Can't get heatsink off my CPU

  • Thread starter Thread starter Schism
  • Start date Start date
S

Schism

I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+ processor with the stock heatsink, I need to
RMA the motherboard but can't get the heatsink off. I can't boot into
windows but I can boot from a floppy, can anyone recommend me something
I can put on a floppy so heat up the CPU enough where I could get it
off? I tried a blow dryer until the heatsink was too hot to touch and
it wouldn't budge.
 
I tried a blow dryer while it was running and heated it up to around
60C, but didn't want to go any higher for fear of damage, I'm not sure
what else to try, short of just yanking and hoping it doesn't damage it
 
Schism said:
I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+ processor with the stock heatsink, I need to
RMA the motherboard but can't get the heatsink off. I can't boot into
windows but I can boot from a floppy, can anyone recommend me
something I can put on a floppy so heat up the CPU enough where I
could get it off? I tried a blow dryer until the heatsink was too hot
to touch and it wouldn't budge.
Click to expand...

Just run the thing for a few mins, then twist it off by sliding it to one
edge.
Unless someone has put it on with superglue or a heat curing thermal
adhesive it should slide off no probs.
Gentle "and I mean gentle" persuasion under one edge of the cpu's pcb should
lift it off if it doesn't slide.
 
Schism said:
I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+ processor with the stock heatsink, I need to
RMA the motherboard but can't get the heatsink off. I can't boot into
windows but I can boot from a floppy, can anyone recommend me something
I can put on a floppy so heat up the CPU enough where I could get it
off? I tried a blow dryer until the heatsink was too hot to touch and
it wouldn't budge.
Click to expand...

If both are covered on the same warranty, I could sent the lot back. Let
them deal with it, and if something happens and the processor is harmed, it
is their responsibility not yours. (Unless you need the CPU, for another rig
while yours is out).
 
I'd say to run your hardware for quite a while to heat-up the CPU. The
Thermal Interface Compound or probably the Thermal Pad (Thermal Pads
have more of a tendency to adhere) will get a little softer when it is
hot. Shut down & unplug everything. Gently keep twisting clockwise &
counterclockwise. NEVER PULL STRAIGHT UP. If unsuccessful, repeat the
same procedure. After getting frustrated enough, put some money aside &
yank it out.
 
Schism said:
I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+ processor with the stock heatsink, I need to
RMA the motherboard but can't get the heatsink off. I can't boot into
windows but I can boot from a floppy, can anyone recommend me something
I can put on a floppy so heat up the CPU enough where I could get it
off? I tried a blow dryer until the heatsink was too hot to touch and
it wouldn't budge.
Click to expand...

Why not boot to the floppy, switch to c:\ and run chkdsk /R a few times? You
could also create some new directories and copy large files back & forth.

Hark
 
Schism said:
I have an AMD 64 X2 3800+ processor with the stock heatsink, I need to
RMA the motherboard but can't get the heatsink off. I can't boot into
windows but I can boot from a floppy,
Click to expand...

Why do you need to RMA the motherboard? If you can book from a floppy
it appears to be working.... unless the IDE/S-ATA is dead?
 
Why do you need to RMA the motherboard? If you can book from a floppy
it appears to be working.... unless the IDE/S-ATA is dead?
Click to expand...

Originally it was because the ram would not work in dual channel, I've
been over this problem a dozen times and I'm sure it was the
motherboard... but then I was restarting and I got a BAD_POOL_CALLER
blue screen of death on everything I tried to do (restore, checkdisk,
OS boot) I replaced the ram and it still did the same, so I had already
started the RMA process but hadn't yet backed everything up, but I
finally got the CPU off and I've sent the motherboard in now.
 
Maybe some gentle twisting.

I tried that, but due to the plastic mount around the socket you can't
twist it. I finally got it off but the CPU remained stuck on the bottom
of the heatsink. I bent 3 pins but they were not bad and I bent them
back, so I don't think (and am really hoping) it'll work ok. I'm
definitely going to replace the pads with artic silver or something
similiar from now on.
 
I tried that, but due to the plastic mount around the socket you can't
twist it. I finally got it off but the CPU remained stuck on the bottom
of the heatsink. I bent 3 pins but they were not bad and I bent them
back, so I don't think (and am really hoping) it'll work ok. I'm
definitely going to replace the pads with artic silver or something
similiar from now on.
Click to expand...

About 2 years ago I swapped out a bad board for a friends A64 Clawhammer
system and the HS was stuck on real good, finally I just pulled the HS
straight up and the CPU came right out of the socket with it and was
still stuck to the bottom of the HS, didn't bend any pins and the CPU is
still running just fine.

Good luck,
Ed
 
Stock thermal pad that comes on AMD 64 heatsinks

Aha! It must be one of those pads that turns solid. I remember trying to get
the remains of one off the cpu the first time I removed a heatsink.

A great reason to use something like Arctic Alumina instead.


--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org

Fight Spam:
http://bluesecurity.com
 
Ed Light said:
Aha! It must be one of those pads that turns solid. I remember trying to
get the remains of one off the cpu the first time I removed a heatsink.

A great reason to use something like Arctic Alumina instead.
Click to expand...

Doh! I'm having the same problem with my FX-51. I think I'm going to
tackle it this weekend. I wish I had known when I put the system together.
At the time, I thought it was no big deal...
 
kevinbeall said:
Doh! I'm having the same problem with my FX-51. I think I'm going to
tackle it this weekend. I wish I had known when I put the system together.
At the time, I thought it was no big deal...
Click to expand...

It's not a big deal really.

Just open the case to prepare for easy access, heat up the CPU by
running a game or something else that is CPU intensive, then shut down
the computer and gently wiggle the heatsink left/right until it pops
off.

The problem is if it cools down - that's when the thermal compound can
get really sticky.

Now I know the retention bracket on the board doesn't allow a lot of
room to move the heatsink, but there is enough free play to wiggle it
back and forth for a few minutes until it loosens and lets the heatsink
come away from the CPU.
 
I'll post one last time on this subject. When you buy a CPU w/ heatsink
& fan included, the manufacturer will sometimes/usually have a thermal
pad already put onto the base of the heat sink. Thermal pads do an
alright conductivity for long term use. Most thermal interface
compounds will work good for shorter term usage. Although there are
some very good thermal interface compounds out there which will not
run, so are very good for long term useage. As I stated in an earlier
post, thermal pads have a tendency to adhere, that is why they are good
for long term usage. And, there are some thermal interface compounds
out there that also have a tendency to adhere. You see alot of talk
about Arcti Silver Thermal Interface Compound which has very good heat
transfer qualities because of the conductive metals in the compound.
Arcti Silver is a good choice if you know how not to over apply the
compound (meaning not too much applied). Apply too much Arcti Silver
and when it gets very hot, it could run (possible to run into the CPU
pins), resulting in shorting out the CPU (conductive metal compounds).
I recently started using the new stuff out, Arcti CERAMIQUE (no
conductive metals in the compound). Using CERAMIQUE, Uguru usually
shows an average of about 95 degrees faranheit around the core, and
shows an average of about 90 degrees faranheit during inactive periods.
The highest I ever saw the area get up to around my CPU was about 104
degrees faranheit. The compound is about 1 1/2 month old. Will be
interesting to find out how long it will hold-up. I remember a comment
in a review from somewhere (don't remember where) stating that you
could probably rub CERAMIQUE all over the mainboard without shorting
anything out. The instructions for applying CERAMIQUE show to apply it
to the heatsink (then wipe it all off, which makes sence), then only
apply it to the center area of the CPU plate (over where the core is
under the plate). I decided to rub a very thin layer over the entire
plate, then rub from the edges toward the center to leave only a very
thin layer closer to the edges of the plate, then put another very
small drop at the center and rub a little heavier circular layer over
the core. My way made a little more sense to myself rather than not
putting any near the edge of the plate as the instructions had shown.
The installation instructions can be Adobe Downloaded from Arcti Web
Site.
 
and gently wiggle the heatsink left/right until it pops off.

Tried that, the plastic mount around the socket prevents any twisting.
A friend of mine recommended fishing line to break the seal, too bad it
was a day too late for me, maybe it'll work for someone tlse.
 
I recently was changing cpus, and when I pryed the heatsink off, it ripped
the cpu right out of the socket. Fortunatly, no damage to the cpu or
motherboard.
 
Back
Top