Changing CPU cooler for AM2 warning!

[chris watton]

Due to the God-awful noise the standard retail boxed 4600 64X2 made when using the PC (and after spending £40 on 4x silent case fans!), I bought the Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 ultra quiet cooler (and very nice and quiet it is too!)
Installing the new cooler was a breeze, very easy and no hassle. However_____ I did have a fright when I tried to take out the standard cooler, as it had taken the CPU with it! It was still attached to the underside of the heatsink. I was very careful taking the heatsink and fan out too, but the CPU still came with it, locking arm still firmly in the closed position!
Luckily, all is wrking fine, and I now have an ultra quiet PC, but I shall never be leaving the thermal pad on a retail cooler again, seemed to spot-weld itself onto the CPU die! Gulp!

Chris

 

[squiffy]

Pretty sure grease is applied to the HSF, and not a pad. My 3700 stock HSF got stuck also, that had pre-applied grease.

 

[kleox64]

I gave up trying to remove the stock cooler using the the correct method, I basicaly unscrewed the retention bracket and off it came. This is using arctic alumina paste, there was no way I was gona take a flathead screw driver to a fresh mobo and CPU.

 

[Mul]

I generally run prime95 for about 30mins and then shut down the computer if I plan on removing a stock hsf. loosens things up.

Failing that, if it's stuck, take a hairdrier to it. Loosens up the grease and it comes off easy.

Mul

 

[xtreme.BIN]

I generally run prime95 for about 30mins and then shut down the computer if I plan on removing a stock hsf. loosens things up.

Failing that, if it's stuck, take a hairdrier to it. Loosens up the grease and it comes off easy.

Mul

Exactly! It's not rocket science! Of course it's gonna stick if you allow the thermal paste from the pad enough time to cool down and harden.

 

[MadMatty]

If the heatsink doesnt simply lift off, usualy only takes slight twisting movements of the heatsink to looses its grip on the cpu.

 

[kleox64]

I had problems getting the clip off the retention bracket, for the CPU just firm twisting but NO lifting of the heatsink will loosen it.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

i normally jus take the cpu fan wire out and turn the computer on until it reaches 50 to 60 degrees then turn it off and take the hsf off