:/ Removing Motherboard Backplate/Retention Plate?
 

So I got my new motherboard in, it's this POS:

P5GD2-VM | Asus P5gd2-Vm Lga775 Ddr2 Pci-E Mboard

I'm quite excited about this. Finally gonna get back on the road.

I'm doing alright until I get to the heatsink + fan assembly for the CPU. I notice this mobo, and this is a first for me, has a metal plate (x-shaped thing) on the underside of the PCB right under the CPU. Where I'd normally push the CPU HSF clips into the board to lock it down are threaded holes which are part of this metal bracket.

The metal bracket is adhered to the board, and this is a problem, because my HSF uses plastic clips and not some sort of screw system. So I looked up methods on removing this backplate/retention bracket, and people suggested trying to push it out with a ballpoint pen or use a hairdryer to remove the adhesive. I tried both for a bit, no luck, and I'm being awfully careful because if I screw up another board I'm gonna snap like a twig.

So anyone have any suggestions as to how to get this thing off, or what I can do? I guess I might just have to get a new HSF as well :-/

The motherboard in this picture is yours, right?

http://www.ascendtech.us/mmASC/Images/p5gd2-vm.JPG

If so, are you talking about the metal bracket right where the CPU goes, with the plastic inlay? That's to hold the CPU in.. you pop the metal handle out, open the retention case, put the CPU in (making sure its lined up with arrow / slots, close case and move metal handle back to lock it into place. Then you set the entire HSF assembly ON TOP of the CPU + retention bracket and the plastic snaps should go into holes on the motherboard. I can see the holes in the picture, even.

Intel Chips and motherboards have been using the plastic clip HSF you're describing for ages, and this motherboard has the holes for it. I'm not sure where the 'threaded screwholes' are that you're talking about, but they definitely aren't for screws.

EDIT: Or do you mean that your HSF expects an OLDSCHOOL plastic mounting bracket like this?

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/...i=18601,00.jpg

Your motherboard appears to be this type:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages...nstall_a10.jpg

Which expects a HSF like this:

http://hardwarelogic.com/articles/re...0/HSF_side.jpg

Haha, yes, that's the exact HSF I have and that's exactly what I expected when I bought this. But there's a metal bracket GLUED to the UNDERSIDE of the mobo ("under" the ZIF socket) that puts threaded screw holes (not even making this up haha) where those holes are.

I grew some balls, and no joke, I just ripped the shit off. Blasted it with some more sticks. It was the most intense thing I've done in a while :)

The computer now works and is happy once again. Now let's just see how well it games :-D