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Replacing a CPU in-situ?

nheather

nheather

nheather

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Joined
19 May 2004
Posts
942
Location
Horsham, West Sussex
Whenever building a new PC I always fit the CPU and cooler to the motherboard and then fit the motherboard to case. I find it much easier to work that way.

Even when I have upgraded the CPU it has usually involved a new motherboard so same procedure.

But this time the replacement CPU is just dropping into the existing system. Wondering what your thoughts are about replacing the CPU in-situ - it would be nice not to have to disassemble the PC.

Assuming I can get to the CPU clamps is there any reason why I shouldn’t do an in-situ replacement?

Cheers,

Nigel
 
nheather said:
Whenever building a new PC I always fit the CPU and cooler to the motherboard and then fit the motherboard to case. I find it much easier to work that way.

Even when I have upgraded the CPU it has usually involved a new motherboard so same procedure.

But this time the replacement CPU is just dropping into the existing system. Wondering what your thoughts are about replacing the CPU in-situ - it would be nice not to have to disassemble the PC.

Assuming I can get to the CPU clamps is there any reason why I shouldn’t do an in-situ replacement?

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

When replacing CPUs I do not remove the motherboard, just the cooler and doing so since 1993
 
Whatever you feel more comfortable with if you're new to it.

Personnaly I do it in situ because I do it for other people. My customers want to pay as little as possible so it makes sense not to charge unnecessary labour.
 
One of the reasons I've tended to buy the workstation lines like socket 2011 is they often have the reinforced backplate built into the motherboard (not all generations do which sucks but more have than not) that makes it really easy to swap out the cooler and hence change CPU in-situ - done loads of in-situ CPU upgrades but it can be quite a pain especially with some cooler mounts.
 
Very rare I take the board out, usually only if the backplate needed changing, on cases with no cutouts on the gear tray (not making THAT mistake ever again). Other than that, always in situ, with care taken to make sure cooler doesn't drop down into the case o0
 
Sometimes I like to take out the board etc. to allow a good thorough cleaning if the CPU change is after quite a long time. It terms of extra effort it ins't a great deal of time, but it is a bit of a waste of time if you have no intention to clean or re-route cables etc.

Do what you feel most comfortable with, if you've never done it before and are worried about damage to an LGA socket then better safe than sorry, but if you change CPU's day-in, day-out like me then you'd take the easiest route. :)
 
nheather said:
Assuming I can get to the CPU clamps is there any reason why I shouldn’t do an in-situ replacement?
Click to expand...

None whatsoever. Extraction of the CPU can be difficult in a smaller case so just put some Blutak on the end of a chopstick to lift the old CPU out.
 
Well I have the answer to my original question - don’t do an in-situ install.

I suspect that the releasing and fitting the strong sprung clips with the motherboard supported on pillars most likely flexed the MoBo and has caused a connection to break.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
Last edited:
nheather said:
Well I have the answer to my original question - don’t do an in-situ install.

I suspect that the releasing and fitting the strong sprung clips with the motherboard supported on pillars most likely flexed the MoBo and has caused a connection to break.

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

Been doing in situ CPU changes for years over multiple systems, never had a problem.

Sounds like you just got unlucky.
 
HeX said:
Been doing in situ CPU changes for years over multiple systems, never had a problem.

Sounds like you just got unlucky.
Click to expand...

I think it is the nature of the particular heatsink clips, rather that the type that screw down or use a lever, this one has sprung steel clips that you have to push down hard and while it is pushed down manoeuvre outwards off the plastic lug on the motherboard. Not only do you have to push down very hard it is very fiddly to get off the lug so takes a few attempts.

I feel that had I removed the motherboard first, not only would it not stressed and flexed the board so much, it could have been removed first time.

Anyway, the damage has been done, pretty annoying but can’t be helped.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
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