Heatsink removal

[Edgedamage]

I have a all in one motherboard that came with a stock HS/fan. The cpu is soldered on the board. What is the trick for removing heatsink epoxy?

[blue]

There is no trick as far as i know...
Generally mobo's that come like that have specific CPUs on them that have been "safely overclocked" to is stated speed. Or that

[vputz]

Hmm... heatsink EPOXY?

I believe the corrective action is "buy a new motherboard".  If it's really the epoxy-based stuff (between the HSF and the CPU) I don't think you're going to be able to get that off without damaging the CPU core, and if the CPU is soldered in place...

...well, time to check out NewEgg's "refurbished" section.  That epoxy, if it's the stuff I'm thinking of, sets up pretty hard and doesn't lend itself to any sort of solvent that I know of.

-->VPutz

[Sylentwulf]

Yeah, if it's epoxy or soldered, you're out of luck. I've had some pretty tough thermal compound before. Try at least running it to let it heat up, then shut it off, and give it a twist n pull.

Most intel stock thermal compound (used to be anyways) practically plastic, once it cools down, it's SOLID, even when fairly warm/hot, you couldn't pull it off, you'd have to twist the heatsink.

[krick]

If you're willing to risk possibly damaging the board while removing the heatsink, you can try this old school trick from the days when video cards had the heatsinks glued on...

Take your board, seal it in a plastic bag (a large zip-lock freezer bag, for instance) and put it in the freezer for about 8 hours.

Then take it out, grab the heatsink around the bottom with a pair of channel-lock pliers and twist hard.

The heatsink should pop right off.

If it doesn't come off, put it back in the freezer for a longer amount of time and try again.

Once you get the heatsink off, you can remove the remaining epoxy with some kind of solvent and a small flat screwdriver.  I can't remember for sure but I think they used to use automotive brake cleaner.  


On the other hand, here's a alternate method using a heat gun...

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Articles/GPU-HSF_Removal/

[Edgedamage]

Hmmm looks like I will just have to live with the sound the H/S fan makes it sounds like a hair dryer.

[krick]

Hmmm looks like I will just have to live with the sound the H/S fan makes it sounds like a hair dryer.

What brand/model is the board?

Do you have any pictures?

What size is the fan?   Maybe you can just remove the fan, not the heatsink, and attach a larger quieter fan with a volume reducer.

[Edgedamage]

Here it is. I had the same thought about changing the fan.

[DrewKaree]

Your fan is removable.  Remove it.  It should only be two or four screws depending on how badly they wanted it to stay on.   SAVE THOSE SCREWS!  Make sure you look around for a quieter fan, some list decibels as well as cfm.  Look for a quieter one than you already have.

[Edgedamage]

Looks like I will get one of these.

[shmokes]

The freezer thing sounds awful, but it really works.  You'd be surprised what these things can take.  Maximum PC once froze a video card in a solid block of ice and when they thawed it and let it dry it still worked perfectly.

[krick]

Looks like I will get one of these.

DING!  we have a winner!