Check the retention hardware was reassembled as one set rather than mixed. A contact frame replaces the stock arms, so combining old and new parts can seat the cooler unevenly without anything looking wrong.
An AM5 chip running hotter after a cooler refit usually has a boring explanation, and it is worth checking before blaming the silicon. If a contact frame reassembly mixed old and new retention hardware, the cooler can end up seated unevenly without a single part looking obviously wrong.
Confirm the AsiaHorse Pulsar frame and its four screws were fitted as one complete set, with none of the board's original stock retention arms left in place underneath it. Mixing the two applies pressure differently across the chip, which can produce uneven contact and higher temperatures even though everything appears assembled correctly. The R299 frame only does its job when it replaces the stock hardware entirely, not partially.
The Pulsar contact frame is designed to replace AM5's stock retention arms on X670, B650, and A620 boards, spreading mounting pressure evenly across the processor. Leaving even one original arm in place changes how that pressure distributes, since the frame was never engineered to share the job. The result can look fine from the outside - screws tight, cooler mounted, nothing visibly loose - while the actual contact underneath is inconsistent.
Old or poorly applied thermal paste, a cooler that is not fully tightened, or a case airflow issue unrelated to the refit are all equally plausible causes, and none of them involve the frame at all. Ruling these out alongside the hardware check gives a more complete picture than assuming the frame is automatically responsible.
Lifting the cooler off and looking at the paste spread is the most direct way to judge whether the surfaces were actually meeting evenly - a lopsided spread points at uneven pressure, while a clean, centred spread suggests the contact itself was fine. The four screws should be tightened evenly in stages across the frame rather than fully securing one before moving to the next, and no tightening torque is specified for this frame, so moderate, even pressure is the practical approach.
If everything checks out - correct hardware, even paste spread, properly tightened screws - the frame is probably not the cause, and cooler capacity or case airflow become the more likely areas to look at next. Case-side accessories that affect airflow sit in the case accessories category, and tidier cable routing from the cable solutions range can also help keep air moving where it needs to.
That the Pulsar frame and its four screws are fitted as a complete set, with none of the stock AM5 retention arms left underneath.
Because the frame and the stock arms apply pressure to the chip differently, so combining them can leave the cooler sitting unevenly.
Old or badly applied thermal paste, a cooler that has not been fully tightened, or an unrelated case airflow issue.
Lifting the cooler off and looking at the paste spread shows whether the surfaces were meeting evenly across the chip.
Yes - tighten the four screws in stages across the frame rather than fully securing one side before touching the others.
No figure is published for this frame, so even, moderate tightening across all four screws is the sensible approach.
Then the frame is probably not the cause, and cooler capacity or general case airflow are the next things worth examining.
Refitting a cooler on an AM5 build? Check Evetech's cooling options and the case accessories range for the airflow parts that keep temperatures in check afterward.
That the Pulsar frame and its four screws are fitted as a complete set, with none of the stock AM5 retention arms left underneath.
Because the frame and the stock arms apply pressure to the chip differently, so combining them can leave the cooler sitting unevenly.
Old or badly applied thermal paste, a cooler that has not been fully tightened, or an unrelated case airflow issue.
Lifting the cooler off and looking at the paste spread shows whether the surfaces were meeting evenly across the chip.
Yes - tighten the four screws in stages across the frame rather than fully securing one side before touching the others.
No figure is published for this frame, so even, moderate tightening across all four screws is the sensible approach.
Then the frame is probably not the cause, and cooler capacity or general case airflow are the next things worth examining.
Intel Core Ultra can look weaker in Roodepoort gaming benchmarks when tests are GPU-limited or tuned poorly. Check power settings, drivers, memory, game mix, and cooling before judging CPU value for an SA gaming PC.
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Spider-Man 2 low FPS on RTX 5070 needs settings, driver, power, and background-load checks. For SA players, check updates, verify files, test overlays, reset graphics options, and keep changes reversible before reinstalling.
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Core i9-14900K with RX 9060 XT at 4K depends on the game, settings, refresh target, and background load. Use this SA bottleneck guide to judge CPU headroom, GPU use, and upgrade order without fixed FPS claims.
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Cheapest GPU that runs Mortal Kombat 1 at 1080p should be shortlisted around the job it must do. South African buyers should compare GPU tier, VRAM, cooling, and PSU headroom, warranty path, and upgrade room before treating any pick as best.
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Core Ultra 7 265K + RTX 4070 Super bottleneck should be shortlisted around the job it must do. South African buyers should compare GPU tier, VRAM, cooling, and PSU headroom, warranty path, and upgrade room before treating any pick as best.
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student laptop guide for Gqeberha gamers should be shortlisted around the job it must do. South African buyers should compare CPU, GPU, RAM, and screen quality, warranty path, and upgrade room before treating any pick as best.
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Windows transparency effects can be switched off to make supported backgrounds more opaque. Use Accessibility, Visual effects or the colour settings, then compare a menu against your wallpaper. This R0 preference changes appearance; it is not a promised.
Windows title bar window shake can minimise other open windows when you shake the active window by its title bar. Inspect the Multitasking setting and switch it off if that gesture interrupts your work. The preference costs R0 and does not require new hardware.
Windows Print Screen opens Snipping Tool when its keyboard preference is enabled. Change the option under Accessibility, Keyboard to choose another workflow. Test whether you need a clipboard image or a saved file.
Windows desktop icons missing may be a visibility setting. Right-click the desktop, choose View and inspect Show desktop icons. If only system icons are absent, use Desktop icon settings. Check the Desktop folder before assuming files were deleted.
Intel Core Ultra can look weaker in Roodepoort gaming benchmarks when tests are GPU-limited or tuned poorly. Check power settings, drivers, memory, game mix, and cooling before judging CPU value for an SA gaming PC.
RTX 5090 alternatives make more sense for office and study PCs in South Africa when the goal is smooth screens, quiet use, and sensible cost. Focus on display support, reliability, power use, desk space, and whole-system balance first for SA buyers.
Spider-Man 2 low FPS on RTX 5070 needs settings, driver, power, and background-load checks. For SA players, check updates, verify files, test overlays, reset graphics options, and keep changes reversible before reinstalling.
An RTX 4080 alternative can prioritise competitive shooters speed over excess. Compare high refresh, low latency, CPU balance, ZAR value, and monitor upgrade room before buying for a South African esports setup.
