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How do I remove a CPU cooler back plate?

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Vbp6us

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I just spoke to Newegg and they don't have a solution for this.
Image
Experts, how do I remove the back plate which has 3M sticky residue to keep it attached to the motherboard? The fan is a Dark Knight. Do they really want me to rip it off?

I'm RMAing my motherboard so I need this thing off so I can use it on my new board. Any suggestions? I searched and found one old thread that was in reference to the Tuniq.

Any ideas for not damaging my board and removing the back plate?

Thank you.
 
#2 ·
Use a hair dryer. That was the suggestion made to me. Then I used a micro flat head screw driver. As the bracket heated up (it heats up pretty quickly too so be careful!), I took the screw driver and carefully lifted up on the piece.

All 4 pads were stuck to the bracket and a little goo was left on the mobo. Rolling the pad of your thumb across it should take it up.
 
#4 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by rtop2 View Post
Hmm, I would try the twist gently and pull method, and if that doesn't work, i would really carefully take a paper thin razer to try and pry it off there.
this is a good method but it really taking it off will do you nothing or pretty close to nothing.... plus when you attach the cooler may damage the core...
 
#6 ·
I used dental floss to remove a similar backplate. it got the majority of the sticky tape separated from the MOBO enough so that I could twist the rest off with ease. After that I had to clean off a small piece or two.
 
#8 ·
heat it up with a hair drier and then take dental floss and "cut" it off sliding the dental floss back and forth.

edit: dang it, werds beat me to it.
 
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#10 ·
this is why i leave the backing paper on the motherboard side...

heatgun/hairdryer to heat the backplate will help soften the adhesive on the plate side...

dental floss is also a good idea...

i have used naphtha before to saturate the double sided foam, which soaks through to the glue and dissolves it. just squirt a little on it while the board is upside down, it will wick right into the foam. you will need a new double sided foam piece after this as it will be destroyed.
 
#12 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by mocha989 View Post
stick a flat head screw driver inbetween it and the motherboard and turn the screw driver. it should just pop right off. thats what i do.
This is a very dangerous method, very likely to cause damage to the mother board (PCB's printed circuit)
 
#15 ·
Could someone post a link that would explain what you guys are talking about? It sounds like you are installing a heatsink with thermal tape, of all things.
 
#16 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by ehume View Post
Could someone post a link that would explain what you guys are talking about? It sounds like you are installing a heatsink with thermal tape, of all things.
I don't have a link for you but I'll explain what it is. On a lot of aftermarket air coolers, we need backplates to lessen the load on the motherboard. You don't want 3lbs of copper and/or aluminum hanging off your mobo. Look at a stock 775 fan and they use push pins that lock onto the motherboard.

Instead, we have backplates. These go behind the motherboard and usually have some adhesive pads on the feet. Your cooler bolts to this backplate, dispersing the weight across the back piece instead of the 4 holes.

Attachment 145619

Stock cooler

Attachment 145621

Dark Knight. Backplate in the upper left.
LL
LL
 
#17 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by TFB View Post
. . . we have backplates. These go behind the motherboard and usually have some adhesive pads on the feet. Your cooler bolts to this backplate, dispersing the weight across the back piece instead of the 4 holes.
OK I get it now. My Megatron has a backplate but no adhesive. I never would have imagined something that did.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by ehume View Post
Could someone post a link that would explain what you guys are talking about? It sounds like you are installing a heatsink with thermal tape, of all things.
It's something like this:

Image


I used a hairdryer and my fingers. Nothing else.
 
#19 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by ehume View Post
OK I get it now. My Megatron has a backplate but no adhesive. I never would have imagined something that did.
its pretty stupid tbh to have an adhesive backplate when its not need
 
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