Cpu is stuck into heatsink!

[theisrafil]

Guys the cpu is a fx 6100 with its stock cooler. I have used this like that for 6 months, and did not notice this because never opened case again. I think this happened because I used a tooth paste instead of thermal paste. Never had any problems with temps btw. Now, how do I get it off? I have a gold medal in arm wrestling, still can't get it off.

 

[dudmont]

don't pull, spin or twist, that cpu has(to a degree) bonded to the heatsink. Very carefully start trying to twist the chip, once you get it move, you're home free. Other option, using some wood to shim the sides, you could put the cpu(only the cpu), in a vise and then try twisting the heatsink, gently aft first.

 

[grimfox]

The toothpaste should break down in water. Use distilled water. Be very careful not to bend the pins. Clean in an alcohol bath once you get it off to remove any residue. Use a fresh bath and repeat. Don't use any other cleaning product other than distilled water or alcohol.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

use a hair dryer on a moderate heat setting to warm up the heat sink ...once it gets warmed up the paste should be a bit or pliable.

If that doesn't work, another option would be to put the heat sink in a blow of warm water with CPU at the top an filling bowl slowly with heated water till you get just above the heat sink where the paste will get wet at the edges, but not submerge the CPU.

BTW, when ya see those articles about using toothpaste as a TIM, they are intended to be "tongue-in-cheek"

 

[Ne0Wolf7]

The toothpaste should break down in water. Use distilled water. Be very careful not to bend the pins. Clean in an alcohol bath once you get it off to remove any residue. Use a fresh bath and repeat. Don't use any other cleaning product other than distilled water or alcohol.

That sounds riskey... I would try other methods be fore that. Gentle, very careful twists like the the other two said is a better route.
Buy thermal paste next time 😛

 

[grimfox]

The toothpaste should break down in water. Use distilled water. Be very careful not to bend the pins. Clean in an alcohol bath once you get it off to remove any residue. Use a fresh bath and repeat. Don't use any other cleaning product other than distilled water or alcohol.

That sounds riskey... I would try other methods be fore that. Gentle, very careful twists like the the other two said is a better route.
Buy thermal paste next time 😛

You'd be surprised how often electronics get thrown into a glorified dishwasher that uses water as a cleaning agent. That's actually what my company does, we build electronics and then remove assembly residue with a hot water shower. There is a reason they call water the universal solvent. The alcohol bath post cleaning should remove/displace any remaining moisture. The secondary bath should remove anything left over.

I suppose if I left out a detail it is that the CPU needs to be slowly dried post bath. Either bring it up to 50-75C for 4 hours or more(do not exceed 100C), or wrap in a lint free cloth and place in a bag of rice for a day or two.

 

[dudmont]

thermal paste does this too, to an extant. Although I've never heard it being this severe.
I too would stay away from water. Heating the combo up, is a good idea. Combining gentle vise with heat will get you freed up, I think.
I can't stress this point enough, be gentle, the IHS is attached to the CPUs die, if you go too hard, you could bust the die. Sometimes in life force is good, not here.

 

[dudmont]

The toothpaste should break down in water. Use distilled water. Be very careful not to bend the pins. Clean in an alcohol bath once you get it off to remove any residue. Use a fresh bath and repeat. Don't use any other cleaning product other than distilled water or alcohol.

That sounds riskey... I would try other methods be fore that. Gentle, very careful twists like the the other two said is a better route.
Buy thermal paste next time 😛

You'd be surprised how often electronics get thrown into a glorified dishwasher that uses water as a cleaning agent. That's actually what my company does, we build electronics and then remove assembly residue with a hot water shower. There is a reason they call water the universal solvent. The alcohol bath post cleaning should remove/displace any remaining moisture. The secondary bath should remove anything left over.

I suppose if I left out a detail it is that the CPU needs to be slowly dried post bath. Either bring it up to 50-75C for 4 hours or more(do not exceed 100C), or wrap in a lint free cloth and place in a bag of rice for a day or two.

The rice method works well. Good advice.

 

[USAFRet]

because I used a tooth paste instead of thermal paste.

 

[RealBeast]

because I used a tooth paste instead of thermal paste.

OTOH it's a great opportunity for an upgrade, just no toothpaste on the Ryzen -- okay! :lol:

 

[Immitem]

Smash it with a hammah!!!

Just kidding. One method is to heat it up with a hairdryer (a step I missed and regretted) then use some dental floss. Wrap it around the heat sink like a bow around a stick when trying to start a fire. Try to floss that floss between the heat-sink and cpu but be careful not to let the cpu fall/fly off the rails. Then clean it with 90%+ alcohol from the Walmart pharmacy. That is what I did when faced with the same problem but be extra careful not to let the CPU go flying off on you, I cannot stress that enough.

 

[SumTingW0ng]

Use hair dryer to heat it up and than try and get some 90%+ isopropyl alcohol onto the heatspreader.

 

[srbond]

I agree with the twist method. I suspect that the CPU chip assembly will survive some rotational torque better than it would if a prying force was applied in attempt to lift one edge of the CPU chip with a makeshift pry-bar. A small wooden twin screw woodworkers clamp comes to mind as a likely tool. Do not over-torque the clamp and remember that patience is a virtue. I would use distilled or de ionized water as a starter cleaning solvent and finish with alcohol. Toothpaste is probably more of a water soluble substance. The use of proper ESD tools is always a good idea as well. Good luck.

 

[grimfox]

Any luck OP?

 

[toobzman]

Is it April 1st already ? My leg feels like someone's been yanking on it ...

If not, try some fishing line, and work it between the cpu and the heatsink .

 

[Bobby_chaos]

Guys the cpu is a fx 6100 with its stock cooler. I have used this like that for 6 months, and did not notice this because never opened case again. I think this happened because I used a tooth paste instead of thermal paste. Never had any problems with temps btw. Now, how do I get it off? I have a gold medal in arm wrestling, still can't get it off.

 

[Bobby_chaos]

I had a similiar problem when cleaning pc. I removed heatsink.and processor came with. Took heat gun on low and hairdryer and some slow nudging it back and forth and finaly gave. That was rhermal paste though. Goo luck and patience.my friend.