Stuck old heat sink

I've seen here where the heat sink is stuck to the cpu in other questions and that is to be expected.

But...

When troubleshooting another problem I wanted to re-seat the processor. I thought: just pull out the heatsink and cpu after releasing the catch on the AMD.

Well nothing budged.

As I recall this was a heavy thermal grease pre-appied application and back then I wasn't much concerned of the amount used.

But what is sticking between the cpu assembly and the socket?

What could nudge it loose?

I saw a can opener mentioned. And right now I don't have to pull it. But what's the answer? Is it a common problem?

 

My subject could have been phrased more accurately I have no need to separate the heat sink and cpu. But giving a tug on the loosed apparatus to the socket is fuzed or so tight that removal cannot be done by simple lifting.

I won't risk pin damage until the board is on it's way to the recycle company. I got around a problem which I thought might require pulling and re-seating the cpu in it's socket.

 

Not [solved] necessarily but it worked.

I had an old unused board and sure enough that socket was stuck to the cpu as well. This is not the heat sink issue but more on that.

The small amount of pressure at the four corners with either an appropriate size blade screw driver or stiff plastic implement (prob'ly something from the kitchen) will loosen the cpu from the socket and no pins damaged.

If there is interest I will plug some stuff together and see if it is ok. But I'd feel confident in doing it for a real upgrade.

The heat sink can be pried loose from the cpu in the same manner.

Anyone know of any really stiff plastic kitchen gadgets with a handle that would prevent static or other electronic damage?

Also any tips on getting a discarded AM2 four core cpu? I have checked the usual source and no deals are showing. My limit on this is maybe $10 for an AM2 Athlon 4 core.

 

The best deal I could find for pry tools is here:

http://www.amazon.com/Tools-Repair-...d=1402109783&sr=1-1&keywords=plastic+pry+tool

I looked locally but $1,76 for 10 and free shipping -- nothing else comes close.

Will likely order tomorrow.

Other thought I had is just wrapping a blade screw driver with non conductive (read any non metallic) tape. But these tools have the edge and can get into tough places.

 

Quite frankly it might never come up unless I find that Athlon II four core for $10 smackers.

I never changed a cpu out.

But the tools were too good to pass up.