Replacing the stock heatsink on my AII x3...

[-Slacker-]

(I apologize if this is a trivial question and does not deserve a separate thread - I'll delete it as soon as I get a few answers)

So, I've never done this kind of thing before, and I'm not quite sure weather it's safe or not. I want to slap in an aftermarket cooler on my cpu to be able to overclock it ...

A few quick questions:

1. What's the safest way to remove the old heatsink from my cpu?

2. Do I need to scrub off the old thermal paste on the cpu?

3. What's a cheap aftermarket heatsink that could get my cpu at around 3.5-3.6 Ghz? I have an ASrock M3A770DE motherboard, and my ram is clocked at 1333 MHz (1 stick, planning to get another soon), if that's important.

Edit: the exact model of the cpu is an athlon II x3 345 at 2.9 Ghz stock.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Safest way to remove the old stock heatsink, is to run the system with Prime95 or OCCT for like 15 minutes to heat it up, then immediately power down and remove the heatsink. The reason for that is, you want to heat up and melt the thermal pad, because if you leave it cold, it acts as an adhesive, and when you remove the old heatsink, the CPU might just get pulled out with it. (Ask me how I know. )

Yes, you will need to remove the remains of the thermal pad off of the CPU, before you apply new thermal paste.

 

[-Slacker-]

Safest way to remove the old stock heatsink, is to run the system with Prime95 or OCCT for like 15 minutes to heat it up, then immediately power down and remove the heatsink. The reason for that is, you want to heat up and melt the thermal pad, because if you leave it cold, it acts as an adhesive, and when you remove the old heatsink, the CPU might just get pulled out with it. (Ask me how I know. )

Ah, nice. I was afraid I was going to have to take both parts out and like ... pour boiling water on them ...

Yes, you will need to remove the remains of the thermal pad off of the CPU, before you apply new thermal paste.

I see. Will common house hold stuff like a piece of cloth or one of those ... ear cleaning ... stick ... thingies, soaked in sanitary alcohol get the job done?

 

[ElFenix]

Ah, nice. I was afraid I was going to have to take both parts out and like ... pour boiling water on them ...

I see. Will common house hold stuff like a piece of cloth or one of those ... ear cleaning ... stick ... thingies, soaked in sanitary alcohol get the job done?

use the highest % alcohol you can find, 90+. acetone also works pretty well. i use q-tips.

and yes, you can yank the processor out of the socket when pulling off the heatsink. i wouldn't advise trying it.


the best cheap cooler right now is the cooler master hyper 212 plus. all their other heatsinks are rubbish but that one is pretty good.

 

[Zap]

It really depends on if the stock heatsink came with a thermal pad or thermal paste. It probably uses thermal paste, which can just be wiped off with a tissue, or if you obsess over stuff like that, wipe off and then clean with rubbing alcohol.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Do not lift the old HSF directly off the CPU. Give it a slight twist sideways first; once you feel that the old thermal paste is dislodged then you remove the HSF completely.

 

[-Slacker-]

the best cheap cooler right now is the cooler master hyper 212 plus. all their other heatsinks are rubbish but that one is pretty good.

That's a bit rich for my blood right now ... How would a Cooler Master Hyper TX3 compare to it?

It really depends on if the stock heatsink came with a thermal pad or thermal paste. It probably uses thermal paste, which can just be wiped off with a tissue, or if you obsess over stuff like that, wipe off and then clean with rubbing alcohol.

I think it was a thermal pad (it was already stuck neatly on the bottom of the stock heat sink when I got it)

 

[Zap]

I think it was a thermal pad (it was already stuck neatly on the bottom of the stock heat sink when I got it)

Being pre-applied does not automatically make it a thermal pad. Here's some pics I just took of a retail box HSF from an AMD Athlon II X2 250:

Bottom image is after I touched the pre-applied thermal interface material. Even as cold as it is, it plainly is a paste and is not a pad even if it looks thick and "pad-like."

BTW AMD really went cheap on this heatsink. It is really thin like what Intel likes to use. I guess these CPUs don't put out much heat.

 

[-Slacker-]

^Yeah, that's the one. Well then, I guess it will be easier to clean it off.

 

[LoneNinja]

That's a bit rich for my blood right now ... How would a Cooler Master Hyper TX3 compare to it?



I think it was a thermal pad (it was already stuck neatly on the bottom of the stock heat sink when I got it)

Should only be a $10 difference between the Hyper TX3 and Hyper 212+, and from personal experience I would highly recommend you get the Hyper 212+ if you can afford it. However with that said, I've got an Athlon II X4 630 @ 3.5Ghz and a Phenom X4 9850 @ 3.0Ghz, the TX3 keeps both under 60C. Temps are some where in the 50's, don't remember exact numbers nor to I have the time to stress test right now and tell you.

I also tried the TX3 on my Phenom II X4 940 @ 3.6Ghz, it failed horribly around 70C, while the 212+ on the same overclock is in the low 50's.

 

[-Slacker-]

I also tried the TX3 on my Phenom II X4 940 @ 3.6Ghz, it failed horribly around 70C, while the 212+ on the same overclock is in the low 50's.

Damn .. "70C" and "failed horribly" ...that's not at all the result I'm looking for


Anyway, I moved my inquiry to the "cases and cooling" section, since I'm only interested in the HSF part of the OP. Mods, you can lock now.

 

[Zap]

Mods, you can lock now.

We don't lock threads just because the OP is done with it.

 

[-Slacker-]

Ok, carry on then.

 

[exar333]

Ok, carry on then.

If you really want the thread locked, just say something that would get it locked by the mods!

(I Joke)

Glad you got it figured out OP - good luck.