getting the heatsink off my p4

[glennfoster]

how do you do it?

[stompah]

Hello Glen,

Welcome to the forums.

The heatsink should be held on by a clip. One side of taht clip should have a notch. That notch must be pressed down and out (away from the CPU) in order to unlock it from one of the socket's lugs. Usually with a lot of care you can do it with a screw driver. If not you may have to wrestle with you fingers to remove it.

Somewhere on AMD's website they have a heatsink istallation guide. has some good photos and you follow the removal in reverse order of the install. If I find it I will post a link.

Edit#1:not amd but awfully close not the best pictures though (http://www.systemlogic.net/articles/00/8/socketa/)

[CrystalMethod]

Gonna have to correct you here Stompah. The P4 heatsinks are held in by two clips. One on each side of the heatsink. There are two different versions of clips depending on what socket you have. Post what mother board you have so we can help you a bit more.

[JetMech]

Originally posted by CrystalMethod
Gonna have to correct you here Stompah. The P4 heatsinks are held in by two clips. One on each side of the heatsink. There are two different versions of clips depending on what socket you have. Post what mother board you have so we can help you a bit more. From thesignature on his thread I'm thinking Microstar. I prefer the lever type but pressing down at the edge and using a small screwdriver at the bottom edge under the finger and pulling up ( use reasonable force please) should release it. Keep the pressure in line with the bracket and the force will the transmitted down into the case. Be careful not to let the screwdriver slip. Any mistakes can be fatal. You have been warned.:)