9700pro heatsink question

[ntruax]

Hi, I was wondering if you guys could help me out with this card. The cooler (hsf) that came with the card doesn't make contact with the core of the processor. That silver metal ring that is around the outside edge of the chip is higher than the core itself. It's been like that since I bought it but I was watercooling it and the waterblock I had on it sat down inside that metal ring thing so it didn't matter. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what type of cooler I can get that will work with this thing. I've tried a Vantec Copper cooler and a Thermaltake Crystal Orb but they don't make contact with the core. Does anyone have any idea what I could get? Or, can you remove that metal thing on the chip? The only reason I'm screwing with this is beacause my dad is trying to play Far Cry and he's using a Ti200 and it keeps locking up. Thanks for any help.

[Modzilla]

I had one of those cards, I used a razor blade to very carefully and slowly cut and pry off the shim that sits around the core, allowing the hsf to make solid contact with the core. I slowly worked the blade in underneath the four corners of the shim. When I had the corners separated I gently pried the shim up at each corner, until it popped off. Slow and steady is key, being careful not to scratch the core or knock off one of those tiny resistors around the core.

[ntruax]

Hey thanks for the help. I was worried about screwing the chip up or something but the shim popped right off. :toast: