Dell Dimension 4600 Motherboard heatsink latch broken

[ChrisG_UK]

I had the same problem. Machine just about boots up then powers off. If you boot it again it trips out even quicker. Traced it to the broken heatsink bracket. I fixed mine with a short length of wire.

Remove both heatsink clips and lift off the metal heatsink. Then unscrew the four screws that hold the plastic bracket down. Cut a four inch length of insulated 1mm solid copper wire (the type used in the UK for fixed mains lighting). Strip both ends, leaving about an inch in the middle still insulated. Wrap the insulated wire around the "foot" of the bracket. The wire must be insulated here as it could touch the motherboard tracks. Now bend the stripped part of the wire up and across where the broken clip retainer used to be, and twist the ends together to secure it. Screw the bracket back onto the motherboard and re-assemble. Not so elegant but at least it won't break again.

After I did one corner, another corner broke a few days later, so you might as well do all four at once.