Disassembling Slot 1 Processors

1. You must disassemble the factory-installed casing in order to install aftermarket cooling devices in Slot 1 processors. The case is secured in place with four interlocking pins. Begin by laying the processor on its side, with the thermal plate facing up. Eight pins will be visible, but only the four pins near the outer edge of the casing require manipulation.

2. Insert a flathead screwdriver into the region between the thermal plate and the casing's edge. You may wish to cover the head of the screwdriver with a thin cloth to avoid scratching the case. Simply rotate the screwdriver until you hear a clicking sound. This click signifies release of the upper pins. Use the same method for removing the two lower pins, but take care not to insert the screwdriver tip too far into the processor assembly, as this could damage the internal circuit board.

3. You must also disassemble the inner thermal plate once the casing has been removed. First flip the processor over so that the thermal plate is facing away. A series of small teeth embedded in a spring system, secured against four interconnecting pins, holds the thermal plate in position. Using a small punch or jeweler's screwdriver, carefully apply pressure around the toothed regions until the catches bend away.

4. The processing unit can now be removed from the casing by gently lifting the printed circuit board away from the four interconnecting pins. Installation of the aftermarket heatsink, waterblock, or Peltier cooler varies according to model, though most coolers are secured by plastic strips or other simple mounting techniques. The best solutions use dual heatsinks for each side of the printed circuit board. Mounting screws secure the cooler to the circuit board by applying pressure from both sides of the processing unit.

Take care to note the shape of the Intel thermal plate, as some Pentium II models feature a specialized plate designed to contact both the processor core and the cache memory chips. If a comparable heatsink design is not available, installing a shim between the chips and heatsink can achieve the cooling needed for proper operation. Alternatively, a fan can be mounted to blow across the cache chips.