Removing a Heatsink from a CPU

I don't have a clue. Maybe ZALMAN does.

I tried the manual and their website, but they only mention the installation. Online sites were also pretty useless. Was hoping someone with some computer building know how could help.

Does it really matter if it's backwards?

Thank you for your response. If it was just a heatsink, it wouldn't be a problem, but there's a fan integrated that's facing the exhaust, but in the wrong direction.

You might look carefully for small slots adjacent to whatever clips are holding the fan to the board. Lots of electrical components have ways to insert small shivs to disengage various springlike fastenings.

Or maybe Greg Morris with some "Mission Impossible" special tool?

Those clips take a lot of force to remove, I'd estimate 40 lbs or so.

The heatsink/cpu/socket/mobo can withstand a lot more than you'd think, the thing to avoid is slipping while applying that much force and scratching the mobo most likely severing top level circuit traces.

If you are really worried about damaging the mobo you could reverse the direction of all the case mounted cooling fans. This way you still get airflow and the Zalman isn't fighting the fan next to it. Remove any inlet filters if you do this.

Can you give the correct name or model #

And how it is fitted on CPU

See if it helps

Regards

It was a ZALMAN CNPS9900ALED. I did notice a notch that I fidgeted with and the lock ultimately gave and unhooked itself (after much duress) as Tornado suggested, but the amount of force needed to finally get it off was a bit surprising for me. I've always thought of the parts as being the utmost in fragile.

Thanks for the link though, it has some useful information on there!

Taking Steve's words as words of warning, you are in the best position to understand what you did; and you may even have some manual words to describe what you did - or should have done.

Also listening to others you should be able to lever the clip off, unless in fitting it backwards ( upside down?) you had to put more force than the whole assembly was rated for??

I thought that most modern chips were zero force insertion - so the chip ought to be OK. The clip holding the heatsink down - you put it on and presumably with some instructions??, heat sink compound etc - so if you did not do that correctly, you ought to understand what you need to do to reverse the action unless the previous paragraph applies.

What is the worst that you can do?

1 The Mobo breaks, - how much to replace it?

2 The chip breaks - how much to replace it?

Now with those two facts in hand, ask your local repair shop how much to dissamble the motherboard, chip and heatsink and replace them correctly. Then it is your decision. If you continue the way that you are going you will learn a lesson and that is the way to go but it could be expensive!

I have never used an AMD chip so I cannot be of much help there - but I would suggest that you follow the above; how much to replace parts that could break and how much to get the local repair shop to do the job for you.

Maybe find a local expert to do the job for you? Or just hold your hand.

If you want better answers from experts please tell them what the Motherboard is, what is the AMD chip and what heat sink did you apply - and any other factors.

I wish you all the luck that you need.

Sleepy

In this case, you have basically two options. One is to tear down the machine, lift out the motherboard, and support it on the backside as you put pressure on the clip. This is almost always the best way if you're concerned about damaging the board, and is in fact the way I always install and remove large and heavy heat exchangers that are secured by clips. The main thing to avoid is using a bare screwdriver to put pressure on the clip, as if it slips you will almost certainly destroy the motherboard, which can be a very expensive boo-boo. I use a screwdriver with a vinyl cover over the blade to prevent it from slipping.

Your other option depends upon your case configuration. If the case has a very large top-venting exhaust fan, consider reversing the rear exhaust fan to act as an intake, drawing cool air directly to the CPU heat exchanger and leaving said heat exchanger in the reversed position. I have done this with some of the hottest running CPUs, with significantly reduced CPU temperatures as a result. Assuming you have a 120mm top fan and your power supply also has a large fan or fans, this can be your best solution, but pay careful attention to airflow within the case.

You might also consider modifying your case to place an intake over (beside) your graphics card, as those also tend to run very hot without adequate airflow.

The simple truth is that insuring maximum airflow within your case, and blowing out the dust every six months or so, will keep your expensive components running at peak efficiency and prevent them from dying before their time.

Oh, and since computers are about ten times as efficient as vacuum cleaners, it's also a good idea to place some kind of filters, such as open cell foam, over the intakes to hold down the dust.

This leaves me wonder what was used as a thermal interface material between the heat sink and the CPU?

Any commonly used thermal interface material will be easy to seperate, clean off, and reapply so you can remove and reinsert the heatsink. In fact removal and reapplication of the thermal interface is recommended after a few months on any CPU.

You mention the clip taking about 40 pounds of pressure to remove. This seems excessive to me and leaves me wondering if you in fact are looking at the clip you need to dislodge?

Can you submit a photo of the motherboard and a photo of the heatsink? Note if you can supply a photo showing the clip you are attempting to remove on the heat sink that would be highly useful. The photograph will allow us to point out the clips so we can be certain you are trying to remove the correct items.

Personally I have replaced numerous heatsinks and have never encountered one that was as difficult as what you have described to remove. This is what leads me to wonder if you may be looking at something other than the clip mentioned above.