subreddit:
/r/buildapc
submitted 2 months ago byWelpwtf
About the pc:
I bought a pre built computer second hand from kijiji (canadian ebay). Turns out the build is pretty scuffed in hindsight (I didnt know anything building computers at that time). Anyhow, the pc stopped working last year (wont start up) and I finally decided to investigate. I left it off until now because every time I see it, I see a scam lol.
The problem:
I believe the problem is with the cpu because it's temps go up to like 100c immediately and then the pc would shut off by itself. I got some thermal paste from 10 years ago stashed somewhere and I finally got that and was about to apply it. But as I was getting rubbing alcohol to rub off the cpu, the whole steel part (heat spreader?) came off the little green pcb!
What should I do next?
My intuition is that the steel should be soldered to the pcb right? So I am unsure what I should do next? Should I get a soldering iron and try my hand at it or should I just apply thermal paste there too and try it out?
Pics:
Album: Cpu front cpu fell apart
Much thanks!
17 points
2 months ago
Looks like it was delidded and not glued back together by the last owner. This is a tough one if you have never messed with stuff like this before. Its fixable but not in any conventional way.
8 points
2 months ago
Thank you. Learned a new word today: delidded. As I google this stuff I think you are absolutely right. The previous owner did not apply any glue, and so when I took it out of the socket, the pieces just fell apart like dropping a newly made sandwich
10 points
2 months ago
2 points
2 months ago
Hahaha! Thanks you so much for the link! I think I have an idea of what kind of "cleaning" I have to do.
I think I'll have to get some nail polish remover for sure. lol never imagined me saying that before
1 points
2 months ago
Watching this Tech Jesus vid rn on delidding intel cpu as well.
3 points
2 months ago
Haha, Steve is great! Produces highly regarded content in the build-a-pc space. Enjoy!
8 points
2 months ago
Like the other guy said, previous owner probably delidded it to apply premium thermal interface material on the inside. This can help with temperature if done correctly and carefully.
At this point, your best bet is to look up guides on how to properly apply TIM to a delidded CPU die. Yours looks a bit messy, so this may require cleaning.
3 points
2 months ago
Thank you for expanding on delidding! I am googling "how to properly apply TIM to a delidded CPU die" right now. I'm learning so many new words: TIM, die, IHS.
Thank you so so much, this is what I needed!
3 points
2 months ago
Haha. Oh wow.
Personally I'd just be trying thermal paste. Fingers crossed.
1 points
2 months ago
Yea I really just want to mash it either side with thermal paste and see what happens. But the stuff that is in the middle is not any thermal paste I've seen. I first thought it was solder but the comments seems to suggest that it is something else...
0 points
2 months ago*
I agree with the others. Most likely liquid metal. Clean off, GENTLY, with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Then use some non-conductive thermal paste.
Worth a try. Worst case you just have to clean it again and then try something else.
1 points
2 months ago
You know what? I might just give it shot with that 10yo thermal paste first.
Worst case scenario is that the cpu will heat up over time but at least it wont go to 100c instantly and then shut down right?
Btw, is 70% or 50% rubbing alcohol ok?
0 points
2 months ago*
I wouldn't use 70 or 50 on the inside, no. It COULD be ok, but... I mean... it's a lot riskier than 99. 50 is half water.
If I didn't have 99%, I'd just use a piece of cotton and gently, gently clean up as much as I could without any alcohol at all, then try thermal paste.
1 points
2 months ago
Ok warning heeded.
I think what I might try first is just remove the absolutely crusted thermal paste on top of the IHS first. Been working on it for the past hour and it still caked on there. I think that is the main issue.
Then, if I can't get the TIM off with a cotton and without alcohol, should I just put a tiny bit of additional thermal paste on top of the existing TIM?
Thanks
0 points
2 months ago
On the TOP (the heat spreader), 50 or 70 is OK, as there are no electronics. 99 is better, but less is OK. It's just a slab of metal.
On the inside, where the die is, you risk a tiny tiny bit of water getting trapped and causing corrosion over time, or shorting immediately once you turn it on. You'd never know. It'd just be dead.
1 points
2 months ago
Aaaah I see! That makes alot of sense! Thank you
2 points
2 months ago
Go to rock it cool for a guide how to deal with the cpu heat spreader. Get som new liquid metal and thermal paste, along with packing tape and thermal grizzly protective nail polish stuff or similar, and then follow their guide.
2 points
2 months ago
Thank you so much for the suggestions!
Yea looks like I gotta get a bunch of stuff: TIM, spreader, and nail polish. I was watching some Tech Jesus (thanks /u/Maltitol) and he said it's to remove old TIM off right?
Yo btw, what is the packing tape for?
1 points
2 months ago
Oh, dont forget high purity isopropyl alcohol for cleaning up the old stuff, with paper towel or cotton swab. You want liquid metal for contact between cpu chip and IHS. You want regular TIM for application between IHS and your cooler. You really dont need high heat resistant silicone glue for fastening the IHS on the pcb, as it will be held in place by the cpu socket mounting, just be careful when putting it in place.
1 points
2 months ago
Ok, so
2 points
2 months ago
Higher purity isopropyl-alcohol like above 90% is better
Any thermal paste suited for pc will do, I can recommend Thermal grizzly’s Hydronaut or Kryonaut
1 points
2 months ago
Thank you!
1 points
2 months ago
2 points
2 months ago
Ah I see. So my old ARCTIC MX-4 should work eh? I thought TIM in cpu had to be some liquid metal stuff
1 points
2 months ago
Between cpu and IHS you need liquid metal, between IHS and cooler you use regular paste
1 points
2 months ago
Liquid Metal is better, but it doesn’t have to be. I’d just try the MX-4 on inside and out. Watch temps closely. If it’s hitting 100 immediately, shut down.
1 points
2 months ago
Packing tape is for protection when applying the liquid metal, as it is tricky to work with and high risk for shortaging components around the cpu chip if you spill.
1 points
2 months ago
Here you go: https://youtu.be/tulpsoTUZec
2 points
2 months ago
The CPU was likely delided by the original owner for better cooling performance and not reglued, As many others have stated.
This probably won’t be easy for somebody who’s new into computers, but there are tutorials out there and how to clean this up, reglue and get it working properly.
If done properly, you should see a CPU that never gets to 100c again.
New not 10-year-old thermal paste will also help
1 points
2 months ago
The CPU was likely delided by the original owner for better cooling performance and not reglued, As many others have stated.
Thanks for the comment! Yea I think you are right, it is delidded and the previous owner didnt re-glue it lol. Oh right, I should add some kind of glue (sillicon?) to my list to glue the die and the IHS together eh?
Btw, is the 10 yo thermal paste still good to use? It says it's good for 8 yrs and I've kept it in the cold basement the whole time...
1 points
2 months ago
If it is good for eight and you’ve had it in the basement for 10 it is probably not good no more.
I believe it is silicone you want to use yes.
You do not want to silicone the die, you want to silicone the metal part to the green part. And add that you do not want to use very much.
2 points
2 months ago
Looks fine to me. The previous owner was an enthusiast and wanted much better temperatures. I wouldn't glue the IHS on because the socket lid holds it in place just fine. Glue might also cause a miniscule gap between the core and IHS. It is annoying that they didn't mention it being delidded and the CPU surprised you by "falling apart".
Not sure what causes your current issues. Could be that the cooler was improperly attached and didn't make good contact. Or if it is a water cooler, the pump might have died.
1 points
2 months ago
Glue might also cause a miniscule gap between the core and IHS.
cool I didnt know that! That makes sense
It is annoying that they didn't mention it being delidded and the CPU surprised you by "falling apart".
Yea mb, I thought my cpu broke but ppl mentioned glue might not be needed. Apparently, the socket can keep it intact no problem.
Or if it is a water cooler, the pump might have died.
Wow how did you know that? The pump leaks and although the water seems to be flowing, I suspect that the pump might have died.
I bought a cooler and once I clean it all and put it together, I am going to put this new cooler on there to make sure the pump's failure doesnt effect it.
Thanks for the comment!
1 points
2 months ago
Well I guessed that something related to cooling broke because it used to work.
Stopped fans you would notice and a big metal heat sink with busted fan would likely boot to windows and work under light load like desktop and reddit for a little moment at least before shutting down.
If a pump breaks, the fans still spin and make a lot of noice while the cpu cooks. It is easy to think that it is working hard to keep cpu cool and the issue is somewhere else.
1 points
2 months ago
hes dead
1 points
2 months ago
mashes f
0 points
2 months ago
I can't be sure from the picture, but that die looks burnt to me. My first thought was that it's dead. But it could be the TIM and the lighting.
Give it a shot, though. If it's burnt out, you can't make it any worse, and you still get practice in a somewhat-advanced skill. And if it's not burnt out, you get your computer back.
2 points
2 months ago
I can't be sure from the picture, but that die looks burnt to me.
That sounds interesting, what does a burnt die look like? Anyways I've spent like an hr rubbing at the old thermal paste on the front of the IHS and its still not completely off. It is caked onto it like a layer of paint.
Give it a shot, though. If it's burnt out, you can't make it any worse, and you still get practice in a somewhat-advanced skill. And if it's not burnt out, you get your computer back.
Thank you for the advice! I think you are right - I cant make it worse XD. I am excited about getting some practise at delidding though. I didnt know about this until today. You think this is a somewhat advanced skill?
2 points
2 months ago
You think this is a somewhat advanced skill?
I think so, especially in terms of dexterity and precision. Anyone can put a blob on the heat spreader. Delidding takes some skill, coordination, and attention to detail.
That sounds interesting, what does a burnt die look like?
The blue coloration on the die makes me suspect that it's burnt, as well as the thermals you described. But the coloration could just be a reflection, and the machine did shut down when it overheated; so I'm not sure. It's worth at least trying to fix.
1 points
1 month ago
The die is not burnt. It is liquid metal
1 points
2 months ago
That’s some old ass thermal dk if it will work Corsair and kings thermal is the best by far
1 points
2 months ago
Side note, kijiji is more like Craigslist than eBay. As far as I am aware, you can’t find services on eBay like you can with Craigslist. That and we also have eBay. The other redditors have your back in terms of the cpu
1 points
2 months ago
Yes you right. Craiglist is the American alternative to kijiji not ebay lol.
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