Can't unscrew my heat sink

[xcas]

About a month ago I took off my heat sink for the first time to reapply thermal paste. All went okay and the PC was fine after that. Then, IDK if it's just a coincidence or not, but I left the comp off for about a week and a half while I was studying for exams. Last week, I turned it back on, and while performance doesn't appear to have suffered, the fan is noticeably louder. I've been through all the things I can think of as far as software goes and absolutely nothing has changed, so I decided to go through the arduous process of reapplying thermal paste again, and checking to see if anything had been damaged at all. So I popped off the side panel and tried to get the heat sink off (something I did without a problem before) and the screws are unfathomably tight. I got two off them to unscrew but the other two won't budge even a little and I'm scared of stripping them. The sink must be on incredibly tight. It doesn't wiggle even a little.

So I guess my question is, if I absolutely cannot get this thing off with any amount of pressure, is that a bad thing? Can a heat sink be on too tight? Clearly nothing is broken per se because the PC still boots and runs fine.
Strange thing about the temps is that, although they sometimes idle fairly high, they don't usually go above 60 under load. Sometimes I'll check them and they'll be around 30 idle, sometimes it'll jump to as high as 50. Really confused about that.

What do you suggest I do? I'm not one for taking things apart beyond what I have to and honestly I'd have no clue what to do if you told me to just take out the whole

My other concern is that if it's too tight, though the core may not be broken or cracked, the thermal paste is just like squeezed out the sides and spilling all over the place. May sound stupid but seems possible to me. Is this likely to happen if it's too tight?

The PC is an Alienware x51 with an i7. I'm using the stock cooler. It's pretty cramped in there anyway.

 

[aigomorla]

if its a skylake i7, 67xx id be worried.

if its a haswell,47xx dont worry about it too much

If the past is overflowing off the side of the heat sink, it means u applied too much paste in both scenarios, which can hinder performance.

Paste is not suposed to attach metal to metal... its suposed to fill in micro air gaps between metal to metal.

 

[C1]

Get a container of "Blue Torch" penetrant and keep letting a drop twice per day soak in on each screw. Also, many screws in electronics stuff are not really Phillips. Forgot what they are called, but their slots are shallower in depth and when too tight, using a true Phillips results in damaging the screw. In your case, buy a good suitably sized screw driver & grind/file it for a full fit to the affected screws. On reassembly try to replace the screws. (Fry's has sorted replacement screw kits.)

All this sound to be getting expensive isnt it?

Live & learn. No doubt one of the reasons why we are here.

Oh ya, be sure to use decent heat sink compound such as "Arctic Silver".

 

[jsalpha2]

Have you tried removing the screws while warm and again while cold? What type of heatsink? Don't stock Intel coolers still use push pins? Pictures?

This? http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/temps2.jpg