Getting stuck on a heatsink is frustrating.
Getting stuck on a heatsink is frustrating.
I upgraded my motherboard recently and while taking out the CPU, the heatsink got hot. My PC warmed up too, but the issue persisted. I attempted to use a hair dryer to raise the temperature of both components, yet the CPU remained stuck. What options do I have? (I don’t have any tools to carefully remove the CPU from the heatsink.)
Hold it with your fingertips, making sure not to touch any pins. Twist or shake it gently. Maintain a strong grip and/or stay near a flat surface in case it becomes loose quickly off the cold plate. Avoid letting it drop. For better handling in the future, tighten the retention screws or arms and twist the cooler clockwise and counterclockwise until it loosens, then lift it up.
Warm it up or apply a thin plastic wire (like cheap fishing line). It will break off with force, so place it on your bed, sofa, etc., in a safe spot where it can fall without harm. Don’t remember what to do with the wire—simply move it back and forth like flossing between the heatsink and CPU. This process gradually wears down the thermal paste until it comes loose.
After an hour, I managed to complete it. Moving it to the new motherboard I received is done. Thank you!