Socket AM4 CPU released with heatsink whilst locked

[Russinating]

So I was moving some components about the various machines we have and I've never had this before, but the Socket AM4 CPU came off when I released the heatsink. The two are bonded like lobsters and the locking arm on the AM4 is still down. I can put the CPU back in fairly easily (with the locking arm down) and I can't see any damage at all to the pins, missing/bent/otherwise.

Now, almost needless to say, I don't get any boot, despite the lack of visual damage.

What damage am I likely to have done, and will it be to CPU or motherboard? Annoyingly I don't have a spare AM4 motherboard to hand, though I could get one but it'd be dismantling a working machine.

Mind you I can't undo the locking arm and re-seat it because of the two being attached, and I've read that a hairdryer may help free them?

CPU is a AMD Ryzen 5 3600X.

Photos:

Spoiler

 

[kaiserc]

With Ryzen you are always better off turning the PC on and warming it up, before you removing the heatsink.
Once you have warmed it up, then turn off the PC and remove the heatsink, by first twisting side to side, this will break the seal.
then you should be able to remove it no problem

Now, in your situation, you have a small problem of removing the cpu from the heatsink.

1) See if you can force the cpu off the heatsink by twisting or putting a thin piece of card between the heatsink and cpu and see if you can pry it off
Or
2) Move that cpu arm up, carefully place the cpu & heatsink back, put the arm down and fix the heastink in place. then turn the pc on and warm it up and do the above.

 

[SKILL]

I've had similar before, and at least in that instance everything was fine in the end, just need to get the CPU off the heatsink before re-fitting it...

Do *not* under any circumstances try to pull it from the substrate away from the heatsink, thar be dragons!

Try to twist/slide it across the surface off the heatsink either to break the connection or get it to/off the edge of the heatsink.

If you try to pry it off obviously use something very thin and non-damaging, not a knife/screwdriver.

Finally, maybe a bit of heat might help? not sure how best to do it and obviously you don't want it to get *hot* but a little bit of warmth may help...

Hope it all works out...

 

[pc-guy]

install the CPU back by opening the AM4 socket and put the CPU and Heatsink in.

try to boot. if there is no boot then the socket is FUBAR. you need to start a RMA to get a new motherboard.

to pry the CPU off the heatsink, get a hair dryer onto the heat sink on high setting and try until the thermal paste softens

 

[mattyc123]

This has happened every time I have removed my cooler, I gently pry or slide the CPU off the cooler then reinstall it in the motherboard, just be carful not to bend the pins.

 

[Grimley]

I've made this mistake with many AMD rigs over the years & bent a fair few CPU pins too, I've learned my lesson. I find it hard to understand that you cant lift the CPU locking mechanism lever back up, unless the mechanism itself has jammed when you removed the cooler & CPU together. The lever SHOULD lift back up again, I've never had this happen to me.

 

[humbug]

The damage is likely to be inside the socket, nothing you can do about that, maybe try reseating it a few more times, wiggle it about (gently) tap it.... just try all sorts to see if you can get it to boot again.

I know its a bit late now but the way to removed a cooler from an AMD CPU is to gently twist and slide.

for others with an AIO that is fixed to the backplate leave it unfastened and wait, after a a few minutes the block should pop off by its self. Whatever you do never over pull on it with anything more than very light force.

I learned all this the hard way.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Borrow the Mrs hair dryer to heat the paste up, or a heat gun if you have one.

Although you don't sound like the kinda guy that would own a heat gun.

Soz lol!

 

[Zeeflyboy]

Yeeesh, don’t try and put it back in with the locking arm down!

I’ve had it happen before and no damage, depends if you got unlucky and broke/bent any pins.

if pins all look fine then you probably got away with it, hopefully you didn’t cause damage when trying to refit with the locking arm down.

Don’t try to directly pull the CPU off, just gently warm it with a hair drier and carefully twist the cpu which should break the bond easily enough.

 

[pc-guy]

The some of the contacts in the socket would have gone.

that’s why it won’t post.