Hi there, I need to remove the Pentium 4 processor from my computer but cannot do so because of the thermal compound that binds the processor and its heatsink (which I think is just a stock Intel heatsink with a fan on top of it) together.
About two years ago, I was able to pull the heatsink away from the motherboard with brute force, taking the processor with it and bending several pins in the process, but now I can't even manage that, even using both hands.
I have tried leaving the computer on overnight whilst running CPU-intensive applications in order to try to 'melt' the thermal compound, and have also tried heating it up with a hair dryer, but to no avail. It simply will not budge. When I've seen the thermal compound in the past, it was rather thick and looked like concrete.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can remove the heatsink, preferably without taking the processor with it? I'd rather not have to fork out for a new processor (or even a new motherboard, if that were to crack).
About two years ago, I was able to pull the heatsink away from the motherboard with brute force, taking the processor with it and bending several pins in the process, but now I can't even manage that, even using both hands.
I have tried leaving the computer on overnight whilst running CPU-intensive applications in order to try to 'melt' the thermal compound, and have also tried heating it up with a hair dryer, but to no avail. It simply will not budge. When I've seen the thermal compound in the past, it was rather thick and looked like concrete.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can remove the heatsink, preferably without taking the processor with it? I'd rather not have to fork out for a new processor (or even a new motherboard, if that were to crack).