Cooling Upgrade Kit ICE-Tower Low-Profile Plus: Installation Guide
This guide shows you step by step how to install the ICE-Tower Low-Profile Plus cooling upgrade kit.
It also works for other cooling upgrades, as the basic steps are almost always the same. Other heatsinks may need different adapters.
1. Check package contents
Check that all parts are in the package. The Premium Set includes:
- 1x ICE-Tower Low-Profile Plus heatsink
- 2x mounting adapters for the heatsink incl. 2x M2.5x6 screws
- 1x Noctua NF-A6x15 5V PWM fan
- 1x mounting adapter for the fan incl. 2x mounting clips
- Thermal paste incl. cleaning cloth (not shown in the photo)
- 4x M3x12 screws incl. 4x M3 nuts
2. Unplug the fan
Unplug the connector of the old fan.
3. Loosen the screws
Carefully loosen the 4 mounting screws of the stock heatsink on the back.
4. Remove the heatsink
Once the four mounting screws are loosened, lift the heatsink together with the fan off the Bitaxe.
5. Clean the ASIC chip
Remove the old thermal paste from the chip with the included cleaning cloth. For a more thorough clean, cotton swabs or a cloth with IPA cleaner also help. Make sure no lint remains on the chip.
Important: In this step you press on the soldered ASIC chip. Work carefully and do not press forcefully on the chip, otherwise it can be damaged.
6. Install the mounting adapters
Screw the two mounting adapters to the heatsink with the included M2.5x6 screws.
Thanks to IN ∞/21M WE TRUST. for the design and for permission to use these adapters.
7. Fan and heatsink
For the next steps you need:
- the heatsink
- the fan
- the fan adapter
- the two mounting clips
8. Attach the fan adapter
Place the adapter on the heatsink as shown in the photo.
Note: The heatsink is not square, so the adapter only fits in one orientation. If it does not fit straight away, turn it.
9. Place the fan
Place the fan loosely on the adapter. It is not fixed at this point and may wobble a little; this changes in step 11.
10. Orient the fan correctly
Orient the fan as shown in the photo so that the sticker with the model designation faces up. Only in this position does the fan draw in the warm air and blow it away from the heat source.
11. Secure the fan
Attach the fan to the heatsink with the two mounting clips, as shown in the photo.
First insert both ends of the clip into the holes provided on the fan, then carefully press the clip under the heatsink.
Tip: This is the trickiest step of the assembly. Take your time and work with care.
12. Home stretch
Now you mount the heatsink on the Bitaxe.
13. Apply thermal paste
Using the syringe, carefully apply a pea-sized dab of thermal paste directly onto the ASIC chip.
The photo shows the right amount. Use neither less nor more; exactly this amount gives the best cooling.
14. Plug in the fan cable
There is little space between the board and the heatsink, so plug in the fan cable now.
Once the heatsink is screwed in place, the connector is hard to reach.
15. Insert screws into the board
Now insert two of the four screws diagonally from the back through the board. This lets you align the board cleanly over the heatsink.
16. Place the Bitaxe on the heatsink
Carefully place the board on the heatsink so that the two screws pass through the matching openings in the mounting adapter. This keeps everything in place without slipping.
Tip: Ideally, orient the board so that the curved heat pipes face the display.
17. Insert the remaining screws
Now insert the remaining two screws from the back through the board.
Hold your Bitaxe with one finger so it does not tip forward.
18. Tighten the screws slightly
Hold the M3 nuts against the screws from below with one finger and carefully tighten them hand-tight, without force.
Tip: Tighten the screws crosswise (diagonally). This spreads the pressure evenly and keeps everything straight.
19. Tighten the screws
Carefully tighten the screws with pliers or an M3 wrench.
Important: Do not overtighten. Too much pressure can damage the ASIC chip. Hand-tight is enough.
20. Done
Your Bitaxe now has its new cooling and is ready for continuous operation.
Note:
The stock power supply delivers 30 watts. For safe continuous operation, it should not be loaded above 80%, which corresponds to a power draw of no more than 24 watts.
Keep this in mind if you want to overclock your Bitaxe.
21. Cable management (optional)
Optionally, you can now fix the fan cable to the bracket, ideally with a small cable tie (not included).
Other cable management solutions are of course possible too.
Our recommendation:
Do not run the cable under the heatsink and do not wrap it around the copper heat pipes. This can cause heat buildup and noticeably reduce cooling performance.