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iMac G4 Removing Chipset Heatsink

Posted by: mcbeav on 2025-04-30 15:33:36

Does anyone have any idea how the chipset heatsink is connected on an iMac G4 logic board? It has little tabs touching the logic board, but I can't tell if they're soldered and what purpose the tabs serve. I want to re-paste the chipset heatsink, but obviously I don't want to destroy the board.

Posted by: Byrd on 2025-04-30 20:08:31

This refurb guide refers to it being attached by a metal clamp; hopefully yours isn't expoxied

iMac G4 refurbishment

Towards the end of last year I found another iMac advertised as a 17" 1.25GHz. These are the G4's now that particulary interest me as they incorporate 3X USB2 ports, as opposed to USB1 on earlier models. It was only when carrying it from the seller's home to my car that I remarked it seemed...

forums.macrumors.com

Posted by: mcbeav on 2025-05-01 05:33:39

This refurb guide refers to it being attached by a metal clamp; hopefully yours isn't expoxied

iMac G4 refurbishment

Towards the end of last year I found another iMac advertised as a 17" 1.25GHz. These are the G4's now that particulary interest me as they incorporate 3X USB2 ports, as opposed to USB1 on earlier models. It was only when carrying it from the seller's home to my car that I remarked it seemed...

forums.macrumors.com

I dont see anything about that black heatsink in the guide. Maybe I missed it, but I see where it talks about the CPU. The CPU has a metal clamp, and that is fairly simple to remove. I can't find any info anywhere about how to remove the heatsink on what is likely the equivalent to like a northbridge chipset. I don't know exactly what chip is underneath, but it's not the CPU or GPU.

Posted by: mcbeav on 2025-05-01 13:16:21

This refurb guide refers to it being attached by a metal clamp; hopefully yours isn't expoxied

iMac G4 refurbishment

Towards the end of last year I found another iMac advertised as a 17" 1.25GHz. These are the G4's now that particulary interest me as they incorporate 3X USB2 ports, as opposed to USB1 on earlier models. It was only when carrying it from the seller's home to my car that I remarked it seemed...

forums.macrumors.com

It does appear to be glued to the board, i'll probably just leave it alone. Thanks for the help

Posted by: Byrd on 2025-05-01 17:23:49

It does appear to be glued to the board, i'll probably just leave it alone. Thanks for the help

Yep leave it be. You can remove it by freezing the area and with a sharp knock it'll pop off (what I've had to reluctantly do with a couple of GPUs with bad fans integrated into heatsinks, acetone on the core removes the epoxy) but there is always chance of damage here.

Posted by: mcbeav on 2025-05-01 18:03:34

Yep leave it be. You can remove it by freezing the area and with a sharp knock it'll pop off (what I've had to reluctantly do with a couple of GPUs with bad fans integrated into heatsinks, acetone on the core removes the epoxy) but there is always chance of damage here.

Yeah, I was going to use dry ice or duster, but I'm going to leave it alone. I figured I'd repaste it and be done with it, but dosdude1 said the chip doesnt run very hot, so it's not worth the risk or the trouble. I appreciate the response.