Removing old CPU cooler

exiledscouser · 13 Oct 2016 at 11:38

Quick bit of advice if anyone would be so kind as I've never changed out a CPU cooler.

I'm re-purposing my old gaming PC as a media streamer/lounge gamer and to do this I need to transplant it to a smaller case. It currently has a big Noctua aircooler on the CPU but it's fairly noisy so as part of the transplant I plan to switch the CPU cooler to a AIO water cooler - this is going to be hidden behind my TV so I need it to be very quiet.

What's the best way of removing the CPU cooler as it's been in place for over 6 years - I'm a bit concerned it will have stuck with the thermal paste? I don't think I can get the mobo out without removing the cooler first (from hazy memory when building it) as I think the heat sink makes accessing a couple of the mobo mounting screws almost impossible with it in place.

It is best to just run it hard for a bit before hand (thinking a CPU test run, which is a good test program to use?) then trying to whip it off when it's nice and warm?

abui1806 · 13 Oct 2016 at 11:45

yes it is better to stress test the cpu a little bit so the heat can soften the thermal paste.
Download CPU-Z, and use the stress test function of CPU-Z, that should be enough.

Disco_P · 13 Oct 2016 at 14:17

If you have the accessories for the noctua cooler, use the low noise adapters for the fans. AIOs are rarely quieter than air coolers cause the pumps vibrate on top of the fans making noise. If you don't have the low noise adapters then noctua will probably send you some for free.

For your original question, have you tried removing the cooler at all. It's likely that the paste has dried up and the cooler will come straight off.

doyll · 14 Oct 2016 at 12:03

If you need it to be very quiet, don't get an AIO or even worse, a CLC. All CLC are part of AIO family, but many of us consider all the disposable sealed units as just CLC, .. while AIO are the better built loops that can be expanded and repaired.

If this is a HTPC an you want quiet, stay with air cooling.

Removing coolers is usually not a problem. Sometimes running system before removing cooler to warm things up helps. Gentle twisting action often helps too.

cully4299 · 24 Oct 2016 at 15:46

try a little heat to maybe loosen the paste first. had a oem dell that was so old the cooler pulled the chip out of the socket even with the latch down. still worked after tho.