Can I Take Out CPU & Heatsink as one unit?

[takeabreak]

Can I take out the cpu & heatsink as one unit and put it on replacement MB without detatching?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

I see by your other posts that you have a "truckee" motherboard.  If this is the motherboard in your PC, then loosing up the four screws on the heat sink will allow you to remove just the heat sink.  The cpu must be removed separately.  When you do this, you will need to clean the old thermal paste off the bottom of the heat sink and from the top of the processor and then apply a new thermal paste (a pea size dab is enough) such as Arctic Silver 5.  You can use isopropyl alcohol to clean off the old paste.  See this video on cleaning off old thermal paste.  Just be carefull to not bend any pins on the back of the processor.

What exactly are you attempting to do?

[takeabreak]

 I am trying to make it as easy and uncomplicated as possible since this is my first with a MB.  I picked up some thermal compound yesterday called Cooler Master.

Some of the small connectors are hard to get a grip on to pull out, I have read you can use needle-nose to grab them and pull them out.  I am trying to be very careful so I don't break anything.

I have not taken the replacement MB out of the protective bag as yet, waiting to get everything out of the old PC.  It is a Pegatron and looks the same as the old one. The p/n on the MB matches what I ordered but differs from the old board #. Specs are the same, BIOS may be slightly higher than old.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Changing out the motherboard is a bit of work.

Your HP recovery disks are not going to work with the new motherboard unless it's an exact replacement and it has been tattooed by an authorized HP repair shop.

Be sure to mark and label each connector that you remove, especially the front panel.  There should be etchings on the truckee motherboard that shows how the front panel is pinned out.