Putting in a CPU is a important a part of constructing or upgrading a PC, however eradicating one is simply as necessary for each upgrading and upkeep. Should you’ve constructed your personal PC, you may know easy methods to set up a CPU, and you would be appropriate in assuming that eradicating it simply means doing all of the steps backwards. Nonetheless, in case you’re upgrading a prebuilt PC, you will want to discover ways to take away your CPU rigorously and safely, which is what this information is all about.
Earlier than you begin eradicating your CPU: A guidelines
It is necessary to be ready to take away your CPU when one normally prices $100 at minimal, and this is every thing it’s essential do earlier than getting began.
- Flip off your PCthen flip off the PSU by flipping its swap to off if attainable, after which unplug it.
- Discover an space the place you may have sufficient area to work, however keep away from carpet as you can probably injury your {hardware} by static electrical energy.
- Get a screwdriver or screwdrivers that you already know will be capable of take away all of the screws in your CPU cooler, and probably different parts just like the motherboard.
- Have thermal paste available in case you’re putting in a brand new CPU afterwards, except you are additionally putting in a brand new cooler that comes preapplied with paste.
- Attempt to have the unique packaging for the CPU as nicely, or not less than the plastic container it got here in or another container the place the CPU shall be secure.
With all that out of the best way, you ought to be good to go and able to begin eradicating your CPU.
take away a CPU
There are many CPUs and motherboards on the market, however the one factor it’s essential be involved about that may affect the elimination course of is whether or not your CPU is PGA (pin grid array) or LGA (land grid array). A PGA CPU has pins on the underside, whereas an LGA CPU has no pins. Likewise, a PGA motherboard has no pins and an LGA motherboard has pins. Whereas you ought to be cautious typically when eradicating a CPU, it’s essential be additional cautious with the half that has the pins on it, as injury to those pins could be fairly catastrophic and tough to restore at greatest, not possible at worst.
Whether or not you could have a PGA or LGA CPU although, it is best to orient your case in order that the motherboard is flat on the bottom fairly than upright like regular. Should you attempt to take away your CPU whereas the case is upright, it’s going to merely fall out of its socket because of gravity. Do not attempt to skip this to avoid wasting time; you can simply injury your motherboard or CPU if it falls out of the socket. You would possibly even wish to take away the motherboard from the case earlier than beginning the elimination course of.
- Step one is eradicating the CPU cooler, and whereas that is a course of in itself, it isn’t too tough, although it does fluctuate from cooler to cooler. First, unplug the CPU cooler followers from the motherboard.
- Subsequent, unscrew or unlatch the cooler from the motherboard. This shall be barely completely different for each cooler, so seek the advice of your cooler’s handbook if wanted. Then pull the cooler off, with a twisting movement if it is sticking to the CPU.
When you’ve got a PGA CPU, it is attainable that it may come out of the socket, caught to the CPU cooler as you are eradicating it, however normally this does not trigger any injury. If this occurs, you may take away the CPU from the cooler by sliding it to the sting of the cooler and thoroughly pushing the CPU off, ideally into your hand.
- After eradicating the cooler, you may see the CPU lined in thermal paste. Utilizing a paper towel frivolously doused in isopropyl alcohol, clear the paste off.
- Subsequent, it’s essential unlatch the CPU from the socket, and this step is barely completely different relying on whether or not your CPU is PGA or LGA. When you’ve got a PGA CPU, pull up the steel lever subsequent to the socket and thoroughly extract the CPU. For LGA CPUs, it’s essential press down on the steel lever, pull it away from the socket in order that it is free, after which let it elevate up. Then, the steel bracket holding the CPU in must also be free, and it is best to be capable of elevate it up and take away the CPU rigorously, in order that no socket pins are broken.
- For safekeeping, preserve the CPU in its unique plastic container, or in an equally secure container in case you now not have the unique.
Eradicating a CPU: Closing ideas
Whereas eradicating a CPU to make approach for a brand new CPU, a brand new motherboard, or simply to do easy upkeep could be nerve wracking, however so long as you are taking your time and do not rush issues then there ought to be no issues. And if there are issues, you may most likely must take them up together with your CPU and/or motherboard producer, as a result of pin injury could be fairly severe (and won’t be lined by guarantee both).
