HSF not removeable without pulling the cpu out when locked in place!

[Luthien]

Athlon 64 3500 939 Retail with MSI K8N Neo 2 Platinum using Artic Silver 5. When I first assembled my system I had not had a heatsink fan that you could install with the retention clip on the left or right meaning you dont have to figure out how to seat it correctly either way works. Anyhow not knowing this and having to push harder than I thought I would have to on the retention clip built on the retail HSF I decided to remove the HSF and try again after making sure that what I said above was true which turned out to be the case. When attempting to remove the HSF it would not come off even wiggling it a bit side to side with the retention clamp never pushed all the way down in the first place. I pulled up on it hard enough so that the cpu came up with it instead of separately removing the cpu via its own retention clamp after removing the HSF which is the normal proceedure. So, it is now installed and my system is running fine but that scared me a lot when it happened and I thought I could have damaged it but it is fine. But I have to say WTF you cannot first release the cpu rentention clamp until the HSF is removed so when I want to change out my cpu and replace it in the future WTF can I do differently to get it off? This can bend some of the pins on the cpu and is not a good idea so I am very curious about this problem now and I saw a post about it long time ago but only read the thread topic and can't find it now and didnt read what was said about it. So, if what can be done about this?

 

[MDE]

This happens with Pentium 4s also. The best you can do is to try twisting the heatsink a bit after you unlatch it and to use a bit less thermal compound.

 

[CJP]

You can also run your computer for a few minutes before you remove the hsf. THe heat might loosen things up a bit.

 

[jim3888]

i,too,had the wonderful experience of removing my brsand new processor with the heat sinc. the only thing was ,is i was not so lucky...my pins really got bent . this is when i found out the 3 year warranty i purchased from monarch considered this abuse and would not cover it. funny thing is ,that when i called amd ,they said if it was a retail box ,their warranty would have covered it so much for monarch never again. i had to go to upper management just to get an rma # so they would try to bend the pins back ,and if not ,tough tittie cupcake! you live and learn. getting to the other problem, separating the 2 pieces,would getting dental floss and running it between the two work? i havent had the opportunity to try it yet as my chip will not seat,but i would like to hear if this works for anyone good luck!

 

[thelanx]

Use less thermal compound next time, and try running the comp for a bit to heat it up. You can also try the floss method. I have had this happen before too, luckily the pins weren't bent. I think it's mainly due to too much thermal paste, especially for very smooth surfaces where it can create suction. So just use a thin layer of thermal paste next time and see if it helps.