Graphics H/S removal (epoxyed)

I have a graphics card with a old H/S stuck onto it and i need to remove it on order to fit a diffreent one - and im not sure what u should do to get it off with out writing off the card, i pulled off the ram sinks just by levering them with a screwdriver (while gritting my teeth, holding my breath and hoping) and i think the GPU H/S is stuck with the same stuff, but i really done want to rip the GPU up, cos i need this card one peice!!


thanks daniel

 

Just do some heavy gaming\benching to heat up the stuff thats holding it on then just try slowly twisting\rotating the h\s each way and it should eventually come off, worked with mine Just make sure uve turned off the comp before ripping it off

Death

 

ok, so if i just overclock it 10% and run 3dmark 2001 on it for an hour should be good?

 

well, i gave that a go

- got the H/S nice an warm, tryed, no luck, turned the fan off

- bit warmer, tryed, nothink

- got it a little to warm to touch, got so gloves, and swung on it like mad, nowthink

- got it warmerstill, PC froze, twisted like blue murder, bent more of the fins in more funny angles, and its still there, 100% as it was (now that i strighted it out a bit!!)


what else can i try, should i leave it for ages really hot

- i heard some people freeze off there sinks, anyone know if this works



HELP!!

thanks, daniel

[also, i think the paste is a dark greyish colour with a slightly metalic look, if anyone knows what it might be!!]

 

have you tried the freezer trick????

 

not yet

- have you seen that work?

- how long do i need to leav it in for?

- an what do you do to keep it dry?

sorry to be so cautious, but i dont really what to have to buy another card atm

thanks, daniel

[so annoying, stupid thing is that the H/S has holes that line up perfectly with thos in the card, so it didnt even need to be stuck on, god knows what they though they where doing!!]

 

Best method is to stick it in an antistatic bag, and then whack that in a Ziploc (or other airtight freezer bag), and then into the freezer. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, and after that take the card out and the heatsink should come off far easier. Had to do it on my mates 8500, and we found that levering the sink off with a screwdriver under the edge of the sink (making sure to avoid all components on the PCB) worked best.

Good luck!

 

If the cooler is that reluctant to come off I would suggest simply selling the card on and either buy the same (diff brand) for no extra money OR take the opportunity to upgrade it a little, even if it's for a cooler/quieter card (eg replacing GF4TI4600 with Rad9600XT). It really doesn't make any sense to risk killing the card!

 

I have successfully froze heat sinks off my memory, i didn't even bother with putting in a bag, just threw it in the freezer for an hour and they popped right off. just don't use the card for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the freezer, video card works perfectly, its a radeon 9600 and my brother's still using it.

 

well, the card doesnt really have any retail value, its only a Geforce3 ti200, which i got free with a 2nd hand PC and even they (the previous owner) got it free off a mates mate (who stuck on the sinks, hence i have know idea what with)

- but i'll have got with the frezer idea, and if that doesnt do it - i might just leave it, beacuse its only just till i get a 9600 or somthink (but it is better than the geforce2 in the other PC)

thanks anyway, daniel

 

Another way ive found that the hs will come off is if you twist it around, just helps it off a bit more

 

yeah, thats what i did when i was heating it

- or do you mean twist while its cold?


daniel

 

i havent had problems getting hs's off while cold before, but do at ur own risk. Thats how i got mine off of my voodoo 5500/ati 9700p

 

lol someone should consider making a guide to removing heatsinks stuck with epoxy

 

Try twisting when cold, the epoxy shouldn't be as elastic then and it should break down easier.

 

yeah, and all epoxy tubes should have a label warning you not to use it if you dont need to

 

just give it quick blasts with a hair dryer (not plugged into the computer ). It worked for my 9200. when it got really toasty the HS just popped right off.
Its (*should be*, just to save my ass if it mucks up) safe to do this, the card goes under much Much hotter temperatures when its being manufactured.
Becareful of your fingers though. Heatsinks are very good at conducting heat. so that + hairdryer = really toasty heatsink.

 

Umm did you remove the clips that hold the HS on to the board first? All the heating, freezing, twisting and pulling aint going to do **** if the glue isnt the only thing holding the HS on.

 

lol, no, there are no clips, there could be (and he could have just us AS3)

- but there are deffo no clips used