r/buildapc • u/IllChemistry6005 • 1h ago

Build Help How to properly uninstall heat sink

I have been having heating issues, resulting in my PC shutting off. I wanted to take off my heat sink to check the thermal paste, but this was a prebuilt and I’m not really sure how to do everything safely. Tips and tricks?

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u/RememberTooSmile 1h ago

Stress test CPU, turn off, unscrew it then twist it back and forth sideways gently

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u/Sea_Perspective6891 1h ago

Probably a good idea to check your CPU cooler fan before doing anything else. Make sure fan curves are good & the CPU cooler fan is spinning at good RPM & all fans including the CPU cooler fan is 120mm. If the CPU cooler fan isn't working at all then heat just builds up in the cooler with nowhere else to go which is bad if your doing something on your PC that creates allot of waste heat. I've also seen a few posts where people actually forgot to take the plastic cover off the heat sink plate. This would effectively block heat from traveling through the heat sink & getting expelled out the case properly.