What's the best way to remove my retail P3 heatsink/fan?

[Reverend Maynard]

I want to get that little bugger off so I can throw on something a bit more powerfull. I have been cautious, perhaps overly so, so far because I dont want to turn my P3 into a $160 paperweight. As always, any help offered is greatly appreciated.

[Brian R.]

Place a computer case screw on a table so that the point is up. One at a time, place the back of the cpu (not the fan side) on the screw so that the point of the screw is sitting on one of the four pins holding the assembly together. Press down with increasing force until the pins are pushed out with a pop (you will know when). Unscrew the screw from the plastic and go to the next one and repeat.

Alternatively, if you can figure out how to unscrew the pins from the fan side, you might have luck that way. After you remove the pins by the above method, you will see that there are threads on them and if you can turn the pins from the fan side, you may be able to unscrew them instead of needing to pop them out.

[Reverend Maynard]

Thanks much. It came off with relative ease. I actually ended up pushing a bit too hard and breaking some part of the inside. Little plastic chips came tumbling out, but it still works fine so I guess that's all that matters eh?

[ALBPM]

I'm a little late...LOL

Here are some links with pictures for removing the Intel P3 heatsink.
www.thetechzone.com/articles/p3_heatsink_remove.htm

Brian has the technnique down pat and if you leave the heatsink intact, you can put the Intel heatsink back on the P3 easily.

Here's a link that shows how to mount your new heatsink without the plastic backcover.
www.thetechzone.com/articles/how_to/p3_no_backplate/index.html

Paul

[Brian R.]

Remember: Black chips good; Green chips bad.

[Brian R.]

Actually, upon closer inspection, the ridges on the end of the fasteners are not threads, but are interference ridges to hold the pin in place.