The horrors of fixing lga sockets

[R-T-B]

So, I made a boo boo I never thought I'd make.

My nice new EVGA z170 ftw was running nicely, but I wanted to try that thermal grizzly paste everyone raves about.

During processor reinstall, I had a random pain spasm (I broke my arm some bit ago and it's never worked right since). My fist clenched and I emptied half my large tube of thermal paste onto my delidded cpu die.

I, being a genius, tried to gently lift the now smotherred processor, and had a similar spasm.

long story short, I had an lga1151 socket full of thermal paste.

After attempting to clean it with a microfiber, despite my best efforts, the pins are now horifically out of whack. I know I need a new mobo, and this is my fault, but given this situation, how would you have attempted to clean it?

Furthermore, my mobo seems discontinued. Is a gigabyte ga-z170-ud5 a good option? I need something sub $200.00

grumble grumble I hate my life etc

 

[Norton]

That sucks bud!

but given this situation, how would you have attempted to clean it?

I would have drenched it with electrical parts cleaner spray- holding the board upside down to get all of the paste out there.

FYI- call EVGA and see if they will replace the socket for a reasonable fee. Some board manufacturers will do this for you iirc.

EDIT- a replacement is available and doesn't cost much (YMMV on labor cost though):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foxconn-int...965271?hash=item3d13e7d417:g:OGAAAOSwvgdW4ET7

 

[R-T-B]

I may do that, but I will probably order a temp mobo in the mean time. Maybe sell one of them later.

 

[Toothless]

Should come visit and have me do it for you next time.

 

[AsRock]

Toothbrush and some electrical cleaner and a load of time .

I hope you still going try to fix it ?.

 

[Jetster]

Electrical spray and then run it thew a dish washer and sit for a week or two to dry. Ive screwed up my share so don't feel bad

Ive fixed many of sockets with bent pins. It tedious work but your mussel spasms would prevent you from doing it

 

[JrRacinFan]

Ammonia free window cleaner. If you want it fixed I could try my hand at it for you, my hands aren't as steady as they used to be but I could do it as long as none are missing. Of course, no promises in getting it working again

 

[R-T-B]

I hope you still going try to fix it ?.

Not me, I can't even apply thermal paste aparently without high risk, lol

I ordered said gigabyte board, may try to have pros resocket this one if I can turn a profit.

I wouldn't bother trying to straighten the pins. I tried, only made it worse and broke 1-2 off.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Well crap. If it happens again at least you know if you need help who to ask and what to try now.

 

[R-T-B]

Well crap. If it happens again at least you know if you need help who to ask and what to try now.

Yep, I fully admit I dug this hole, lol. You'd think one such spasm would've been a warning but nope... had to screw up completely, lol. My father would tell me to take it as a lesson and that's what I am doing...

I normally only get these spasms around once a week. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with my working position, and I was too boneheaded to move.

 

[qubit]

Ouch, I feel your pain, buddy. Shit happens, don't beat yourself up about it. I'd have been curious to try out that thermal paste, too.

That's a high end mobo, so you could probably still eBay it as "for parts" and get something for it. Let someone else have the headache of fixing that socket.

 

[R-T-B]

If Bill Bright was here, I'm sure he'd have something to say about the dangers of unneccesary thermal paste replacement, eh? I'd be a good posterboy.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Use electro lube solvent and canned air... slowly blow it all out.

It will take a lot... but that is the only way. Do not use anything that is not ment for electronics cleaning. That is a high frequency place.

 

[Toothless]

If Bill Bright was here, I'm sure he'd have something to say about the dangers of unneccesary thermal paste replacement, eh? I'd be a good posterboy.

Where is @Bill_Bright nowadays? I miss his wisdom.

 

[AsRock]

Not me, I can't even apply thermal paste aparently without high risk, lol

I ordered said gigabyte board, may try to have pros resocket this one if I can turn a profit.

I wouldn't bother trying to straighten the pins. I tried, only made it worse and broke 1-2 off.

My apology's, brain fart HA!. Maybe take some one up on fixing it for you. I would be willing to do it but i don't have a chip for it so. But as you can see there is some good people who are willing to try to help you out so .

Good Luck.

 

[Ferrum Master]

And for the pins. If not electronics, try jewelry repair guys... they use same set of instruments and have high focal lenght microscopes too... they might agree to straighten the pins...

 

[laszlo]

think pressured water will clean all , used from a safe distance to not rip off other stuff, than let it dry..

 

[Ferrum Master]

think pressured water will clean all , used from a safe distance to not rip off other stuff, than let it dry..

No it wont disolve silicon based paste. It needs a solvent.

After the procedure he will need to bake the board also then.

 

[R-T-B]

No it wont disolve silicon based paste. It needs a solvent.

After the procedure he will need to bake the board also then.

Buh buh... Bake?

No. Not for me. This will become someone elses project before I smell that smell again, lol

 

[Frick]

As for broken pins it might work anyway, depending on which pins are broken.

 

[R-T-B]

Depending on which pins are broken.

Well over half the pins are bent at this point so I think a resocket is a better plan...

For reference, microfiber latches onto those pins like velcro...

 

[basco]

http://uk.farnell.com/cleaners-degreasers
for next time

 

[Ferrum Master]

Buh buh... Bake?

80C 1-2h... it is to drive out moist out of IC's, as you run water over then, they soak it too via pores... if you will power on the device it may conduct and cause so called popcorn effect (actually defect ). Actually it is a normal procedure for new IC's too if they are not transported in protected packages.

And if half of the pins are damaged... well... google some repair services around, they are ones that specialize to that job.

 

[Devon68]

Well over half the pins are bent at this point so I think a resocket is a better plan...

For reference, microfiber latches onto those pins like velcro...

All this info makes me want to see the picture of the socket.

 

[Jetster]

Just google Paste in the CPU socket, pictures, and take your pick