Thermalright ASF Black V2 AM5 CPU Holder, AM5 Safety Fixed Frame, AM5 Secure Frame, Corrective Anti-Bending Fixing Frame, AM5 Anti-Bending Contact Frame,CPU Cooler Standard,Black

This made applying thermal paste to the 9800X3D trivial despite its odd shape compared to older processors. It took all the guesswork out of the process and eliminated the stress of making a mess with excess paste. Very easy to install, and my temps are about 10C cooler at idle than a friend with a similar setup. 100% recommend this to anyone, especially for the price. Zero reason not to use this in your build.

Its is a very useful accessory, especially if you're building or upgrading a computer with an AMD AM5 CPU. It's designed to protect your CPU and prevent damage. It stops your CPU from bending, which can happen with some CPU cooler setups, and this protection can save you from having to replace your CPU. If you're using an AM5 CPU, it's a worthwhile addition to ensure the longevity of your components.

It does what it's supposed to do. It is a well-machined, durable piece of aluminum at a fair price. It won't work miracles for your temperatures, but it will give you peace of mind that your cooler is mounting flush with your CPU.

I think the jury is still out on whether an AM5 chip NEEDS a frame, but it DOES make applying paste cleaner, having extra aluminum around chip HAS to help heat dissipation SOME? I personally think mounting the cooler is more stable/secure with it on.And for $9... why not?

I picked this up for my Ryzen 7 9800X3D—not because the CPU necessarily needed it, but because I wanted a cleaner and more controlled way to apply thermal paste. This bracket delivered exactly that. It feels solid and well-built, with no flimsy parts, and the installation was straightforward. It really helps eliminate the mess and stress during the CPU cooler mounting process. For the price, it’s a fantastic value compared to some of the more expensive alternatives out there. Definitely a smart, low-cost upgrade if you’re building on AM5.

The AM5 CPU's do not suffer from the bending issues that the Intel IHS does. So this won't effect the AM5 CPU's temperatures. On the other hand, it has one great benefit (and the reason I purchased it) and that is keeping your thermal compound off your surface mount bits on the CPU itself. It looks fantastic too, but after you get your heat sink on you'll never see it again.In case anyone is wondering it is not conductive due to being anodized. But the it's a bit misleading claiming this is anti-bending in that the AM5 CPU just don't bend in a way that causes problems. That being said though, it will provide more uniform tension to the entire CPU than the clamp the board comes with. It just looks and feels more secure, but to be fair I've not had IHS/clamp issues on the AM4 or AM5 cpu's. But this thing will make cleanup of your CPU so much easier and that alone is worth the investment.

It is gorgeous little piece of machining! Solid, rigid. I've heard some people indicate compatibility issues with the X3D chips, but I don't have one, so I don't know. It fit my AM5 chip PERFECTLY. As others have said, it's a shame such a beautiful piece is hidden away.And given that it is pretty inexpensive, it seems worth getting, albeit not a must have either. Earlier AMD CPU chips, you could rip them out of their socket when removing the cooling fan. But the factory AM5 clip seems like it holds the CPU pretty well already. Not certain this really is a big improvement.It's super easy to install, it includes a tool for removing the factory clamp and installing this piece. To make sure you tighten it straight and clean. I suggest first putting in the screws loose, criss cross. 1, 3, 2, 4. Then slightly tighten criss cross. The final tighten criss cross. Don’t need excessive force, someone said they broke a screw. But getting all four screws pretty snug, and evenly tightened should hold the CPU well.Some people say it helps CPU temperatures. At first, I was dubious of the claim, wasn't sure what mechanism would be at work. But now I think it is probably true. This is a good-sized chunk of aluminum, and it comes into contact with the CPU around the clamping edges. That is only a small amount of contact area, so I doubt a whole lot of heat is transferred. But I did use a toothpick to put a tiny amount of heat sink paste around the clamping edges of the CPU to improve thermal conductivity from the CPU to this item. Again, I doubt it is a huge amount, some say 1 degree C. Given that this is inexpensive, it's probably worth it.

fit and finish is great, and thermalright always delivers.