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The Proper Way To Change A Heatsink ?

W

WeiWei

Member
After seeing the poll about which is more stressful, changing heatsinks or flashing Bios, I have a question here.

What would be the most proper way to change a processor's heatsink ? Be it an Intel or AMD.

I have a P4 and I often find my way of changing heatsinks a little dangerous. I unlock the heatsink and the processor would often come off together, is this meant to be ?

I then remove the heatsink with processor after prying the clasps on the heatsink and wait for the processor to cool down and then sorta twist the processor to "dislodge" it from the heatsink.

Is this the right way ?
 
UMMM.... The processor isn't supposed to come off with the heatsink... and if it does, you've got a serious problem. With P4's (assuming you're using that little black case thingamajig that I love so much), you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever other than applying thermal grease. With Athlons, it's a bit more nerveracking as it requires quite a bit of pressure. Just make sure you're screw driver fits and doesn't slip (I killed my old mobo ... screw driver through motherboard = sadness). Just be careful, and as for the amount of pressure you put on it, just put as much as you need to clip it.
 
I'm sure it mentions it in the guide provided, but make sure to run the CPU for a bit before trying to replace it if you're using the thermal tape that comes with the stock HSF. That loosens it up for easier removal. I recommend a thorough cleaning using 99% isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol or isopropanol, ask the pharmacist at your local drug store and be sure to tell him you're cleaning electronics parts and not setting up a meth lab) using a lint free cloth (I use coffee filters). Cleaning is critical, and I use IPA while the CPU is mounted applying only moderate pressure (avoid torque on the processor, downward force is OK so long as it's not excessive). Allow it to completely dry before remounting HSF. That's how I do it with pentium systems, but my experience with AMDs is limited.
 
In the case of a Socket A AMD heatsink, run this video clip backwards: link Not very difficult. 😎 It's a good idea to lay a credit card below the clip to intercept the screwdriver if it did slip, though.
 
Oh, the processor is not supposed to come off with the heatsink ?

My processor is sorta like stuck to the heatsink....

Is something wrong ?


 
Oh, the processor is not supposed to come off with the heatsink ?
Click to expand...

If you are using a socket 478 P4 cpu, the cpu is held in the socket by a locking arm. When the HSF is removed, the cpu should remain in the socket, since you can't really release the locking arm when the HSF is in place.
 
Yeah, I changed the thermal paste on our work P4 system the other day because of this. Every time we remove the heatsink, including "jiggling" it and twisting slightly to get the thing to LET GO of our P4 🙂, it still pulls it straight out the socket. Hell, it's not damaging it in our case, so I've given up with trying to get it out in two pieces, I'm just wrenching it out 😀

(If it breaks, pah, work will pay for a new one, lol)
 
Originally posted by: DopeFiend
Yeah, I changed the thermal paste on our work P4 system the other day because of this. Every time we remove the heatsink, including "jiggling" it and twisting slightly to get the thing to LET GO of our P4 🙂, it still pulls it straight out the socket. Hell, it's not damaging it in our case, so I've given up with trying to get it out in two pieces, I'm just wrenching it out 😀

(If it breaks, pah, work will pay for a new one, lol)
Click to expand...

excatly what i'm talking about, the processor is stuck to the heatsink by the thermal paste....
 
Just pull it out of the socket and twist a screwdriver gently between the CPU and heatsink. Or, if you're afraid about busting it, then try and slide it off the heatsink, but you'll have to clean & reapply thermal goop.
 
everytime i pull out a P4, if the paste isnt fresh it will stick to the bottom of the HSF and just rip it right out of the socket, never had one break though.
 
Perhaps try some better thermal paste, like arctic silver maybe. I don't think thermal paste is supposed to become adhesive when it dries.
 
Yeah I dunno about you guys, but this seems really weird... I've never pulled a cpu out of it's socket with a heatsink in ANY system, lol....
 
At work, I've had the cpu stick to the bottom of the heatsink when I was removing it. After that happened, I make sure I twist, rock and loosen the heatsink before I attempt to pull it off the motherboard. It hasn't happened again since.

Btw, it was a P4 system I was referring to above. I've never had it happen on an Athlon XP.
 
Not in our case- the thermal paste simply dried too much. Took me a while with an alcohol-based wipe and a thumbnail to scrape it off. However, the same thing happened yesterday with two Athlon64 3400+ systems, the heatsink tried to pull the CPU out. I'm thinking that it's just the large surface area of the heatspreader that's making it "stick".
 
Ahh, sounds like silicon based goop then... It will dehydrate over time (I just changed processors and heatsinks and the silicon thermal paste had gotten quite dry - after only six months).
 
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