How To Remove Fan & Heatsink on X1900GT? - Novice Needs Help

[hmkim]

I want to replace the stock fan & heatsink with a Zalman fan and have a few questions. I never replaced a GPU fan before, so a help would be greatly appreciated!

1. Which screws should I unscrew? Should I unscrew the screws on the X-shaped bracket, too?
2. I see thermal tapes between the heatsink and the card. Does it mean that the heatsink will be still atached to the card after I unscrew necessary screws? If so, how do I safely remove the heatsink?
3. After removing the heatsink, I guess I should clean the chips, right? How should I clean them?

Thanks.

[fhpchris]

I want to replace the stock fan & heatsink with a Zalman fan and have a few questions. I never replaced a GPU fan before, so a help would be greatly appreciated!

1. Which screws should I unscrew? Should I unscrew the screws on the X-shaped bracket, too?
2. I see thermal tapes between the heatsink and the card. Does it mean that the heatsink will be still atached to the card after I unscrew necessary screws? If so, how do I safely remove the heatsink?
3. After removing the heatsink, I guess I should clean the chips, right? How should I clean them?

Thanks.

1) All the screws near the cooler, yes on the X bracket

2) The thermal tapes will not hold the heatink, they are more like pads and less like tape.

3) rubbing alcohol


unscrew screws, turn card over. simple :)

[Kasparz]

1. Unscrew all screws, and X-shaped bracket too.
2. Then carefully remove cooler, try to do not damage PCB or something else.
3. Then with acetone or alcohol and toilet paper remove old TIM, and clean ram chips.
4. Put small amount of TIM on GPU, about half rice size, and spread TIM to whole GPU.
5. Carefully install new cooler, as it shown in manual.