Removing Epoxied Heatsink

[JadeRobbins]

What is the best way to remove an epoxied heatsink that is on my video card?? I've heard freezeing it, but that sounds kind of dangerous. Any other suggestions?

Thanks🙂😉🙁😱:disgust:😱🙁😉🙂🙂😉🙁😱:disgust:😀:|:Q😛:Q:|😀:disgust:😱🙁😉🙁😱:disgust:😀:|:Q😛😎

 

[Holmecollie]

I did it like the did at 2cooltek, the hompage isn't very up to date but here it is:

2cooltek

Basicly he does is you get a good grip with a rench then you twist the sink! It's kinda painfull doing it but in the end it came of, and worked fine...

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Freezing your card is much less dangerous than trying to twist off epoxy. Put it in a freezer bag and chill for a couple of hours. The glue loses its effectiveness and becomes brittle and a quick twist gets it off easily. Don't worry if your card gets a little wet (due to condensation/ice melt etc) just make sure it's dry before trying to use it.

 

[m2kewl]

Freezer method works wonders, did it to my friend's gf3 to add active cooling - no problems.

 

[Entropy007]

As a chemist I like the chemical method. Dynasolve worked great for cleaning cured epoxy from beakers when I did some epoxy titrations. It's probably overkill and will ruin the card in the process but given time that heatsink is as good as off.

 

[Insane3D]

No need for freezing... Just slip a business card or similar piece of cardboard between the HSF and the surface of the cards PCB. Slip the blade of a flathead screwdriver between the HSF and the card, on top of the card...the cardboard will protect the PCB from the screwdriver. Simply turn the blade of the screwdriver so it's vertical...the HSF will just pop off. Use carb and choke cleaner to clean off the epoxy and finish it off with some isopropyl alcohol before applying the new paste.epoxy, or thermal pad to the GPU. Simple. 🙂

 

[Sniper82]

The best way to take it off is to overclock the GPU(don't really have to overclock) and play about 5-10min of a high end 3D game or better yet 3Dmark2001. After that shutdown your PC pop your video card out and use like a old CC or phone card(do this as quick as possible before the heatsink cools down). Use something flat none metal as metal can scrape the PCB which could kill the card.

Also a lighter works well to just heat the heatsink up and pop off. But the top method IMO is the best. When the epoxie heats up it weakens alot.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

No need for freezing... Just slip a business card or similar piece of cardboard between the HSF and the surface of the cards PCB. Slip the blade of a flathead screwdriver between the HSF and the card, on top of the card...the cardboard will protect the PCB from the screwdriver. Simply turn the blade of the screwdriver so it's vertical...the HSF will just pop off. Use carb and choke cleaner to clean off the epoxy and finish it off with some isopropyl alcohol before applying the new paste.epoxy, or thermal pad to the GPU. Simple.

Do Not Try This At Home. I speak from experience. Some heatsinks are so tightly glued that you'll actually pull the GPU off the card altogether. I tried exactly that method on an old GF2MX I was planning to overclock to the death (mmm, expendable) and killed it. The freezer method is a lot safer.

 

[Sniper82]

The method I listed is the safest. When you freeze it your taking a small chance as something could frost and when frost thaws it turns to water and we all know what water can do(but chances of this happening is prob slim to none but who knows 😀 ). When the epoxy gets hot it weakens the same as putting it in the freezer but which ever way floats your boat.