Weird one for you all: my CPU IHS is stuck to my AIO.
Weird one for you all: my CPU IHS is stuck to my AIO.
I've worked with a Corsair H150i for quite some time, using the 3950X with Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal. Recently, while cleaning, I encountered an issue where the AIO became stuck to the CPU. After pulling it out, the entire 3950X was taken along. The socket looks fine, and the CPU seems intact, but separating the CPU housing from the AIO proved impossible. I've tried warming the area with a hair dryer, using acetone between the IHS and copper plate, but nothing has resolved the problem. What should I do next?
Increase the twist or expose the blades to see if that helps. Solvents probably won’t work; instead focus on applying heat and pressure to break the bond. Liquid Metal often penetrates the copper in the cold plate, forming an amalgam, which likely explains why parts are stuck. The precise cause might differ, but it’s been a while since I revisited chemistry and gallium. This is one reason liquid metal isn’t usually practical—generally, you’d prefer components with nickel plating.
This mixture of metals means you won’t need solvents. When using heat, you’ll need significantly more than expected. You’re working with a heat sink—even in an AIO setup—that mainly removes excess heat from the component you’re trying to warm. If it were purely metal, I’d apply a hot plate to maintain temperature and then use hot air to further raise the IHS temperature. At the moment, all options seem limited to manual adjustments and hoping for the best.
You can adjust it to protect the CPU pins. Using either technique, ideally I’d have a sturdy, wide layer of paper towels nearby. You might slide it sideways toward the block’s edge and gently dislodge it. *Beware!* The process becomes smoother about one-quarter to one-third from the AIO’s edge—proceed slowly. Avoid pressing on the pins directly; focus on the chip’s PCB instead. As you move, resistance decreases. Once it’s easier, place it carefully onto the paper towel stack or use a thin flathead screwdriver under the lid’s edge, twisting gently like tightening a screw, which should help it lift and land precisely on top of the stack.