Ryzen 3700x remains attached to AMD stock cooler
Ryzen 3700x remains attached to AMD stock cooler
My 3700x is firmly attached to my AMD stock cooler, so I had to pull it off the motherboard, which caused some damage—three pins got bent, but after straightening them, it still doesn’t come away easily from the cooler.
For better results, it's common to run a demanding program that raises the CPU temperature before taking the cooler out. This helps prevent damaging the chip by ensuring the thermal paste is more pliable. As @Shimejii mentioned, using high-purity alcohol (over 90%) can help loosen the paste slightly. Then gently twist, shake, or use a plastic tool to separate it without harming the component.
You can also introduce some warmth to mellow the paste. And rotate in a clockwise-counterclockwise motion to reverse it.
The same thing occurred to me. Use a heat gun or hot dryer; the paste will become pliable in 30 to 60 seconds. Exercise caution—metal becomes very hot. Avoid getting burned, just like I experienced.
Simple... Just force the CPU and turn it... The AM4 socket is essentially the same as every older socket back to Socket 7. Always apply a twisting motion from left to right when handling the CPU—it’ll break the connection. Just grab it and twist, it should come off easily. Warming the CPU won’t help; once you shut down the system, temperatures will drop quickly and won’t matter much.