BGA Ramsinks: thermal paste + super glue

[aca]

I put thermal paste in the middle and 2-3 small drops of super glue in the corners of mem chips on my video card only on bottom ramsinks, since they were to heavy and were falling off all the time.

Now I will need to take them off, so I was wondering about your experience with all this if you have tried it already (taking them off). Hope those 2-3 small drops in the corners won't make me damage the chips.

Thanx

[Nazu]

it will be quite hard to remove them if you used super glue.

[humeyboy]

I would have used artic silver epoxy mixed with artic silver 5 weak enough to be able to remove but strong enough for sinks not to fall of, or artic silver 5 in middle with 4 spots of same mixed epoxy at corners, either way a spell in a freezer should let you remove them, I think superglue will get weakened in freezer also.

[MikalCarbine]

I did something similiar but I used AS5 with 4 drops ofalumina adhesive on each corner. Taking them off was a snap, here is what I did:

1)Get a credit card or some plastic and flat object.
2)Place the card flat on the PCB of the card and get a small flathead screwdriver.
3)Take the flathead screwdriver and find a point on the BGA ramsink that is hanging off of the BGA chip
4)Use the screwdriver as a lever and pop the ramsink off
The credit card or plastic will act as a fulcrum and a protection to the PCB of the card

Sounds dangerous but it worked flawlessy getting my Zalman ramsinks off :P

[[XC] MarioMaster]

you can also use windex to dissolve the superglue

[aca]

How can I dissolve super glue with it when it is between the chip and ramsink?

BTW, ramsinks are 2-3 times larger than the chips so I could try the credit card + screwdriver method.

Anyway, my new card is arriving in a few days... just wanted to hear your opinions on this.

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

dont try prying them off unless you feel like ripping off a module.

you cant use the pcb as a leverage point as it will put too much stress on the solder joints and they will either break connection, or be ripped off all together.(trust me)

the way i was able to remove them after attaching them in the same manner as you.

is i put a razor blade just under the sink and above the chip. and then use the leverage of the chips surface. that way there is no forces being put on the solder joints so you cant rip the chip off, 100% of the force is being put on the glue bonds.

also, with superglue i found heating it up, and freezing it didnt have much of an effect.

just pretty much thinking about anyway you do it, and if its putting force on the solder bonds, dont risk it. twisting also puts alot of force on the solder bonds.

[phelan1777]

what about using nail polish remover, aceton/non acetone?

it eats superglue, but not sure how it would react with thermal paste and pcb/solder and components.


THis way no presurre is used, and less likely to break stuff :-P

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

what about using nail polish remover, aceton/non acetone?

it eats superglue, but not sure how it would react with thermal paste and pcb/solder and components.


THis way no presurre is used, and less likely to break stuff :-P

another good idea.

i would test it on an old piece of pcb to see if it had any noticable negative affects.

and then find a way making it so it only was on the ramchip area and not the whole card. like little rubber pools or something.

[phelan1777]

Q-tips work wonders with nail polish remover, o you don't get it all over the place, bad qtip, don't soak it, or it will drip, then hold qtip onto chip/super glue. The glue will take a couple of seconds to soften. Also it will not regain its stickt properties, once it hits the polish it breaks it down so no worries about it rehardening.

[swaaye]

this is one of those things which you should start out with considering it to be permanent. You are probably going to destroy the card unless you are awfully lucky.

[nn_step]

Q-tips work wonders with nail polish remover, o you don't get it all over the place, bad qtip, don't soak it, or it will drip, then hold qtip onto chip/super glue. The glue will take a couple of seconds to soften. Also it will not regain its stickt properties, once it hits the polish it breaks it down so no worries about it rehardening.

that right there is the only reason a dude should have Nail Polish remover in this place

[phelan1777]

this is one of those things which you should start out with considering it to be permanent. You are probably going to destroy the card unless you are awfully lucky.

It seems no one has tried this before.

I would say to lean to the safer side use NON Acetone as it is as good as removing paint etc, just not as caustic.

Loike previousy mentioned, try it on piece of dead PCB or an old piece. AS most PCB are made of similar material you should get a good idea, but just try a little bit.

[phelan1777]

that right there is the only reason a dude should have Nail Polish remover in this place

hail cleaning miniatures is hard to do with most paint removers, I have cleaned tons of lead and pewter with nail polish remover at the angst of many a female

It works well, for acryllic paint and superglue, and I would choose it over most others as its easier to find. Unless someone has a better suggestion?

I am all ears, AND besides some brands are good for your nails, and fingers.

So if you have rough hands, try it, girls love guys with soft well taken care of hands

[aca]

I wanted this to be permanent so I applied a bit of super glue. But unfortunately after switching from air to watercooling I started getting worse results... it's throttling and it's really annoying. I guess same thing is happening as in this case here. So I will replace this card with another one I have, and put back stock cooling on the radeon.

I will inform you how this taking off of ramsinks went in a few days.

Thanx for your replies!

[aca]

Success!

Ramsinks came off relatively easy. Used something like a credit card and a screwdriver, just as Westsideplaya advised. After all I haven't used much super glue.

Now I ask you this:

What do I remove remnants of super glue from mem chips with?

[menlatin]

^^ nail polish remover. Its the acetone that does it. I've used it and parts and it wont do anything to the surface.

[phelan1777]

^^ nail polish remover. Its the acetone that does it. I've used it and parts and it wont do anything to the surface.

Thank you for your input as it seemed no one knew how it would react to the NP remover.

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

try first with nail polish remover. and if that does not work get a product called goo gone. you can find it at most grocery stores or a walmart. its fairly cheap and it removes pretty much any sort of sticky mess with ease. its also good to have around for when removing stickers off of products and that glue is left behind.


you can also use a sharp razor blade and skim it along the surface of the chip to get the hard crap off.

and glad to hear you didnt take any chips off along with the sinks.

[phelan1777]

try first with nail polish remover. and if that does not work get a product called goo gone. you can find it at most grocery stores or a walmart. its fairly cheap and it removes pretty much any sort of sticky mess with ease. its also good to have around for when removing stickers off of products and that glue is left behind.


you can also use a sharp razor blade and skim it along the surface of the chip to get the hard crap off.

and glad to hear you didnt take any chips off along with the sinks.

HAHAHA you know I completely forgot about that and I just used it Sunday to clean off the bottom of my rheobus.

[aca]

Thank you all very much for the answers!

Cheers!

[aca]

1st acetone (removed remains of thermal paste right away, and softened the super glue), then razor blade for super glue.
Chips are like new now. Hope the card works