help getting rid of a zalman northbridge cooler pls

Frippo

Frippo

Frippo

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Joined
29 Apr 2003
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342
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its attached to the southbridge of my abit nf7-s v2 mobo, i had no intentions of ever removing it so I attached it with arctic silver thermal adhesive. I know this is close to impossible, if not impossible, to remove without damaging the mobo.

Recently the stock fan of my ati 9800 vid card was about to die so I ordered one of those big arctic cooling coolers without thinking that I had that HS on the southbridge, and now it doesnt fit.

I did try to heat it up with a blowdryer, also tried to put it in the freezer for 30 mins and then even an hour, I couldnt see any signs of it weakening. That makes me think I wont get it off?

I was thinking about removing all the spikes and letting the rest of the HS stay on, that would give me enough space to fit the 9800 again. If I was to do this, how would I do it? What tools? Bend and cut them off or saw them off? Anyone have any tips or suggestions other than buy a new vid card or buy a new fan?

here is a pic of the HS for those who doesnt know what it is

http://www.pccasegear.com.au/images/nb47j1b.gif

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Frippo said:
its attached to the southbridge of my abit nf7-s v2 mobo, i had no intentions of ever removing it so I attached it with arctic silver thermal adhesive. I know this is close to impossible, if not impossible, to remove without damaging the mobo.

Recently the stock fan of my ati 9800 vid card was about to die so I ordered one of those big arctic cooling coolers without thinking that I had that HS on the southbridge, and now it doesnt fit.

I did try to heat it up with a blowdryer, also tried to put it in the freezer for 30 mins and then even an hour, I couldnt see any signs of it weakening. That makes me think I wont get it off?

I was thinking about removing all the spikes and letting the rest of the HS stay on, that would give me enough space to fit the 9800 again. If I was to do this, how would I do it? What tools? Bend and cut them off or saw them off? Anyone have any tips or suggestions other than buy a new vid card or buy a new fan?

here is a pic of the HS for those who doesnt know what it is

http://www.pccasegear.com.au/images/nb47j1b.gif

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Use a pair of Pliers, With a cutting attachment thingy.
 
I dont see a problem filing it down...How much MM do you need to get the card in correctly?
 
I had a quick try with pliers earlier tonight, the spikes were too tight for me to be able to cut them off. I could bend them a bit and then cut them off, but then I dont get them at the root. I need to cut them down almost all the way, I can leave only a few MM. I dont think I have a dremel, have too much crap lying around, I'll have a look tomorrow.

Thanks for the quick replies guys!
 
errm, did you take the cooler out the packaging in a, destroyed the packaging kinda way, not sure if they are still sealed up in those melted plastic edges type way thats basically impossible to open without damaging.

see if you can send the cooler back and buy a zalman cooler, much smaller, more than good enough. it can cool a 1950xt fine and quietly.

if you can't send it back, errm, not sure exactly what to suggest really, i wouldn't be to happy about dremeling the spikes off as metal dust + lots of bits to short out on the board = not the best idea, however it could be your only answer. could always sell the cooler with the 9800 pro, or let a friend have it off you cheap if someone has something even older and buy a new £30-40 gfx card.
 
it was packaged in a way that made it impossible to open without destroying the package. Dont know anyone that would buy a 9800 agp card and dont feel like going through the hassle of putting it up online so I'll have to try and remove those spikes somehow and clean it up as well as possible afterwards. Would also have issue with ordering new card/cooler as the 9800 stock is pretty tight in space with that HS and dont know if any cooler would fit, and cards I would have to check up on their dimensions as I order online, I'd hate to buy something else that wouldnt fit.

If anyone have any other ideas pls let me know.

Thanks.
 
A pair of tin-snips or similar cutters will do it. You can just cut off those bits that you need to... Or you could use a mini-hacksaw.

Other than that I'd say you are scr*wed, as thermal adhesive will be too tight to the southbridge to apply any sort of cleaning compound to it.

M
 
It worked out with pliers, had to take one really big clumsy one to get enough power to table to cut the bottom of the roots, doesnt look pretty but now it fits. :)

Thanks everyone!
 
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