Cpu heatsink removal

[Ubermouser]

This is killing me: I've taken off my heatsink once before, and it required so much force I was sure the Pentium 4 would never survive. I really want to avoid that this time, so what are your steps at removing your prised processor from its slot, and removing the heatsink from your processor?

I have an Intel C at 3.65 GHZ. on an ic7max3 board with a large swiftech northbridge cooler. I'm trying to reapply my arctic silver due to the fact that my computer wont startup without the cpu fan on anymore. I also lowered my overclock to 3.15 GHZ, and it didnt seem to make a difference with temperatures. Doesnt seem right to me.

 

[Ubermouser]

nobody here has ever removed a heatsink? tisk tisk

 

[stumpy]

The main thing i would suggest is running it stressed for a while, or at least make sure the CPU is warmed up before you try to remove it. That should take care of the bonding between the heatsink and the top of the processor.

 

[Ubermouser]

should I wiggle it off? Slide it off? Pull it off? what..?

 

[thewhiteguy]

I've pulled a P4 right out of the socket before, that was scary. I usually twist it back and forth and it loosens up.

 

[thetman456]

yeah, twisting is the key. it could be really ugly if you just yanked it off.