Heatsink sticking to cpu = broken cpu

[Gumby84]

I've got a A64 3000 Winchester with MSI plat2 and a Zalman 7000. I used Arctic Silver 5 when I put the cpu in back in November and my temps have been slowly getting worse. So I decided to take the Zalman off, clean it up and reapply the Arctic Silver better. Well When I went to pull the zalman off it literly ripped the cpu out of the socket. It then took me a good 15-20 min just to get the freakin cpu seperated from the heatsink. After going through that I was extremely upset to find out at least 2-3 pins had broken off in the intial pull. So now that my new cpu is here....my question to you guys is how can I prevent this in the future. I used a thin layer of arctic so I dont think that was the problem. Any ideas?

 

[Algere]

Same thing that happened to me too except it was a 7700 and [thank gawd] no pins fell out. As for what to do the next time I attempt to remove the 7700, I'm gonna try sliding off + slightly lifting instead of pulling the 7700 directly off of the CPU.

As a side note I applied a "thinner" layer (than before) of AS5. So hopefully it won't stick as hard as it did before.

 

[o1die]

See if you can twist the heatsink slightly and break it off before lifting up.

 

[toNka64]

Wow!
This happened to me too a couple times with my A64 ans Silent Boost.
I didnt break any pins though...
I used cyramic though.
I thought it was just my motherboard socket sucked.
It would do it everytime too.
I tried sliding and slowly lift at the same time.
Didnt work.
Its like there is this suction or something.
Good luck in the future!

 

[OnEMoReTrY]

Stress test it for about 30 minutes using prime95, then turn your computer off and immediatly remove the hsf, it should still be warm and gooey. Really easy to pull off.

 

[Reiniku]

Originally posted by: OnEMoReTrY
Stress test it for about 30 minutes using prime95, then turn your computer off and immediatly remove the hsf, it should still be warm and gooey. Really easy to pull off.

could have used that little tip before i bended the top 3 rows of my 3400+... not to mention spending an hour bending them back and losing a pin in the process

 

[RampantAndroid]

yeah, warm it up first, then when you take it off, twist it circular wise, to loosen it, the slowly try to reomve one side. Never happened to me....although, I've never pulled my procs out that use artic silver (both my P4 Northwood C and FX-53)

Gumby, as in monty python?
("My brain hurts")

 

[Keysplayr]

Use thermal tape.

 

[dripgoss]

Yep - heat n' twist works.

What I find kinda strange is that you found your temps were slowly getting worse with AS5. I have only used AS5 on about 3 or 4 recent builds and had a few handy tubes of AS3 and AS2 I recently ran out of that have literally lasted me for years (I keep em in the fridge). Is there a degenerative property in the newer AS5 that makes reapplications necessary?

 

[LoneWolf15]

I had this happen too, however, I doubt a thinner layer of thermal compound will help. It happened both with the stock AMD HSF's compound (which was pre-applied to the HS and turned out to be pretty darn good stuff) and Arctic Silver Ceramique that came with my new Swiftech MCX64V. Both done in very thin layers, and both removals done after the system had been on continuously for several days. Every time I've removed the HSF, even carefully, it has taken the CPU out of the socket, even with the lever locked down. And, I certainly wouldn't slide it to the side, if the CPU follows, you'll bend a TON of pins and maybe break some off.

There's only two things I'd do...first is to consider using $2.99 Radio Shack silicone thermal compound, which doesn't form near the bond. Yeah, it's cheaper, but it does the job for the most part. The second is to do what I did, and gently use a long thin flathead screwdriver little by little on each of the four corners of your heatsink. This will probably still pry the chip out of the socket, but if you do it this way you won't be risking your CPU pins near as much.
Finally, plan to not switch heatsink/fan units much with your Athlon 64 CPU...choose the one you really want the first time, and stick with it.

 

[natethegreat]

This is from the "Any difference between Artic Silver 3 and 5??" thread :

Originally posted by: fixxxer0
Arctic Silver5 as far as I know does not get "spread" .... at least on A64's and the big processors.

I cant find the link again, but the AS5 application guide (from AS themselves) says to clamp the HS down with a small dab on the spot where the die is under the A64 heatspeader. It spreads out in a circle covering most of the square chip and they say its the best way. They also say to rotate the HS a little to the left and right to get out any bubbles that may form.

 

[fixxxer0]

yep as i said above..... and someone else also responded saying the HS removed easier when done properly (above) than done with a thin spread.

 

[nealh]

this is why I wished I never used AS5..I saw these posts after I setup my A64 3200...from what I have read you need to run the system and get the HSF off within a few minutes of shutdown so that the AS5 is still in more "liquid" state.....

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

if your having a lot of trouble try wedging a credit card or something else non-abrasive in there to try and get them appart.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
if your having a lot of trouble try wedging a credit card or something else non-abrasive in there to try and get them appart.

Sounds like sound advice.

:thumbsup: