[SOLVED] CPU stuck to cooler

[sonofwinter]

Pins on cpu are fine,cpu seems to have thermal paste around the edges like if paste bled out a little.Its stock Ryzen cooler and stock pre applied paste.CPU ran perfectly fine prior to removing it so im assuming the bleed on edges is nothing to worry about.

Question is: i want to just plop this cpu in a new mobo and im thinking of just leaving the cooler stuck to it and doing 1 clean swap over. Yay or nay?

 

[Gam3r01]

If the contact to the processor is still good you could in theory just slot it back into the new board.
However, you would have trouble getting the retention lever to close while its still attached, and you dont want to force the processor into a closed socket.

Some options here are some gentle twisting to try and remove it, or some dental floss between the IHS and heatsink.

 

[white.a.drew]

Pins on cpu are fine,cpu seems to have thermal paste around the edges like if paste bled out a little.Its stock Ryzen cooler and stock pre applied paste.CPU ran perfectly fine prior to removing it so im assuming the bleed on edges is nothing to worry about.

Question is: i want to just plop this cpu in a new mobo and im thinking of just leaving the cooler stuck to it and doing 1 clean swap over. Yay or nay?

You can try it but there is a lot of risk involved but at the same time. Trying to get the cpu unstuck involves risks to so this is one of thoughs it is a touchy sujects generally removing cpu you want to rethermal for safty but hey...

 

[Karadjgne]

You aren't going to be able to just flop the whole thing on a new mobo, no matter how hard you try or how careful you are. You MUST seperate the cpu from the cooler. Reason being, you'll have to seat the cpu correctly, so you'll need to raise the socket armature, seat the cpu and then lock it in place. Then you can drop the cooler back on top.

Since the cpu is already out of the socket and still stuck to the cooler, just flip the cooler upside down and use dental floss wrapped around both hands and thumbs on the cooler to 'cut' the paste under control. Do not use a knife, plastic or otherwise to try and pry the cpu off as it stands a good chance of springing off and landing pins down on the table or floor.

Clean the cpu / cooler as correct repaste directions instruct.

For Ryzen 3000, I prefer the credit card type approach over the pea sized blob. Intel and pre-3000 series used a monolithic chip dead center, so the blob has no issues spreading and covering the entire chip area. Ryzen 3000 uses multiple chiplets that are spread nearer the sides/corners so the potential not to get good corner spread exists, leaving possibly a partial area of chiplet uncovered.

 

[SamirD]

If the cpu and heatsink are stuck to each other, use a hairdryer to warm up the connection point. You should be able to carefully twist it off at that point or use the dental floss method with ease.