The CPU cooler's mounting plate is firmly attached to the motherboard.
The CPU cooler's mounting plate is firmly attached to the motherboard.
I found myself in a bit of a predicament. I had previously fitted a 120mm Lepa AIO water cooler onto my CPU, but yesterday the pump failed. I planned to remove it and install a new one. After taking out the cooler, I attempted to unscrew the plastic components on the motherboard, but they didn’t budge. I tried pushing the pins backward to the front and even held them in place to try twisting off the plastic knobs, but nothing worked. It seems the plastic parts might be cross-threaded. My question is, should I use a Dremel to cut them off? I’m really unsure what to do next. Regarding the missing pin in the backplate, it just came out when I took the cooler off—maybe I was lucky.
The processor is an Intel 6700K, the case uses a Corsair spec 01, and I don’t know the motherboard brand.
The backplate was secured by a method that might have been too forceful. It seems the installation could have been affected by over-tightening somewhere. The motherboard is from MSI, and they offer the "DDR4 Boost" variant.
Make cuts in the screw heads on the back so a flat head screwdriver works easily
At this stage I was considering that approach, but what methods would prevent sparks while cutting slits into the screws? Unless those sparks are acceptable.
The backplate is secured to the board since the black components are pressing against the threads on those silver screws visible at the back of my PC. It’s held in place quite firmly, almost like a nut, though there seems to be an issue preventing me from simply grabbing the silver screw without causing it to spin. I matched the screws shown, and this is the one that came loose.
I don’t plan to reuse it, so I’m ready to dismantle the hardware.
I’m going to note some points and then offer ideas. The "pins" function like coach bolts; they aren’t attached to the back plate, suggesting the plastic spacers aren’t threaded. It’s likely the heat and pressure have changed their shape, making them fit better on the coach bolts than originally intended.
For the CPU block, use it as a guide to locate bolt positions on a wooden piece (roughly matching the backplate size). Drill holes in the wood so bolts sit flush over their heads. Support the motherboard with a drilled wooden block and secure it.
With a small hammer, gently drive the bolts into the wood block. The first tap should remove the fake threading on the spacers, causing everything to fall apart.
Alternatively, employ a drill chuck to grip the spacers, then leverage the pseudo-thread to unscrew and remove them. *Just a chuck, not the whole assembly.*
If you have side cutters, you can use them on the bolt heads to create a wedge for easier removal without cutting anything.