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Just bounced a screwdriver off the motherboard

S

scdill

Member
I guess it had to happen sooner or later, while taking off my sk-7 I got careless and the screwdriver came out and I stabbed the motherboard a glancing blow. System still works, so I guess I was lucky.

Now I'm looking for suggestions on how to keep it from happening again. Did a quick search and came up with two possibles; one suggested putting a credit card on the MB and the other to grasp the tab with needle nose pliers instead of using a screwdriver. Because of component layout, I doubt that I can use the credit card. Maybe the needle nose (or vise grips and clamp the damn thing). Anyone got another favorite safe method for latching the heatsink?

Thanks
 
Doesn't help but a screw driver and a steady hand has always worked best for me. If you have a needle nose vice grips I would think that might work if you have enough room.
 
yeah, that's happened to me before. That's why I hate those HS retention mechanisms. Very dangerous, and not particularly efficient.
 
Once I got careless and my screwdriver slipped off and hit one of the RAM chips. After that my system won't boot and turns out that I've took off a few pins off the IC on the RAM 😱
 
1) Use a good screwdriver. I've done this a few times w/ Champion and Craftsman, but not once w/ Klein. It makes a big difference.
2) Be careful.

My preferred method of removing HSFs:
Put a screwdriver in the place for it and press down. Use a much smaller and very thin (1/16" chapstick-sized screwdriver) to pry the clip away from the socket (down vertically and then twisting), then a let up with the screwdriver that is attached to the clip.
 
Be more careful 😛

I've never had any problems with Craftsman screwdrivers.
rolleye.gif
Craftsman makes good quality tools.
 
Originally posted by: scdill
I guess it had to happen sooner or later, while taking off my sk-7 I got careless and the screwdriver came out and I stabbed the motherboard a glancing blow. System still works, so I guess I was lucky.

Now I'm looking for suggestions on how to keep it from happening again. Did a quick search and came up with two possibles; one suggested putting a credit card on the MB and the other to grasp the tab with needle nose pliers instead of using a screwdriver. Because of component layout, I doubt that I can use the credit card. Maybe the needle nose (or vise grips and clamp the damn thing). Anyone got another favorite safe method for latching the heatsink?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Happened to me a few times. I should probably consider myself lucky. It's all because I was too lazy to take the mobo out of the case before working on it.
 
been there, done that, and I bet you'll probably never do it again.

it's kinda like one of those things you learn from experience, like what size screw driver to use, what angle you stick the head in, how hard you pry, things like that, the more you do it, the better you'll get at it.

and imho the size of the screw driver is the most important, i use a small one, about half the size of the reg. screw driver.
 
Couple of random thoughts:

The generic thing I took out had a nice big lip that held the screwdriver much better than the SK-7 does.

I saw in a different thread where several people use there fingers to latch the retainer. Would probably require removal of the MB to do that.

I don't know if a person can be careful enough, I've done it quite a few times and always approach the task with care, but it still happened.
 
I knicked mine about a month ago. It looked like it hit right between two traces, works fine though.
 
Originally posted by: scdill

Now I'm looking for suggestions on how to keep it from happening again. Thanks
Click to expand...

is this some sort of trick question 😕 i think the answer is as simple as placing a piece of [insert non-conductive, readily available material here] over the mobo. I usually stick a piece of cardboard there.
 
I pop my clip on there with a well-aimed blow from my trusty hatchet. I've only missed once, and luckly my finger was in the way otherwise I'd have to pay $100 for a new mobo! Well worth missing the finger!


Joking aside, I'd go with needle-nose pliers if they fit, but always make sure you use a small, flat-headed screw driver if you have to. Usually the clips have some sort of a hole to get the head of the screw driver to stick in there, if you use a large screw driver or a phillip's head, it's not gonna hold and you will have a hole in your mobo. Make sure you have a good grip on the screw driver before you begin to squeeze that clip in, because if you hand slips off, you might punch though the mobo. Also, there isn't any reason why you shouldn't pop the RAM out if it's that close.


As much as I hate the clips, I don't think there is a better way to do it. if you consider that screws could be to easily over/under tightened, and that not many other ideas would keep the HSF close and tight to the processor.
 
yea, thats it, its the screwdrivers fault. 😛
Get a Klein brand (never heard of it) and your problems will be solved.
rolleye.gif
😛😉

 
Just hold onto the bastard...done deal. 😀

Speaking of heatsinks, I put an aeroflow on my 8RDA+, and I had to put literally my entire muscle and then some to get the clip to go down and catch. Is this the norm for applying heatsinks/fans to mobos? I mean I was almost afraid of cracking the mobo because I was pushing so hard.

 
When I was reading up the reviews before I got my sk6+ and sk7, one reviewer ranted about the clip design and praised is (in my memory) msi board which had a specific pad below the clip if just this thing happened. I wish they'd spend the five cents it would cost to add it to all of them.

I really hate mounting these but once it's done I know they're not going anywhere. However, we shouldn't have to add this stress to a build - designers take note!
 
i have a screwdriver with changeable bits...so when there are no bits in it, its just hollow at the tip. it fits right over the clip, making it easy to put on and take off with zero chance of it sliding off and hitting my mobo.
got the screwdriver at target for 10 bucks
 
Damn, I've got one of those and I totally forgot about it! :|
And I almost wen't through the board last night installing my new sk-7.
oh well, no harm no foul.

What are the problems with screw mounted hs? I was tempted to get the alpha, but apparantly it doesn't fit on the k7s5a rev 3.1
If under / overtightening is a problem, couldn't they use same arrangement that gf4 coolers use?
 
Any brand will work, it's just gotta be the right size to fit snugly into the tab. Don't use one that is too big, it will slip. One that is too small will not allow you to exert enuf pressure to pop the tab. It has to be juuuuuust right!
 
Originally posted by: bleucheese
i have a screwdriver with changeable bits...so when there are no bits in it, its just hollow at the tip. it fits right over the clip, making it easy to put on and take off with zero chance of it sliding off and hitting my mobo.
got the screwdriver at target for 10 bucks
Click to expand...
Interesting idea. I've a set of nut drivers -- I suspect one of them would match up. Next time ...
 
A screwdriver with a grit-blasted tip has a bit more friction than a regular tip and can make things easier. Craftsman's professional line of screwdrivers have these.
 
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