Apparatus and method embodiments are provided for a heat sink mounted on a printed circuit board using a back plate with preload. An apparatus comprises a circuit component, a heat sink on a first side of the circuit component a, a back plate having an initial curvature and positioned at a second side of the circuit component opposite to the heat sink, and one or more screws through the back plate and the circuit component and partially through the heat sink. A method further includes placing and flattening a curved back plate on a second side of a circuit board opposite to the first side, and fastening the back plate, the circuit board, and the heat sink together by inserting a plurality of screws through the back plate, the circuit board, and a partial depth on a single side of the heat sink.