Removing r9 280x Heatsink

[Sincoura]

I recently bought a used R9 280x off eBay from someone for cheap because the fans aren't working. SInce my PC is watercooled, it was perfect for me, since I could just slap on a Waterblock.
> http://www.ncix.com/detail/sapphire-radeon-r9-280x-870mhz-53-91074.htm
> http://imgur.com/pf2bnDq

Upon receiving the card it didn't seem like the Heatsink would be too hard to get off. There are 4 screws on the back in a square and 4 more black Push Pins at various places that need to be pushed down. However, even after taking care of all that, the heatsink still refused to budge. Then upon closer inspection I noticed 4 more silver brackets underneath that also had to be unscrewed.
> http://imgur.com/M1YK0Mv

After getting off 2 of the 4 I realized that even after unscrewing all of them, it would only remove the black plastic fan assembly, and not the actual Heatsink itself. Normally with Video cards, the Heatsink and Fans are one component, and the PCB makes 2, but with this one it seems like there are 3. Black plastic/Fans, the Heatsink, and the PCB.

This is confusing to me, because I don't see any other pieces that can be unscrewed or removed, yet the Heatsink is still firmly attached to the PCB. The only conclusion I can arrive to is that perhaps the entire thing is soldered or glued to the PCB, but I've never heard of a video card like that.

So my question to you guys is, if you have any experience with this particular card, did you find a way to remove the Heatsink? and if so how? Any help would be appreciated.

More pics:
> http://tinyurl.com/m9hj3xk

[Hashiyan]

The screws around the core of the GPU hold the metal heatsink. You might have just screwed open the Graphics card plastic covering. 

[mosin40]

If you want to watercool it use an ek thermosphere

[Sincoura]

If you're referring to the 4 screws on the back, I already removed those. Are there more underneath the plastic covering or something?

Also, thanks Mosin, but that doesn't help me get the heatsink off. I already have a couple waterblocks too.

[bmanzzs]

Imgur album link is down.

[Sincoura]

Try copying and pasting the link into your address bar. Idk why but that's the only way it works for me.

[SImoHayha]

If i recall there should be some screws where the VIDEO adapter is like HDMI.

[Sincoura]

If i recall there should be some screws where the VIDEO adapter is like HDMI.

There is only one screw there, and it has nothing to do with the Heatsink, unfortunately.

[NotCthulhu]

Try giving it a nice tug, not too hard though.

[Sincoura]

Try giving it a nice tug, not too hard though.

Been trying that one all day.

[bmanzzs]

Maybe this will help?
 

I had the same problem and managed to remove by pushing the dissipator from the backpart of the gpu with my nº1 phillips (same I've use to remove the screws)

More clear, i've pushed the metallic part from where I removed the screew trying to avoid the screwdriver to touch the board. That way I was able to apply a decent force withouth forcing the board and preventing it to break.

So: remove the screws and push perpendicularly one of the very same holes from where you took one of the screws from the back of the card.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2045376/replace-thermal-compound-dual-280x.html

[Sincoura]

Maybe this will help?

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2045376/replace-thermal-compound-dual-280x.html

SUCCESS BOYS. >http://imgur.com/SW9C91M

Thanks very much everyone!~

[bmanzzs]

Awesome news!

 

Hope it all works out for ya.