[SOLVED] How can I avoid pulling my cpu out of the socket when I replace my stock cooler?

[JustKun]

So I just bought a new cooler which is arriving in a few days and I see that some people rip the cpu out of the socket when they take off the stock cooler. What are some precautions I can take to make sure that this doesn't happen to me?

 

[Wolfshadw]

When you're ready to replace the cooler, power up the PC for a few minutes to allow the processor to heat up the thermal paste and loosen the cooler.

-Wolf sends

 

[JustKun]

When you're ready to replace the cooler, power up the PC for a few minutes to allow the processor to heat up the thermal paste and loosen the cooler.

-Wolf sends

Thank you! Should I run a stress test like OCCT for 5 minutes to make sure? Or just boot up the pc and let it sit there?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Thank you! Should I run a stress test like OCCT for 5 minutes to make sure? Or just boot up the pc and let it sit there?

Running a stress test might speed things up a bit. I don't know how warm the CPU needs to get to loosen the thermal paste, but it's not going to hurt anything.

-Wolf sends

 

[JustKun]

Running a stress test might speed things up a bit. I don't know how warm the CPU needs to get to loosen the thermal paste, but it's not going to hurt anything.

-Wolf sends

Thanks! I appreciate it

 

[alexbirdie]

After warming up, do not simply pull up the cooler, but shift it to and fro into every direction ( with care). a razor blade or similar very thin tool might help to move apart the cooler.

 

[Karadjgne]

Dental floss. Works wonders after heating up the paste. Some pastes are just plain stubborn, so pulling dental floss like a saw across the paste will break the seal, and runs 0 risk of damage from metallic objects scratching the IHS.

 

[JustKun]

Dental floss. Works wonders after heating up the paste. Some pastes are just plain stubborn, so pulling dental floss like a saw across the paste will break the seal, and runs 0 risk of damage from metallic objects scratching the IHS.

Oh thank you! Can I use a sewing thread instead? Bc I have a ton of those.

 

[Karadjgne]

Yep. Just hook under the lip of the base and pull the ends back in a slight sawing motion. Like cutting cheese. The cooler will just peel right off.

 

[JustKun]

Yep. Just hook under the lip of the base and pull the ends back in a slight sawing motion. Like cutting cheese. The cooler will just peel right off.

Got it, thank you so much

 

[alexbirdie]

Dental floss. Works wonders after heating up the paste. Some pastes are just plain stubborn, so pulling dental floss like a saw across the paste will break the seal, and runs 0 risk of damage from metallic objects scratching the IHS.

Cool idea. I did not know that.

I will remember, when I need to remove cooler for myself.

many thx for the very good hint. Sounds like perfect solution.

 

[Karadjgne]

Yeah, I thought it neat idea too. The 'pin clamp' design amd favors isn't as good as the IHS locking clamp of Intel, so Ryzens are getting snatched.

Honestly though it's a rough thing all around. Realistically, if using a decent paste in the first place, you'd be good for @ 8 years± before needing repaste, so that only leaves cooler swaps as reasons to repaste. (generally, always an exception somewhere).

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Haven't used the dental floss idea. But usually heat the system for about 5 minutes. Shut down. Unplug fan cable. Twist the cooler back and forth corner to corner, but don't lift up. You should feel the cooler at some point break loose, then you can pull it up. Just be sure to clean any remaining paste off your chip. Some people use isopropyl alcohol. I just use a soft cloth normally.

 

[Karadjgne]

The cloth is requested to be 'damp' only with the isopropyl, not dripping. It's a solvent, and it's job is to remove oils that are present in pastes. The IHS could look perfectly clean, but any micro-fine scratches, pits etc will still be filled with the oils, so when new paste is applied, it doesn't fill the pitting and doesn't pass the thermals as well as it could.