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Help! Removing a processor stuck to a heatsink.

DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
I'm transferring the guts of my Dell Dimension 8300 into an Antec NSK2480 to serve as an HTPC. This of course necessitated a new motherboard, since Dell's are non-standard, and that meant removing the processor. Unfortunately, it came out of the socket stuck to the heatsink. There doesn't appear to be any physical damage (no bent pins) but now I'm not sure what to do. It's stuck on there really good.

I read that a blow-dryer sometimes works, but so far no luck. Any other bright ideas?

Edit: If it's relevant, it's a Socket 478 Pentium 4.
 
Just be careful with the pins and move the CPU side to side. I've worked on countless Dells and I have seen the CPU stick to the heatsink quite a bit. I guess that's one huge advantage of LGA775.

If that doesn't work, just use a screwdriver to pop it off.
 
Most of the adhesives and HSF pastes that are used by OEM's are soluble in IPA (isopropyl alcohol) so you may try liberally wetting the socket with IPA and seeing if that helps work the pins free in a matter of time.

Have you checked to see how much the CPU is actually worth, can you buy a replacement CPU for $25 online? Might not be worth stressing over if the sucker is cheaply replaced in the event you do trash it.
 
Gently but firmly twisted it, and it popped off pretty easily. Too tired right now to put everything together, but tomorrow we'll see whether she fires up or not.

Thanks guys!
 
I did the same thing to a Dell a few months back but ended up with about a dozen or so bent pins that I had to straighten back out. It seems the thermal paste they used for these sets up into nearly a glue over time.
 
Use hair dryer to heat up the CPU heat sink. This should facilitate removal. Use twisting and rocking motion to break lose the heat sink.
 
Well you've sucessfully got it off. The hairdryer is a good suggestion.
Here at work I work on mpga478 computers a bit, and when I pull out the HSF often enough the cpu comes out of the socket w/ the lever/bail still in the locked position. I get a thin hard object/tool (i use the back half of a cheap-o box cutter, basically the same as a butter knife), put it between the HSF and the cpu and gently twist (lever action to get the cpu off). Im sure many will hate this idea, but its quick, simple and hasn't ever damaged a cpu.
 
For future reference, run a program like Prime95 for about 30min to heat things up good. Then shut down, unplug, and immeadiatly remove the HSF. It should come off fairly easily then.

I usually do that with any processor change.
 
I personally -- as did my dentist -- had that little panic about pulling the processor right out of its (latched and locked) socket, but no damage was done in either case. Check the pins carefully, however.

And I wouldn't place a lot of faith in the motherboard and its socket, but it, too, may be undamaged. Even so, you did say you were planning to use a different mobo.

Unless you used thermal epoxy to put the sink on the IHS cap in the first place, your advice already given here is pretty good. you could also try gently separating the processor be slipping a stiff razor-blade between the IHS and sink -- provided the "wiggling back and forth" or the hair-dryer trick doesn't work.

Those socket-478's are pretty cheap as OEM-pulls now, and you should be able to find another one -- somewhere -- for chump change. If you want, check my post on "For Sale/Trade" -- I have a 3.2E socket-478, and I'll consider any offer you make, if the shipping and other costs are worth my trouble for what you offer.
 
Originally posted by: Amaroque
For future reference, run a program like Prime95 for about 30min to heat things up good. Then shut down, unplug, and immeadiatly remove the HSF. It should come off fairly easily then.

I usually do that with any processor change.
Click to expand...

I concur, let it heat up and it comes off much easier. He beat me to the suggestion.
 
Thanks for all the help, it's sitting pretty in my NSK2480, and everything seems to be just peachy.
 
Originally posted by: Amaroque
For future reference, run a program like Prime95 for about 30min to heat things up good. Then shut down, unplug, and immeadiatly remove the HSF. It should come off fairly easily then.

I usually do that with any processor change.
Click to expand...

How is he going to do that if he already removed the heatsink and the CPU is stuck to it?

What if the motherboard died on the Dell and he's replacing it? Can't exactly boot up to run Prime95 can you?
 
Originally posted by: jonmcc33
Originally posted by: Amaroque
For future reference, run a program like Prime95 for about 30min to heat things up good. Then shut down, unplug, and immeadiatly remove the HSF. It should come off fairly easily then.

I usually do that with any processor change.
Click to expand...

How is he going to do that if he already removed the heatsink and the CPU is stuck to it?

What if the motherboard died on the Dell and he's replacing it? Can't exactly boot up to run Prime95 can you?
Click to expand...

If you were to have read my post, I said "for future referance" 😉
 
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