Seeking advice on replacing damaged CPU

Druhim · November 2010

So recently I was finally getting around to cleaning the dust out of my Dell Dimension E521 (which I had neglected to do for about a year and a half, so it was quite dusty inside) and I ended up fucking up my CPU in the process. Basically the way they designed it, there's a big plastic housing that sits around the massive heat sink they put on the CPU (I'll get into the specifics of the CPU and motherboard in a bit) and I didn't realize the plastic housing was actually screwed into the heat sink from below (so I couldn't see the screws) which was of course glued to the CPU. So once I figured out how the plastic housing sitting around the heat sink disconnected, I accidentally ended up pulling off the heat sink and the CPU at the same time.

So now I'm trying to figure out what my options are and hopefully get my computer up and running again at relatively low cost. The CPU is an Athlon X2 3800+ in socket AM2 (not socket 939). It looks like some of the pins on the CPU are bent, and I'm guessing I can't just plug it back in. I unscrewed the big plastic housing around the heat sink, so now I have the CPU and heat sink glued to it, but is it worth it to try plugging the CPU back in? Could this fuck up other subsystems?

If my CPU is fucked, what are my realistic options? The computer is about 3.5 years old, and I'm not tech savvy enough to know what other AMD X2 processors would work in the motherboard/AM2 socket. Is it worth buying another CPU/heat sink for my existing motherboard? I was reasonably happy with the performance of my system and am trying to keep costs down for now, so if I could still buy the same CPU or even a slight upgrade that would be compatible with the motherboard I'd be ok with that as long as it was cheap enough compared to replacing the whole motherboard.

I apologize if there's crucial information I've left out through ignorance. Ask and I'll try to get the info so you can better advise me, and thanks for your help in advance!

Spudge · November 2010

Dru those pins can be repaired if you have a steady hand, strong thin tweezers, some patience and some sort of magnifying apparatus. I repair CPU pins on a daily basis and unless the pins are creased they should bend back out fine

edit: looks like the E521 is compatible with X2, Athlon and Sempron processors. I haven't found full specs, but I'd be willing to wager any Athlon/X2 proc of the same vintage would recognize. However if you change your CPU architecture (go to Sempron or non-X2) your Windows install probably won't boot

edit 2: Pricewatch has the X2 3800+ for less than 50 bucks

Druhim · November 2010

Thanks spudge, but if I went X2 wouldn't that be the same CPU architecture since the current processor is an Athlon X2 3800+? Or am I misunderstanding you? But I'll try your suggestion on straightening the pins. I'm pretty patient and I'll take it slow and perhaps I'll get this baby fixed.

Spudge · November 2010

No I misread your posts, I thought you didn't have an X2 in there

Druhim · November 2010

No prob, gonna try fixing this up tonight.

Druhim · November 2010

Ok, so update on my CPU. I had to go grab it from the old apartment that we're still moving stuff out of and I forgot that the heat sink is considerably wider than the CPU and the socket (AM2). This means that I cannot seat the CPU with the heat sink attached because the metal arm (I don't know what the technical term for it is) on the socket is in the way when it's in the up "open" position to accept the CPU.

So presumably the next step is to remove the heat sink, and I imagine it's not that hard, but I've never done this before and don't want to fuck something up out of ignorance. So..tips on removing the heat sink?

Fred Savage Power Glove · November 2010

Druhim wrote: »

Ok, so update on my CPU. I had to go grab it from the old apartment that we're still moving stuff out of and I forgot that the heat sink is considerably wider than the CPU and the socket (AM2). This means that I cannot seat the CPU with the heat sink attached because the metal arm (I don't know what the technical term for it is) on the socket is in the way when it's in the up "open" position to accept the CPU.

So presumably the next step is to remove the heat sink, and I imagine it's not that hard, but I've never done this before and don't want to fuck something up out of ignorance. So..tips on removing the heat sink?

Hit Google. It's not hard. If you feel like you're exerting too much force, stop: you probably are.

Druhim · November 2010

Thanks, it was pretty easy to remove. Separated cleaner than I expected. But I'm definitely going to need a magnifier to see the bent pins better as well as a much finer tool than I have available to get them straightened out.

Druhim · November 2010

So I'm not really sure what would work well as a tool for straightening out the pins considering how small and packed together they are. Doesn't seem like tweezers would be small/fine enough to isolate specific pins. Any suggestions from people who have actually done this before?

Spudge · November 2010

If you can't get your hands on some electronics tweezers and/or dental picks (use 'em to separate the pins from each other) I'm not sure. That's what I use in the labs here to fix bent pins

Druhim · November 2010

Where would you recommend looking for electronics tweezers? I'm new to this, so I lack the experience to know where to go. I haven't seen anything on Radio Shack's site that would fit the bill. I could see a dental pick working really well though. Hmm...actually dental picks look like a good option. I'm seeing pick sets for $5-10.

Spudge · November 2010

Pick sets are indispensable when working with small electronics. As for tweezers I get mine from TDI International

Druhim · November 2010

Oooh, thanks for the link to TDI. That may come in handy later on. For now I settled for a magnifying loupe and set of picks from Amazon. So hopefully in a few days I'll be ready to plug the CPU back in and then paste the heat sink back onto it.

Spudge · November 2010

Good deal

As long as you use fresh paste

Druhim · November 2010

Oh yeah, I'll be buying thermal paste for the job. I don't have any lying around.

Druhim · November 2010

The tools for fixing the pins on my CPU should be arriving tomorrow, but in case that doesn't work I wanted to get some input on replacing my CPU. Again, it's an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ in socket AM2. I want to make sure I'm looking at the right CPUs that would not only fit into the socket, but would actually work with the motherboard. So I'm looking at Wikipedia at the different versions of the cores, and I know it's not Manchester or Toledo because they're socket 939. I'm pretty sure the L2 cache is 512 KB (per processor) but I can't tell if it's a Windsor or Brisbane or if it even matters which it is. Are they considered the same architecture and interchangeable? In other words, could I just plug in any Brisbane or Windsor processor from the 64 X2 line as long as the L2 cache is 512MB? Or do I even have to stick with the same amount of L2 cache to avoid conflicts with the motherboard/other components?

Spudge · November 2010

Pretty certain your proc is Windsor; the largest majority of AM2 X2s were

What's the part number? Should start with ADAxxxxxxxx and should be right underneadh "AMD Athlon 64 X2" on the die

Druhim · November 2010

AD03800IAA5CU

And thanks for all the help!

Spudge · November 2010

And it is a Windsor

Druhim · November 2010

Ok, thanks. So does that mean I need to stick with Windsor CPUs and that a Brisbane would be a no go? Also, do I need to stick with Windsor CPUs with an L2 cache of 512KB (per core)?

Spudge · November 2010

I'd stick with Windsor to be safe, but you can use any Windsor-core X2 with a 2x 512 cache

I'd recommend an X2 4600+, m/ns ADO4600IAA5CS or ADO4600IAA5CU as about the highest speed you could upgrade to without issues

Ego · November 2010

Druhim wrote: »

So I'm not really sure what would work well as a tool for straightening out the pins considering how small and packed together they are. Doesn't seem like tweezers would be small/fine enough to isolate specific pins. Any suggestions from people who have actually done this before?

I'm late to the party, but I use mechanical pencils to straighten pins.

Druhim · November 2010

Ok, picks arrived and I was able to get the pins straightened out and re-socket the CPU. I believe it's seated ok and nothing's damaged. However, the thermal paste that was supposed to arrive today did not, and I want to power on my pc and just test if it boots up fine. Do I risk doing heat damage to my CPU even if I just boot it up for a couple of minutes without a heat sink?

Foomy · November 2010

Druhim wrote: »

Ok, picks arrived and I was able to get the pins straightened out and re-socket the CPU. I believe it's seated ok and nothing's damaged. However, the thermal paste that was supposed to arrive today did not, and I want to power on my pc and just test if it boots up fine. Do I risk doing heat damage to my CPU even if I just boot it up for a couple of minutes without a heat sink?

most modern cpus have overheating protection that will severly underclock the cpu if it starts to overheat, which will happen very very quickly when run without a heatsink. so you would probably be ok, but I wouldn't risk it anyway.

Ego · November 2010

Druhim wrote: »

Ok, picks arrived and I was able to get the pins straightened out and re-socket the CPU. I believe it's seated ok and nothing's damaged. However, the thermal paste that was supposed to arrive today did not, and I want to power on my pc and just test if it boots up fine. Do I risk doing heat damage to my CPU even if I just boot it up for a couple of minutes without a heat sink?

Definitely do not do that. A modern CPU will overheat in seconds without a heatsink. Assuming everything works right the system will immediately turn off from overheating --and if it doesn't, you'll cook the CPU.

Druhim · November 2010

Ok, thanks guys! I'll just wait for the thermal paste to arrive. Just miffed it didn't show up when it was supposed to.

Druhim · November 2010

So Arctic 5 finally arrived today when it was scheduled for delivery on Friday, but at least I finally got it! So the heat sink is mounted back on the CPU and I'm posting from my computer again and everything seems to be fine. Thanks for the help! So nice to have my computer up again after about 2 weeks of down time.

Spudge · November 2010

Awesome!

Now you're fully qualified to work in an R&D lab for [insert computer manufacturer here]

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Seeking advice on replacing damaged CPU

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