Sometimes I wonder what the point of the ZIF socket's lever is

[mikeymikec]

I was just scrapping a computer for parts (dodgy board), and I wanted to remove the AM2 CPU for testing. The AM2 housing (that the HSF bracket is secured to) around the socket stopped me from being able to wiggle the HSF to loosen it, so I pulled from one side to the other in a gentle 'see-saw' fashion. The HSF came loose, along with the CPU, stuck to the bottom of it (intact)

This was a retail AMD CPU and HSF so it used their thermal paste.

 

[Rakehellion]

It doesn't anchor the CPU to the board with the Force of a Thousand Suns™ but it will hold it firmly in place under normal use.

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm guessing that the sole point of the lever is to maximise pin contact with the socket, because I can't see any other point in it. The HSF should easily be capable of keeping the CPU in its socket without the lever.

I think I remember seeing contact movement inside the socket on socket 370 if one moves the lever without a CPU installed.

 

[BrightCandle]

The purpose is to put enough force on the CPU such that the pins would penetrate the metal of the contact points to make a high quality electrical connection reliably. Which it does. Its not there to hold the CPU in, realistically the firm can rely on the cooling product to do that, but they can't rely on the cooling product to put the pressure in the right places to ensure the pins and contacts are all nicely aligned and forced together correctly.

 

[CZroe]

If you ever had to insert an old CPU into a non-ZIF PGA socket then you know what the point is. They didn't just drop in.

It's the same difference as forcing a DIP IC into a socket or solder-less breadboard vs. dropping it into a PIC or EEPROM programmer's levered ZIF socket. No one wants to go back to using screwdrivers and chip pullers.