Athlon 64 lid problem

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
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In the middle of a game on my computer, it shut down. I restarted, and checked on my cpu temps among other things, and noticed that my cpu was running really hot. So i pulled off my heatsink, not very hard at all, and the lid of my A64 came with it. Is it safe to keep running my cpu (with or w/o lid) or should I send it back for an RMA? Any help is appreciated.
 

Sentential

Senior member
Feb 28, 2005
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Originally posted by: engelsg
In the middle of a game on my computer, it shut down. I restarted, and checked on my cpu temps among other things, and noticed that my cpu was running really hot. So i pulled off my heatsink, not very hard at all, and the lid of my A64 came with it. Is it safe to keep running my cpu (with or w/o lid) or should I send it back for an RMA? Any help is appreciated.

What heatink? Most people would crave to have that happen to them lol. Its normally such a pain in the ass to get the IHS off. What I would do is get a heatsink that would support a lidless platform. Ie either Zalman or an SLK948.

I hear A64s are significantally cooler without the IHS. However, it is possible that your CPU was damaged by this incident. If so then yea, I would RMA it.
 

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
11
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0
I was just using the stock heatsink...would that work with the lidless chip? I really dont want to cause any more damage. I dont think anything was damaged majorly when the IHS came off...it booted up fine afterwards, just overheated like crazy...the chip looks okay to me, but i cant tell too much.
 

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
11
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Are they going to be able to tell whether the IHS came off a year ago or a day ago? If I can get an RMA now, i should still be able to get one anytime before my warranty expires...shouldnt I?
 

CheesePoofs

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2004
3,163
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If you continue running it with the broken IHS, you will probably void yoru warranty, which is why you should RMA it now.
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
7,504
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the reason why your chip is heating up is because the way the mounting bracket is made...

it's made so that the pressure is just right with the IHS... w/o it there is a slight gap that prevents good contact between the chip and the bottom of the heatsink....

what you need to do is shave down the mounting bracket slightly so that the heatsink touches the chip... but you need to be very careful because if you shave off too much, you could crush the core
 

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
11
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I did it anyway :D My load temps are down 6 degrees and idle down 4...i hope im not screwing anything up.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Just RMA it to AMD, I'm sure they would be very interested to study the CPU and find out why the IHS came off.
 

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
11
0
0
well, i actually bought the cpu used...the guy says he never messed around with the IHS, but I dont know if I believe him. Thats why Im kinda scared to send it in for an RMA - they might see that force was used to pry it off...anyways, its working great now, so im just not gonna mess with it.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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If you didn't tamper with it then send it in and tell the truth. They may even upgrade the CPU for your trouble.
 

Aries64

Golden Member
Jul 30, 2004
1,030
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Originally posted by: engelsg
well, i actually bought the cpu used...the guy says he never messed around with the IHS, but I dont know if I believe him. Thats why Im kinda scared to send it in for an RMA - they might see that force was used to pry it off...anyways, its working great now, so im just not gonna mess with it.
Your CPU wouldn't happen to be a S939 FX-55 would it? You didn't happen to buy that CPU off someone here at Anandtech or maybe Ebay right?

I read some posts along similar lines not too long ago. Some people here probably remember an unscrupulous FX-55 seller who removed his IHS, then re-installed it for sale. In one of his/her original threads the seller said that the IHS had been removed and re-installed and then later tried to conceal this fact when the buyer discovered this.

Don't remember how it worked-out but I hope it works out for you. Not to bum you out and crap on your RMA chances, but good luck getting an RMA from AMD. (1) AMD may require you to provide proof of original purchase (warranty applies only to original purchaser), (2) Removing the IHS voids the warranty, regardless of who removed it.

Note: MDE said "If you didn't tamper with it then send it in and tell the truth. They may even upgrade the CPU for your trouble". Hope springs eternal...

Although, if you have problems in the future (i.e. your chip dies) being up front RIGHT AWAY with AMD couldn't hurt, since your chip is dead anyway. In your original post you when you asked for advice you failed to mention the fact that your bought the CPU used and that you suspected (actually closer to knew) that the IHS had been removed. This reduces your credibility to zero. Keep that in mind.
 

RichUK

Lifer
Feb 14, 2005
10,341
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you got the IHS off! quality .. now you be able to get some nice cooling on that badboy :p
 

engelsg

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2005
11
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Originally posted by: keeleysam
RMA to AMD NOW!!!!111!!!oneone

I bought the chip used, the IHS could have been forced off, so I dont really want to test my chances right now after what Aries64 said. And right now its working fine, so Id rather not mess around with it. Shipping for RMA would probably cost me quite a bit (from Canada), and I prolly wouldnt see my cpu back for quite a while... and in response to Aries64, I bought the chip off some guy at redflagdeals.com forums, not here. Its a S754 clawhammer 3200+...so its not worth taking my chances with an RMA for...if it was an FX55...then I wouldnt be messing around with it.

Thanks for everyones opinions.
 

chinkgai

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
3,904
0
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it had to have been tampered with

that thing is on there REAL good and no way pulling the heatsink off would apply enough force to separate the IHS from the chip. you would easily pull the whole cpu with the IHS attached before the IHS comes off.

i've removed the IHS before so thats why i know. I also know the entire cpu/IHS would come off before the IHS would separate cuz my cpu including numerous reports of others gets yanked right out of the socket whenever i try to removed the cpu cooler, and yes i twist.
 

Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
2,919
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The guy's full of it. The chip had it's IHS removed and replaced. The reason temps went down was probably because it was mounted terrifically poorly when it was replaced.
 

imported_whatever

Platinum Member
Jul 9, 2004
2,019
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I can assure you that AMD will most likely not notice that the IHS has been removed if you put it back on well. Or at least that is what my experience has been.
 

chinkgai

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2001
3,904
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Originally posted by: whatever
I can assure you that AMD will most likely not notice that the IHS has been removed if you put it back on well. Or at least that is what my experience has been.

flamebait