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Trying to think outside the box...to fix the box

R

Rashka

Junior Member
Hello, I have a Gateway 500SE paperweight that has an Intel D845PT motherboard. The problem I'm having is I need to remove the processor from the heatsink. Now, I know that there is a thermal pad located between the heatsink and processor, and I also know that the proper way to remove it is to turn the computer on and let it run for about ten to fifteen minutes before opening the system case. Funny thing about that is, its missing the switch located behind the front bezel and will not turn on.

My question is this:
Is there any safe way of heating the heatsink to the proper temperature in order to remove the processor, without frying or baking or broiling the chip in the process?
 
Oven? I'm fairly sure you can set your oven to 50-60C and leave it there for the 15 minutes. Or you could boil some water, leave it for 5-10 minutes to cool it a bit, then put the thing in a snaplock bag (if you're really confident the fins won't tear the plastic...) and leave it in for the time. Honestly, lots of different ways.

What about putting it under a light bulb?
 
I had thought about using a small counter top oven, but I wasn't sure if that would damage the processor or not.
 
Thank you, I think I'll give that a try...after I remove the fan assembly of course. If that doesn't work, I'll give the boiling water a shot.
 
Undo the heatsink clips and just twist it gently a bit. It'll come right off.

Or, you can grab the motherboard manual, find the power on pins of the front panel connector, short them with a screwdriver/paperclip/coin and heat up the CPU that way.
 
Raduque said:
Undo the heatsink clips
Click to expand...

Funny story about those. Would you believe that one of them snapped right in half from a light bump during RAM installation? I had to yank the processor with the heatsink attached to get the smaller piece out of its location. (It got wedged in the gap between the heatsink and socket.)
 
Wait, so you've got the heatsinkfan and CPU out of the machine already, but the CPU is stuck to the heatsink?

Just grab the CPU and twist it around, it'll come right off without damaging anything. I used to do that all the time when the heatsink grease makes the CPU stick to the hsf. The s939 X2 in my HTPC is real bad about this, does it every time.
 
You don't need to heat it up, flip the heatsink upside down so the CPU pins are facing up, gently pry it up around the edges with anything handy that works the best. I usually just use a small flat head screwdriver. It'll be fine..
 
So just prying on it won't snap the pcb of the chip? I've already given it a go with a slotted screwdriver, the backside of a knife, and a slave cover that I just have laying around.
 
Rashka said:
So just prying on it won't snap the pcb of the chip? I've already given it a go with a slotted screwdriver, the backside of a knife, and a slave cover that I just have laying around.
Click to expand...

The core itself isn't the outer housing you see. that's the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) and I've never pulled one off...you're 99.99% likely not to break it. If you're really worried, just point a hair dryer at the heatsink for a few until it warms up and then try.

edit: I misread you're post, sorry. The PCB is pretty strong, I've never snapped one of those either. Try the hair dryer, it will probably pull off a little easier.
 
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