Just upgraded processor in laptop, replaced stock thermal pad with AS3, but now no contact between CPU and HSF :|

[Confused]

Hi guys, hope you can help me out here.

I've just got a laptop from a friend, which had a K6-2 266MHz processor in it, and I've just upgraded it to a K6-2 400MHz. While I was doing this, I took off the old thermal pad, and put some AS3 on instead. However, now the heatsink isn't making contact with the CPU, and it's overheating, and turning itself off after a few minutes. It's also moving the CPU slightly to one side, causing it to not keep contact with the pins on the board.

What is there that I could do as some form of heat transfer material to fill the gap between the CPU and the HSF. The old pad was about 3mm thick, and obviously the AS3 is much less, and I don't want to use a whole tube of AS3 to bridge the gap


Amy suggestions will be very much appreciated

Confused

 

[deerslayer]

Dunno, but I hope you get it fixed soon!

 

[ProviaFan]

Arctic Silver makes other products that might help, but I'm not sure. You might want to check their website to see. For the problem of the CPU shifting in its socket, I just don't know. Is it a ZIF socket like what is found on most desktops? I would understand that the laptop is properly recognizing the CPU, as it apparently (at least as far as I can tell from the way your message is worded) boots ok for a minute or two.

 

[Confused]

It is a kinda ZIF socket, as it doesn't have holes and the normal lever, it has slots for the pins on the CPU, and the connections at one end, i presume which it "slides" into. The CPU is detected...once it's sitting in the socket thingy right, and it'll boot, and it will be fine til I try to move the laptop, such as to put it down on a desk, when I guess the CPU moves slightly and loses connection with the pins.

 

[soni]

Get some "old-fashion" termal paste, and smear it on..

 

[Insidious]

I thought there was only one Confused

Well, now I gues there are two of us.... I don't understand how laptops are mechanized, but it sounds like there must be something
different in the shape of the carrier on that new CPU. Can you see any differences? There is no way a CPU should be able to jiggle in
it's socket. I suggest giving that CPU mounting another look. Maybe you can find a similar computer to compare it with. But something is
drastically wrong!

I wouldn't fuss with a juryrig...... a loose CPU AND a heat sink that doesn't mount with firm contact..... that computer isn't going to be living
very long no matter what you do.

-Sid

PS: sorry to be such a pesimist, but I really think there is some serious mechanical misapplication going on for ya that will prevent that laptop from... laptopping

 

[winr]

Hi Confused.
What holds the heatsink down?
Could you get a thin piece of copper and cut it the same size as the cpu heatspreader.
Paste both sides and insert it between cpu and heatsink.

Also, 3M makes 5 mil thick frag tape, double sided.

 

[Confused]

Well, they annoying thing is that it probably would have been totally fine, if i hadn't scraped off the old thermal pad. It looked like the pad was holding the CPU "in place", not allowing it to move, while still allowing the computer casing to "flex" as it does.

However, replacing this thick, softish pad with AS3, which is much thinner and more sticky, means that the CPU is moving ever so slightly when the casing is flexing. The CPU seems to "lock" into place OK, as it's moved to the side, but I still can't pinpoint why it's crashing!

winr, I was replying the same time you were. The HS is held down with 4 screws, on each corner of the CPU. I don't have a piece of copper, but I do have a PCI slot cover, which is nice and flat, so will try that.

Any more suggestions will be appreciated, and will see how the PCI backplates hold up!


Garry

 

[Confused]

OK, have cut up the PCI slot and tried that. 1 layer didn't work, it still locked up as the laptop was flexed/moved. 2 layers, and I have been able to walk round the house, put it down on a couple of tables, pick it up, bend it as far as i feel comfortable doing, and it's still not locked up. However, Windows seemed to have got corrupted, so I am going to reinstall Windows on there overnight, and report back tomorrow


Garry

 

[sk560]

i think u might wanna get those themal pad from computer stores... for a long term solution.

i tried once w/ my Acer P100 laptop.... upgraded to a WinChip 240 w/ MMX. it worked fine and superfast for a while... overheated the hdd and keyboard. So forced to "upgrade" those parts too... sold the puppy running at 200 MHz.

AMD has been notorious about their heat issue.... so don't let it catch fire !!!!

 

[jschuk]

Chances are that the heatsink screws down through the system board. Whip out your dremel (everyone should have one in my opinion) and grind down the feet of the heatsink so that when you screw it down it will actually snug up against the CPU. That socket should have some kind of locking mechanism, usually a small box on either side of the socket for you to put a flatblade screwdriver in it and move the socket to the locked position. What laptop is this?