mount the new heatsink, I could risk breaking the old retention bracket so I bought this once just in case, not realizing that I actually needed it no matter what. Has the plastic push pin things which replace the screws which held in the previous retention bracket. Plastic is sturdy and the price could not be beaten. For an old socket type finding this was very clutch and shipping was great!