ISH Removal for e21XX series CPUs

[pokipoki]

Notes about IHS removal (gathered from here & the net)
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Ok guys... I got something major to report. If you soak your CPU in a product called Solvoplast (used to remove bandaids and other adheasives) you will be able to remove the IHS in under 10 seconds with a good razor and drastically reduce your chances of damaging your CPU.

If you are members of XtremeSystems please post this in thier IHS removal thread.

I works soooo good. I left my FX-53 upside down in just enough to cover the silicone seal overnight and came home from work and had it done in less that 2 minutes, and half was wonding why it was so easy

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To make it even easier I used NAIL POLISH remover around edges to soften up the adheasive.That made it easy as pie and taking my time I would say you will invest 30 minutes JUST getting the H/S off.

Well. I soaked my CPU in it for close to 24 hours. What I did was put it upside down, and filled a small container to the bottom of the substrate so it would come in contact with the silicone (or whatever it was) and left it.

I returned form work and was actaully quite nervous. I began to insert the blade (a Gillette dual edged straight razor) and was wondering why it was so easy...

I went around it twice and it wasn't coming off. Turned out some of the Solvoplast has gotten inside from the one side of the IHS that has the spot with no silicone and was creating a bit of a vacuum. Poped right off after i figured that out.

Now. I know that the internals of the CPU had been soaked in the Solvoplast for a long time. Stuck it back in my case and fired right up. Dropped 2c on my idle temp and 10c on load. Gonna start testing for max tonight.

All in all I would have to say therre is no damage to the CPU from Solvoplast. The next one I do will take less than 30 seconds becuase I know what is going on. And I know I will never damage anything.

After everything was said and done I rinsed the CPU off with 90% alcholol to get rid of the Solvoplast(it kinda stinks and is alittle greasy).

You can trust me Angry... then other people will trust what you say

Here is a pic of my 3800 A64 venice. This is my 5th AMD that I have removed the IHS. Generally I can pick up 60-80 more mhz by doing so. However this unit only gave me 40 mhz at slightly higher voltage. Worth it? To some yes. To others no. The easiest method for me is to use a single back razor blade and ROCK it back and forth on each edge working it closer to the middle each time. Takes about 5 minutes taking my time and not one damaged cpu. Proceed at your own risk and don't forget you lose any warranty.

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With IHS-side down, I basically submerged the CPU in Goo Gone up to the base of the pins. I soaked the CPU overnight (about 12 hours). The stuff has a cloying, citrus smell, and the odor filled up my room until I opened up a window and turned on a fan.

Anyway, I rinsed the CPU with 99% (anhydrous) isopropyl alchohol (there's an eBay seller that sells this really pure stuff), and went at it with a thin, double-edge razor blade (with one side taped off with about six layers of masking tape). The hardest part of this procedure is holding the CPU firmly between your thumb and index finger without putting pressure on the edge pins. But I was able to complete everything without bending a single pin.

The easiest place to start is at a corner of the IHS - you can get the corner of the razor in pretty easily there. And it was extremely easy to slice around the peripery. After I got all the way around, I expected the IHS to just lift off (or fall off - I had IHS-side down as I performed this procedure), but it didn't. I assumed that maybe I hadn't cut deeply enough. So I went around a second, third, fourth, and fifth time, cutting a little deeper each time.

The trouble is, I think there's a bit of a vacuum effect, so even though the IHS is completely severed from the CPU, suction is still holding it on. And the razor blade is SO thin, you can't get any leverage with it to pry off the IHS.

So after completing five-circuits around the CPU with the razor with no satisfaction, I got a thin paring knife (MUCH stiffer than the razor) and gently inserted the edge of the blade at one corner (by this point, there were several locations where there was a clear separation between the IHS and CPU). And the IHS just fell off. In retrospect, I probably should have tried this after just a couple of circuits.

It's hard to say what contribution the Goo Gone had - the cutting was very easy, but maybe with this thin razor blade that would have been the case even without soaking the CPU in the solvent.

Just remember to take things very slowly.

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Step by Step removal guide someone asked for:

Use a single edge razor, like those found in paint scrapers. They have a very thin edge, and are knurled on one side... so it gives you something to hang onto.

I started off by pushing the razor under the corners, until it was in through the epoxy. I kept shoving it under all four corners until it moved pretty freely. Then I used a kind of sea-saw motion to work it around to the sides. I left the blade in, and pivoted on the corner as I shoved the blade into the side.

Use back-pressure, so if something gives, you dont ram the blade into the core or anything else. Move as it will let you move. ie: don't force it. The key is to "push" the blade, don't cut or saw your way through.

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My own experience :

Before you do this, ensure the core is not epoxied/soldered to the IHS

thinnest razor blade
pure acetone (solvent grade), unable to acquire Solvoplast
small plastic container, slightly larger than the cpu, thick plastic preffered

Use the thinnest razor blade available, buy a few woman's razor & remove the blade. Men's razor are thicker.

Use fabric type duct tape to tape over one edge of the razor. Apply multiple layers to secure a better grip on the blade.

To soak CPU in acetone for 8-12 hours :
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Flip CPU so that the IHS is facing down. Place CPU in plastic container.
Slowly fill container with acetone, only up to the PCB. (use teaspoon/dropper)
Ensure acetone does not touch resistors/caps on the other side of the CPU. (some have totally submerged CPU for 16 hrs with no damage)
Cover the container so acetone does not evaporate as quickly.
Top up acetone as required.

After 8-12 hours
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Remove CPU
Allow to dry (less than a minute)
If you can : tape the fine power lines/traces on the CPU PCB
Position thin blade at top corner of CPU (no visible power traces there)
Use other hand to *gently* push the CPU *into* the blade (back pressure)
Use the other corner if it doesn't work
Once one corner is penetrated, use small edge of blade to slowly "cut" the sides until all sides & corners are removed

Note
- Never ever force the blade under the IHS
- Never ever scratch the PCB (if you see gold, the CPU is damaged, happened to me.)
- Do not pry the IHS from the CPU, slowly rotate the IHS instead
- If you need to put the CPU on the table to cut it, you're using too much force already.

When IHS is separated
- clean core TIM with acetone or something equivalent
- remove CPU Cover from motherboard socket (there are pics somewhere on the net, easy to do, flip open cover & pry sideways)
- ensure heatsink is the screw-down type (push-pin & clip type will not work)
- cut small pieces & layers of duct tape & tape onto PCB near the core (function as pads for the heatsink)
- ensure layers are lower than core

Achieve average 8-12C lower temps, otherwise re-examine your core-to-heatsink contact.