This is embarassing...

[yekuza]

A few months ago I built a new computer with an Athlon 64 processor. I ordered most of the parts online, but I purchased the power supply at a local store, and while I was there, I decided to pick up some Arctic Silver after hearing good things about it. I perused their selection of Arctic Silver offerings, and found what looked like the best deal: a package of two small tubes that was cheaper than another slightly larger tube.

Well, I installed the processor and followed the instructions to apply the Arctic Silver and attach the heatsink... but not until I had just clamped the heatsink down did I realize I had done something terribly stupid: I had used Arctic Silver Epoxy instead of simple thermal grease, and glued the heatsink to the processor, effectively sealing it to the motherboard.

After subjecting myself to a string of obscenities, I gradually got over it and resigned myself to the fact that this processor was now permanently attached to this motherboard. The machine runs fine and it has no problems besides a lack of CPU upgradability.

Fast forward to today, when I'm building a new machine. Completely new box, this one with an Athlon 64 X2 processor. I am in a bit of a dilemma because of what I'm using the two machines for -- I would prefer to put the X2 in the older machine, but I would really like to avoid switching the motherboards for other reasons.

Here's what I am wondering: does anybody have any bright ideas about how I might go about trying to get that processor off the motherboard? The basic issue is that the (stock) heatsink is virtually welded to the processor, and since the heatsink is larger than the socket, it obstructs the processor release lever. There's also the black plastic "heatsink recepticle" on the board that obstructs access below the heatsink. I've tried using light force pulling directly up on the heatsink but it doesn't move. Is it possible to pull a processor out without lifting the lever? I'm assuming not without serious damage. I may be stuck with a single core on this box... but would welcome any suggestions! (Also, I'm new here, so please redirect me if this type of question should be in another forum).

Thanks!

 

[VStrom]

EDIT Duh, nevermind. I need to brush up on my reading comprehension.

 

[Nirach]

Stress the CPU to hell. Get it really, really hot. It might, I emphasise might, assist removal.

I doubt there is much you can do, last I checked there was no solvent and it's pretty good at gluing things to things
I expect someone has done the same thing somewhere else on the net, and looked for a similar solution. Scouring google might assist you too.

 

[VStrom]

Redemption...check these 2 threads:
1
2

Doesn't look like any easy way to do it.

 

[yekuza]

Thanks for the links. Yeah, this is looking like it's probably a lost cause, since I want to avoid damaging the CPU and the motherboard.

They mentioned putting it in a freezer for a bit and then trying, which might be worth a shot...

 

[AkumaX]

if i had no choice, i'd probably stress it to hell for a while, using S&M and Prime95 on Priority 10, then quickly turn the system off and see if the heat can soften it up. otherwise, you're probably just stuck like this but at least you're sure that you've got excellent contact between CPU and HSF

 

[Markbnj]

Is it really glued to the motherboard, or is the heatsink just glued to the processor heat spreader?

If the latter, than you should still be able to remove the whole assembly from the motherboard, making it easier to work on.

 

[yekuza]

I should have made this clearer in my original post. The heatsink is just glued to the processor. But, because the heatsink is a few cm larger than the socket, it totally obstructs the processor release lever, making it impossible to lift up. With the release lever down, the processor is hooked into the motherboard pretty well.

In addition, there is a black plastic "receptacle" kind of thing screwed on to the motherboard that fits just around the bottom of the heatsink, making it very hard to get underneath the HS. I figured my best shot would be some way of getting that lever to go up, but short of cutting the heatsink, I don't see how that would be possible.

I don't really mind the fact that the heatsink is attached to the processor, but it makes it pretty hard to remove the CPU from the motherboard, as far as I can tell.

 

[Markfw]

Well, several people, myself included have removed the heatsink and had the processor come right with it ! So you might try that. Once off, you may be able to get a solvent in there !

 

[Chesebert]

you can always ebay the "combo" and get your money ..or any part of, back

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, several people, myself included have removed the heatsink and had the processor come right with it ! So you might try that. Once off, you may be able to get a solvent in there !

i think thats the problem mark, he is worried that he will damage the cpu if he just yanks the think out. I suggest getting it really hot. mabye even up the voltage. get it to about 55-60C, right before it shuts down, then turn it off and twist the HS back and forth and try and get it to break lose.

 

[yekuza]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, several people, myself included have removed the heatsink and had the processor come right with it ! So you might try that. Once off, you may be able to get a solvent in there !

Interesting, what type of processor was that? I'm wondering if that's possible with socket 939, to pull it out without releasing the lever.

I think I'll try the heating up route when I get home today. Turn off the fan, perhaps up the voltage as Hyperlite suggested, and see how many seconds stress will run for before it stops...

 

[Bobthelost]

Umm, it's a brute force option and no mistake, but you could just break off the release lever.

Seriously, snap it off at about the half way point (a file will help to cut through the plastic lever half way) then use tweezers to move the lever. This does mean that the socket's lever will be broken, but it'll get it free, and in theory at least you could get away with using the mobo afterwards. There's even a chance you could install it in another motherboard by using a similar mutilation.

This is of course really bad advice, shouldn't be done by anyone ever and is only here because i got really bored and have a penchant for brute force fixes.

 

[VStrom]

Originally posted by: Chesebert
you can always ebay the "combo" and get your money ..or any part of, back

LOL!

 

[yekuza]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
Seriously, snap it off at about the half way point (a file will help to cut through the plastic lever half way) then use tweezers to move the lever. This does mean that the socket's lever will be broken, but it'll get it free, and in theory at least you could get away with using the mobo afterwards. There's even a chance you could install it in another motherboard by using a similar mutilation.

Thank you, Bob! That is almost what I was visualising. But, now that I see it all written out, I realize that I don't have the guts to do it... At least not until I can afford the possibility of replacing a mobo and CPU that I destroy.

 

[irwincur]

uhh... How did you 'glue' the processor to the motherboard? If this is the case, you really applied the epoxy wrong. If it is glued to the HSF. just replace.

 

[biostud]

don't take it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how will you mount it in a new motherboard if it obstructs the CPU lever???????

 

[yekuza]

Originally posted by: biostud
how will you mount it in a new motherboard if it obstructs the CPU lever???????

Yeah, actually... that was something I hadn't fully considered until I was reading Bobthelost's post. Apparently I need to think these things through a leetle bit more... argh.

Well, I guess I may try swapping the mobos between the machines, as unappetizing as that sounds to me right now. Possible driver issues, revalidating Windows on both machines, probably replacing the northbridge HSF with a quieter solution on the old mobo, not to mention swapping out all the hardware. Meh. I could just wait until it's time to build a new system. Which is, whenever that's in the budget. Hopefully soon.

 

[Bobthelost]

If you swap the hard drives as well as the mobos between computers then you won't have any driver problems. The same goes for ghosting one drive to the other. As for the northbridge heatsink: meh.

 

[yekuza]

Well, I wasn't originally going to bore you with my reasoning behind putting the new processor in the "old" machine, but I may as well explain myself.

The new system is going to be dedicated for music production in a "studio" room in the house, and should be as quiet as possible. This frees up the old one for gaming and surfing and such. I'm realizing that I would really get more benefit from the dual core in the gaming machine since I'll be doing a lot of multitasking there. I got a new case for the studio machine and it runs impressively quietly, but the northbridge fan on my old mobo is rather annoyingly loud, so I would have to replace it (probably with a passive HS since the case is efficient at cooling). I want to keep my current HDD setup on my old machine and not bother with reformatting and such if possible.

At the moment I don't really have the inclination to deal with this larger-scale change or the desire for the downtime it would incur. I just wish I hadn't been such a dumbass six months ago.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: yekuza

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, several people, myself included have removed the heatsink and had the processor come right with it ! So you might try that. Once off, you may be able to get a solvent in there !

Interesting, what type of processor was that? I'm wondering if that's possible with socket 939, to pull it out without releasing the lever.

I think I'll try the heating up route when I get home today. Turn off the fan, perhaps up the voltage as Hyperlite suggested, and see how many seconds stress will run for before it stops...

First, let me say that its only a last resort, but I have TWICE on 939 pin CPU's tried to pull the HSF off, and the CPU came with, it wasn;t intentional. I was surprised at how easy it was.

Now in your case theres one more problem. Lets say you pull it right out as I did, straight, and don;t damage the CPU (best case scenario so far for this method), but then you can't find a solvent to remove the CPU ! Then you will never get it back IN again.

Its just an idea.... Not the greatest, but has possibilities.

 

[Markbnj]

If you can get the cpu/hsf combination out of the motherboard, then... and this is as bad an option as most of those presented, you might be able to saw through the epoxy with a jewelers or coping saw. The epoxy will cut easier than the heat spreader, and I think easier than the copper base of the hsf. Shouldn't be too hard to keep it going in a straight line. Once they are separated use fine emery paper to remove the remaining epoxy.

 

[rise]

i'd vote for what mark says followed by the freezer trick.

i also have yanked the entire cpu out stuck to the heat sink inadvertently. the locking mech stayed down and everything. so if you can get that done without bending the pins (both times the pins on mine were fine) then at least you have some room to work.

i'd start with popping it into the freezer and then prying it off as per the link with a slotted screw driver.

good luck.

 

[yekuza]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have a lot of options to consider -- now I have to think about how much I'm willing to risk to try them out.

I think I'll start with the heating option to see if that loosens the adhesive up at all. I also want to contact arctic silver to see if they have any recommendations for a solvent. Although I'm pretty sure their stock answer will be "you weren't supposed to use the epoxy on your CPU!" since that's what it says in large letters right at the top of the instructions.

As for the more invasive/brute force options... I was originally considering something like this but now that I really think about what's involved, I might be too.. ahem... fainthearted to attempt most of those right now. It's not that old of a system.

 

[JCKC]

Try a piece of high-strength fishing line. Cut a piece about 24" inches in length and holding each end in both hands, try to work it back and forth like a saw, working it in between the CPU and heat sink. I use this method all the time to remove reflectors, logos, etc. stuck to auto paint finishes using double-stiick tape. I just cut through the tape and then remove the remaining residue with a light solvent. Granted, the epoxy you have is not as soft as double-stick tape, but the heat caused by the sawing action of working the fishing line back and forth might be enough to melt and/or cut it.