My Heatsink is stuck to my processor

[timee]

Today, I decided to replace my stock heatsink and install a zalman cps. However when I was trying to remove my old heatsink (about 3 months old. amd stock heatsink for 939 socket), it wouldn't come off. I can literally pick up the board by the heatsink and everything stays together. I removed the tension clips so it isn't that.

Any suggestions? :\ I don't want to put too much force since I'm afraid of ripping if off and screwing up my processor or motherboard.

 

[FP]

get it nice and hot by running superpi for a few minutes then it should come right off.

 

[Painman]

Welcome to ATF, where we have a search feature no offense - this question gets asked every other day.

You need to wiggle the heatsink clockwise/counterclockwise. If you have a fine tip screwdriver, you can get at the screws for the HS mount bracket and remove them. Then you can raise it up slightly as you grasp the heatsink, and slide/wiggle the HS until it comes off.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: timee
Today, I decided to replace my stock heatsink and install a zalman cps. However when I was trying to remove my old heatsink (about 3 months old. amd stock heatsink for 939 socket), it wouldn't come off. I can literally pick up the board by the heatsink and everything stays together. I removed the tension clips so it isn't that.

Any suggestions? :\ I don't want to put too much force since I'm afraid of ripping if off and screwing up my processor or motherboard.

I have encounterd this many times before. Do not pull on it. Instead use a light twisting motion like you would twist a pepper grinder back and forth. Eventually it should work it's self loose.

 

[Sniper82]

always remember when one needs to remove any kind of heatsink let the system at least run for a while first to heat up the goop/pad/paste.

 

[timee]

Okay so I've been running two threads of Prime95 for quite a while now. It rotates very easily CW and CCW, but still doesn't come off. WHat else should I try?

 

[Googer]

It's bad advice to attempt to remove a heatsink from a working processor, because in less than 1 second the temperature of the CPU can tripple. I am speaking from experience: I burned my finger on a 166 MHz Classic MMX Pentium when I turned it on with out the HSF attached. And yes the thermal paste was epoxy hard from years of useage, but lots of continuious twisting did the job.

Keep doing the twist, it should eventualy work it's self free, just make sure the power is off when you attampt remove it.

 

[Sniper82]

yeah def shutdown the system first if you haven't already. You are turning and pulling up same at the sametime right?

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Googer
It's bad advice to attempt to remove a heatsink from a working processor, because in less than 1 second the temperature of the CPU can tripple. I am speaking from experience: I burned my finger on a 166 MHz Classic MMX Pentium when I turned it on with out the HSF attached. And yes the thermal paste was epoxy hard from years of useage, but lots of continuious twisting did the job.

Keep doing the twist, it should eventualy work it's self free, just make sure the power is off when you attampt remove it.

lol, your finger got pwned.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Sniper82
yeah def shutdown the system first if you haven't already. You are turning and pulling up same at the sametime right?

Avoid any pulling, you will strip the CPU of it's pins. Just do the twist only.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sniper82
yeah def shutdown the system first if you haven't already. You are turning and pulling up same at the sametime right?

Avoid any pulling, you will strip the CPU of it's pins. Just do the twist only.

well when I say pulling I don't mean pull hard. Of course thats a bad idea but a very lite pull won't hurt anything. I've done it many of times over the past 8 years. But I guess I know how much to pull and not to pull.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Sniper82

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sniper82
yeah def shutdown the system first if you haven't already. You are turning and pulling up same at the sametime right?

Avoid any pulling, you will strip the CPU of it's pins. Just do the twist only.

well when I say pulling I don't mean pull hard. Of course thats a bad idea but a very lite pull won't hurt anything. I've done it many of times over the past 8 years. But I guess I know how much to pull and not to pull.

Twisting is still much more effective.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sniper82

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sniper82
yeah def shutdown the system first if you haven't already. You are turning and pulling up same at the sametime right?

Avoid any pulling, you will strip the CPU of it's pins. Just do the twist only.

well when I say pulling I don't mean pull hard. Of course thats a bad idea but a very lite pull won't hurt anything. I've done it many of times over the past 8 years. But I guess I know how much to pull and not to pull.

Twisting is still much more effective.

yeah but in my experience adding a slight pull while twisting seems to make things quicker(for me anyway). LOL lets just say we both have different methods you like yours I like mine .

 

[Maxspeed996]

I dunno , you guys and all this pulling and twisting.....just sounds funny....

 

[cubby1223]

It definately sucks when you rip the cpu right out of the socket, especially when it's a $500 X2 cpu (speaking from experience), then have to bend pins back into place. The one thing intel did right was have the socket clamp down on the cpu with the socket T. I was disappointed with AMD when I saw the preview of their new socket AM2, still using the old ZIF socket design (are they still called zif?).

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
It definately sucks when you rip the cpu right out of the socket, especially when it's a $500 X2 cpu (speaking from experience), then have to bend pins back into place. The one thing intel did right was have the socket clamp down on the cpu with the socket T. I was disappointed with AMD when I saw the preview of their new socket AM2, still using the old ZIF socket design (are they still called zif?).

Yes they are still called ZIF (zero inserton force) Sockets. The next generation LGA should help reduce this risk because a steel retaining bracket locks the cpu on to the motherboard and will not let go untill you loosen the lever.

Pulling might be easier, but the damage risk is high.