Problem with removing heatsink

[Davidmfox]

Hi

After installing my new Phenom ii x4 965 on my motherboard and having the stock cooler for a month, I am looking into putting a silenter better cooler on it. The problem is that the heat-sink does not come off of the CPU. I know that its fully unlocked and can come off but it seams like the compound on the CPU has made them stick together. I have tried putting a blow dryer on hot next to it, booting the computer up for 30 seconds, and it still doesn't want to come off. My motherboard is an ASRock 960gm/u3s3. What other ways could I try to loosen the compound so that it can come off? I don't want to have it coming off with the CPU attached to it, that would suck.

Thank you!

P.S.- Wow this stock cooler is LOUD

 

[swilczak]

I've had this happen many times. Just use a flat head screw driver and gently pry the two pieces apart.

 

[Davidmfox]

what???? that seems very dangerous to the cpu, you are not trolling me right?

 

[swilczak]

No I have done this over ten times when doing upgrades and I have never damaged a cpu, just be careful.

 

[Davidmfox]

I will try this i will get back to you if that works

 

[lazyboy947]

does the brackets that attach the motherboard come off? as after that u should be able to slide around the cooler and eventually break the contact, and the metal contact point of the cpu the heatspreader is not the cpu and is making contact with the cpu die under it a screwdriver head if u damage will gouge or scratch the cover which can worsen temps if bad enough or else as said if u do it carefully shouldnt cause any problems

 

[Davidmfox]

This did not work, the heatsink size doesn't allow me to put a flathead between the die and the heatsink

 

[Davidmfox]

Could I used a hair dryer plus funnel to focus air into the compound?

 

[swilczak]

I don't think hot air is going to help. I have had a handful of CPU's come out attached to the heat sink and it did no damage to anything, but these were also intel socket 478 computers so I don't know for sure what will happen with yours.

 

[lazyboy947]

Ive had a old athlon dual core come off with the stock cooler once and i dont think anything was wrong, just dont think its a smart idea.

I also dont think adding heat will help some pastes have a break in period that with heat and stuff allow it to perform better and not turn into a liquid like when it was a applied.

Again id try to wiggle/twist/slide the cooler around to loosen up the paste or something.

If anything make sure ur board is tightened down and attempt to slowing added pressure and pull off, and i mean tightened so it doesnt bend or break something

 

[Davidmfox]

What other options are there besides forcing it off with a screwdriver

 

[Davidmfox]

I cannot believe that I was so gullible, I tried lifting it a little and nothing happened, then I put it all back together to forget about the whole thing and now my pc wont even boot. I had a gut feeling that it wouldn't work and I was right, now It doesn't even work!

 

[lazyboy947]

u plug every back in correctly?

 

[Davidmfox]

Believe me I have quadruple checked, it doesn't post 🙁

 

[Davidmfox]

No signal to monitor or anything

 

[Davidmfox]

Idk if my warranty even covers this 🙁

 

[swilczak]

You may have pulled it up enough to bend the pins. You probably have to some how get the CPU out and straighten the pins back the way they should be. It's not easy but can be done.

 

[lazyboy947]

well if ur sure it doesnt post and theres nothing to make it work, pull it out of there with the cooler see if there are any bent pins etc and attempt to boot again, either u leave it and it doesnt post or u pull out test and if it doesnt work well then u still have a prob not working cpu, not sure what would cause the issue unless u bent something or made something disconnect with the screwdriver but not being there lol i have no idea

 

[Davidmfox]

So now I have to force it out to check?

 

[swilczak]

The only other thing I can think of other than that is to take out your whole motherboard so you will have room to pry the two pieces apart.

 

[lazyboy947]

swilczak's idea sounds a little better before we get to the pulling out lol

 

[Davidmfox]

I already had It put

 

[Davidmfox]

Thank you guys for your help.

What happened was when i first tried plying it off with the screw driver i got scared that i might hurt it and i stopped, i put the mobo back together into the case but somehow the cpu wasnt securely seated in the mobo. Thats when i got scared that it wasnt posting. I took the mobo back out and i used a medium force to pull out the HSF. It came out with NO bent pins!!!! I was very lucky, i used floss dipped in 70% alcholol to "slice" the cpu off the HSF and i installed it in with new thermal paste and the new HSF. Thank you guys for your ideas!

I was really depressed because my new 650 ti boost 2g came in today around the time i got scared that the pc wasn't posting.
Thank you guys!