Put the four frame screws and the removed retention hardware into a tray as you go. Small parts around an open case are easily lost, and a magnet tray works well. A lost original screw makes the change harder to reverse.
Small hardware has a habit of vanishing the moment a case is open, and a CPU contact frame swap involves two separate sets of it at once - the new frame's own fasteners and whatever comes off your board's original AM5 retention arms. A simple parts tray sitting next to the case, filled as you go rather than after the fact, is the difference between a tidy job and twenty minutes on your knees checking under the desk.
Keep the four Pulsar frame screws (R299) separate from the original AM5 retention hardware as each set comes off or is about to go on, ideally in a small magnetic tray on the desk rather than loose in a pocket. The two sets are not interchangeable, and losing an original screw is the more serious problem since it is what makes reversing the change back to stock difficult later.
Most cooler-related jobs involve one set of small screws. This one involves two, moving in opposite directions at roughly the same time - the stock retention arms come off first, and shortly after, four new screws go on to secure the frame in their place. Without somewhere deliberate to put each set the moment it is free, it is easy to end up with a pile of similar-looking fasteners and no memory of which belongs where.
A tray solves that simply by giving each set its own physical space from the moment it leaves the board, rather than relying on remembering an order after the fact.
A small magnetic parts tray sitting on the desk beside the case, not on the board or inside it, is a sensible and common choice for this kind of work. Keeping any magnet at a reasonable distance from the open machine itself is good general practice, but a tray a hand's width away on the desk causes no issue and makes picking up a tiny screw with cold fingers considerably easier.
The four screws that come with the frame are built to that specific thread and head size, and the original retention arm screws are sized for the stock hardware they were holding. They are not designed to be swapped between the two jobs, so mixing them in one tray means sorting through similar-looking small parts later, often under poor lighting inside a case.
Two small dishes, or two clearly separated corners of one tray, keeps that sorting job from ever needing to happen. Label them if your desk supports it - even a scrap of masking tape under each pile saves a moment of doubt later.
A missing frame screw is inconvenient - there are three companions and a hardware store nearby if it truly cannot be found. A missing original AM5 retention screw is a bigger problem, because it is specifically what a return to the stock mounting configuration depends on later, whether that is a warranty situation, resale, or simply changing your mind about the cooler. Treat that set as the one worth being extra careful with.
The supplied hex wrench should sit with the stored hardware once the job is done, since it is the tool the next cooler change will need again. Anything dropped during the process - a screw that rolls somewhere unexpected inside the case - is worth retrieving before power is reconnected, since a stray fastener touching the wrong surface is not a risk worth the few seconds it takes to check.
With everything sorted, refitting the cooler from the cpu coolers range is a clean final step, and a fresh application from thermal solutions finishes it properly before the side panel goes back on.
The four supplied frame screws before fitting, and the original retention arms with their screws once removed.
Because they are not interchangeable, and mixing them means sorting small similar fasteners later under poor light.
A tray on the desk rather than on the board is fine, though keeping magnets away from the open machine is sensible practice.
A frame screw has three companions, so losing one is awkward. A lost original retention screw is worse, since it blocks reversal.
Marking which set is which saves time, particularly if the original hardware is being stored for the long term.
Into the case, often under the board or the supply shroud, which is why catching them first matters.
Keeping the hex wrench with the stored hardware makes sense, since it will be needed at the next cooler refit.
Getting your workspace ready for a frame swap? Have a look through Evetech's cooler range so the right paste and fittings are on hand before you start sorting hardware.
The four supplied frame screws before fitting, and the original retention arms with their screws once removed.
Because they are not interchangeable, and mixing them means sorting small similar fasteners later under poor light.
A tray on the desk rather than on the board is fine, though keeping magnets away from the open machine is sensible practice.
A frame screw has three companions, so losing one is awkward. A lost original retention screw is worse, since it blocks reversal.
Marking which set is which saves time, particularly if the original hardware is being stored for the long term.
Into the case, often under the board or the supply shroud, which is why catching them first matters.
Keeping the hex wrench with the stored hardware makes sense, since it will be needed at the next cooler refit. {{PRODUCTS: { facets: { query: "cpu cooler" }, limit: 6, title: "Coolers For The Rebuild", style: "4" } }}
Look for USB-C charging of at least 65W, a built-in RJ45 socket and downstream USB ports. Two of those cover a keyboard and mouse. In a home office running off one fibre router, the wired socket separates a steady call from a frozen one. R8,799 here.
Read more
Check the arm is rated for the weight of a 32-inch panel and uses the 100 x 100 mm VESA pattern most screens carry. Dell ships the R8,799 Pro 32 Plus P3225DE with a height-adjustable stand, so an arm is mainly for clamping a screen over a shallow desk.
Read more
Run one USB-C lead from the laptop to the screen, then hang the keyboard, mouse and network off the monitor itself. The AOC CU34E4CW carries 3440x1440 at 120Hz, pushes 90W back down the same cable and runs the peripherals, which is what the R7,999 buys you.
Read more
Connect both computers to the screen and let the built-in KVM hand your keyboard and mouse to the live input. On the CU34E4CW that handover rides along with the video change, so a R7,999 monitor quietly does the job of a switch box under the desk.
Read more
Split the 3440x1440 canvas into three working columns, then lift the screen so the lens meets you at eye level. Evetech prices the CU34E4CW at R7,999, and its 5MP camera, twin 5W speakers and adjustable stand are what let a call desk run without extra hardware.
Read more
Googlebook phone integration requires setup and Android 17 or later, but each feature has its own purpose. Prepare the intended account, review permissions and test file access, app streaming and task continuation separately with harmless material.
Read more
Discord says most users will not need to manually confirm their age. Its September explanation separates account-based estimation from optional confirmation methods. Review the prompt in the app and the data involved before submitting personal information.
The new small Surface models use Snapdragon X2 Plus and brighter 500-nit displays. The 12-inch Pro and 13-inch Laptop target portable use. Check essential apps and accessories before treating an overseas release date as a South African buying plan.
Logitech PRO X2 RAPID is a wired TKL magnetic keyboard with an onboard OLED display. Its adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger need careful tuning. Compare local keyboard costs and check competition rules before choosing advanced input features.
Steam downloads can pause during gameplay because of global or per-game download settings. Check those controls before blaming your fibre line. Allow background downloads only when the connection and storage can handle them without disrupting play.
Steam Offline Mode not working often needs an online preparation check first. Save the login, finish updates and launch the intended game before testing offline. Friends-list visibility is a separate setting and cannot make an online-only game work offline.
Steam screenshot not working can be a shortcut or overlay problem rather than a broken keyboard. Confirm the binding, test another key and check the screenshot library. Separate a failed capture from a saved image with no notification.
Intel Arc 101.9033 adds Game On support for CONTROL Resonant on supported Arc graphics. Check the exact GPU and driver branch before installing. A repeatable before-and-after test is more useful than assuming every game will become faster.
Steam Remote Play no sound needs separate checks of the host and receiving device. Confirm local game audio, enable streaming audio and test stereo output. A working picture alone does not prove that the correct sound device is being captured.
XPS Googlebook brings Snapdragon X Elite to a compact 13.4-inch touchscreen laptop. Its small footprint and light chassis suit portable use, but Googlebook software support must be judged separately from familiar Windows-based XPS configurations.
Look for USB-C charging of at least 65W, a built-in RJ45 socket and downstream USB ports. Two of those cover a keyboard and mouse. In a home office running off one fibre router, the wired socket separates a steady call from a frozen one. R8,799 here.
Googlebook offers installed Android apps, browser tools and phone app streaming. These routes differ in where files live, which device does the work and what happens when the connection or phone is unavailable.
They matter if your work leaves your own screen. Wide sRGB coverage means colours land where viewers expect, and higher colour depth reduces visible banding in gradients. For internal documents the difference is small.
