83mm (MP83) vs. 78mm (MP78) mounting pitch, which kit do I need?

Before we jump into the topic of mounting pitches, if you simply want to find out which mounting kit you need for your cooler and socket combination, please take a look here.

Depending on the model, most Noctua CPU coolers feature a mounting pitch (distance between the spring-loaded mounting screws) of either 83mm (coolers with two-piece fastening brackets) or 78mm (coolers with single-piece fastening brackets). Coolers with 83mm mounting pitch require the MP83 kit whereas coolers with 78mm mounting pitch require the MP78 version.

Two coolers placed side by side. The cooler on the left has two red-marked fastening brackets, this cooler is labeled 83mm. The cooler on the right has one red-marked fastening bracket and is labeled 78mm.