Putting in a CPU is a crucial a part of constructing or upgrading a PC, however eradicating one is simply as vital for each upgrading and upkeep. For those who’ve constructed your personal PC, you may know the right way to set up a CPU, and you would be appropriate in assuming that eradicating it simply means doing all of the steps backwards. Nevertheless, for those who’re upgrading a prebuilt PC, you will have to learn 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 vital to be ready to take away your CPU when one normally prices $100 at minimal, and this is all the things you should do earlier than getting began.
- Flip off your PC, then flip off the PSU by flipping its change to off if potential, after which unplug it.
- Discover an space the place you may have sufficient house to work, however keep away from carpet as you could possibly probably harm your {hardware} by means of static electrical energy.
- Get a screwdriver or screwdrivers that you already know will have the ability to take away all of the screws in your CPU cooler, and probably different elements just like the motherboard.
- Have thermal paste readily available for those who’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 effectively, or not less than the plastic container it got here in or another container the place the CPU will likely be protected.
With all that out of the way in which, you need to be good to go and able to begin eradicating your CPU.
Easy methods to take away a CPU
There are many CPUs and motherboards on the market, however the one factor you should 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 need to be cautious usually when eradicating a CPU, you should be further cautious with the half that has the pins on it, as harm to those pins will be fairly catastrophic and troublesome to restore at finest, inconceivable at worst.
Whether or not you’ve a PGA or LGA CPU although, it is best to orient your case in order that the motherboard is flat on the bottom somewhat than upright like regular. For those who attempt to take away your CPU whereas the case is upright, it is going to merely fall out of its socket as a consequence of gravity. Do not attempt to skip this to save lots of time; you could possibly simply harm your motherboard or CPU if it falls out of the socket. You may 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 is not too troublesome, although it does range from cooler to cooler. First, unplug the CPU cooler followers from the motherboard.
- Subsequent, unscrew or unlatch the cooler from the motherboard. This will likely be barely totally 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.
You probably have a PGA CPU, it is potential 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 harm. If this occurs, you’ll be able to 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 coated in thermal paste. Utilizing a paper towel flippantly doused in isopropyl alcohol, clear the paste off.
- Subsequent, you should unlatch the CPU from the socket, and this step is barely totally different relying on whether or not your CPU is PGA or LGA. You probably have a PGA CPU, pull up the metallic lever subsequent to the socket and thoroughly extract the CPU. For LGA CPUs, you should press down on the metallic lever, pull it away from the socket in order that it is free, after which let it raise up. Then, the metallic bracket holding the CPU in must also be free, and it is best to have the ability to raise it up and take away the CPU rigorously, in order that no socket pins are broken.
- For safekeeping, hold the CPU in its unique plastic container, or in an equally protected container for those who now not have the unique.
Eradicating a CPU: Closing ideas
Whereas eradicating a CPU to make manner for a brand new CPU, a brand new motherboard, or simply to do easy upkeep will be nerve wracking, however so long as you’re taking your time and do not rush issues then there must be no issues. And if there are issues, you may in all probability must take them up together with your CPU and/or motherboard producer, as a result of pin harm will be fairly severe (and may not be coated by guarantee both).
