my dumb question of the day

[Reaper 392]

either tomorrow, or, if the mailman runs really quickly, this evening, i will be replacing the standard AM3 CPU cooler with a zalman CNPS9900 max.

i just wanted to know if it was best for the CPU to be warm or cool when i try and remove the old cooler.

also, if you can see any problems with my plan of action, please let me know

- remove current CPU cooler with processor attached
- remove CPU from cooler
- clean of TiM from processor. either with many tissues, or with some isopropylene (not sure of right name here)
- fit new cooler with no TiM if possible
- check that it fits in my case (its gonna be really close)
- if it doesnt fit, pack it all up and send back to OcUK for refund
- if it does, apply a pea sized blob of TiM in the center of the CPU
- attach heatsink to mobo
- put mobo in
- test CPU temperatures

hopefully i havent missed anything there

 

[Predicament]

I would advise running furmark or a similar stress test before you remove the old heatsink from your CPU. The TIM will have softened slightly as your CPU began to heat up. Thus, it should require less force to remove the cooler.

The most common method to remove TIM is by using cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol.

 

[Reaper 392]

ah, isopropyl alcohol, thats the one i was after, thanks

also, will do my usual stress test of furmark + 3 threads of prime for a while before i remove it to heat it up.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I just turn off the pc from normal use and 'rub the old stuff off with some tissue! '

That sounds wrong on a number of levels lol