Remove cooler
Remove cooler
Can't take the CPU cooler off. The two odd plastic screws are stuck, and the other two came out after rotating them halfway.
You need to rotate all four screws by 90 degrees and then lift them up in sequence to release the heatsink, as demonstrated in this video.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXouqTYVOw
If they are stuck, take out the motherboard from the case and flip it over to show the underside. You should understand how the sliding pins secure each corner and allow the heatsink to be freed.
Or, if you prefer damaging the cooler, use sharp side cutters to remove the problematic pins carefully, being mindful not to scratch the motherboard.
After use, the paste appears as if glue is bonding the cooler to the processor. Before attempting removal, warm up the PC to soften the paste. Simply booting may suffice, or you can run the cpu-Z benchmark. This isn’t the main reason for the inability to remove the pushpins. Rotate the pushpins 90 degrees to the left to unlock the mechanism. Most modern setups have an opening under the cooler on the motherboard. Remove the cover to inspect the pins. Use a thin object, such as a straightened paper clip, to gently push on the central pin that holds the white clips in place. Once the cooler is replaced, check the back of the motherboard to ensure all four push pins are fully inserted and secured.