With the launch of Intel's 12th Generation "Alder Lake" CPUs also came a new CPU socket in the form of the LGA 1700 Socket with an updated mounting pattern. Due to this updated mounting pattern, coolers launched prior to November 2021 will require a new mounting adapter bracket as shown below:
In an effort to ease the transition, some motherboard manufacturers (primarily Asus) have opted to make their newer motherboards backwards compatible with the previous generation LGA 115X/LGA1200 bracket included with all of our Kraken series coolers. Below you'll notice the double-stacked mounting holes that allow for the use of either bracket: 
While this does make it easier to transition from a previous generation Intel board to a current generation LGA 1700 socket board, our testing has shown that this should only be used as a temporary solution with the NZXT Kraken series. While the holes provided will take the LGA 115X socket into account, the LGA 1700 socket has a higher Z-height. This is important because a higher Z-height means that the previous generation backplate and mounting hardware can be over-tightened on the socket and result in damage or malfunction.
If you are coming from a previous generation Kraken X, Kraken Z, Kraken M22, or Kraken 120 cooler it is highly recommended to switch the mounting hardware to a dedicated LGA 1700 kit. You can find a link to the Kraken X and Z compatible kit at the link below:
NZXT - Kraken XZ LGA 1700 Mounting Tools
The above mounting kit is not compatible with Kraken M22 or Kraken 120 series coolers or the cooler included with the H1 series. For mounting hardware for these coolers, please reach out to our Customer Support team for further assistance.
While it is safe to continue to use the previous mounting kit(s), we do not recommend using them in the long term as this can result in severe, permanent damage to the CPU or motherboard socket. When tightening the previous generation hardware, be sure to only tighten until finger-tight and then lock it with a half turn using a screwdriver.
To reiterate: the legacy LGA 115x mounting kit should only be used temporarily until you have obtained an updated LGA 1700 kit.
Do you have any questions not covered by this guide or need further assistance? Please feel free to reach out to our Customer Support team and one of our friendly support agents will be there to assist you.
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