This kinda sounds stupid, but everyone I’ve looked up say “grab CPU by the sides and take out”. Thing is, the CPU is in the socket, the sides are surrounded by the socket “walls”, I can’t exactly grab the sides.
I mean, kinda same thing for putting CPU in, but for putting it in, I can just let go a bit above, and have it fall down into the socket.
Maybe this motherboard is like that, and other motherboard are different, but I don’t know.
The only thing I can grab is the heatsink (which you apply thermal paste to) on the top, but I can’t get a good grip on it.
I can keep grabbing and pull the CPU to the side on top, but I might bend a few pins doing that.
This is AM5 socket btw.
Edit: I built this PC from parts, I put the CPU in, so I know I have to remove the cooler and pull the lever up.
You must log in or register to comment.
I think if you shared one picture, you would have saved paragraphs of text you didn’t have to write and so much back and forth in the comments, as everyone doesn’t understand what you’re asking.
Maybe you have a thermal paste guard on.
There’s a little ramp on at least one edge of the socket that lets you lift the CPU so that you can then take it out. It may even be on both sides.
Voyager is giving me an error when I try to attach a photo, but it’s visible in the thumbnail for this video
I’ll ask a no stupid question back: you did open the socket, right? With the lil clip beside it?
Yes, my last attempt was before putting the PC together, now I might want to swap the motherboard soon, which is why I want to know how to take the CPU out (cause last time I tried, I faced the issue I described).
Find the motherboard’s manual. It will have instructions for installing and removing both the CPU and the cooler. If the CPU uses a PGA socket, removing it might require a little force.
If you’re sure the clip and the retaining frame are released, but can’t/don’t want to lift it by its edges, you could use suction.
- If there’s still some moisture in the thermal compound, you can use a flat piece of glass or plastic. Press it against the CPU’s surface and lift gently. If the thermal compound is dry, apply a little from a new tube.
- A small suction cup might work.
- There are vacuum pens made specifically for this kind of work.
(edit) The MSI B650 uses an AM5 socket, which is an LGA package. The CPU itself doesn’t have any pins that could be damaged, so you can be a bit more forceful. You could even take a small tweezer and pry it out from one of the corners (as long as the retaining frame is off, of course).
I have an AM4 CPU, and legitimately suction lifted the CPU out of the socket entirely on accident. I was changing heatsinks, and the CPU came with the darn thing. I had to pry it off with a knife.
That happens sometimes with AM4. For anyone else reading this: just twist/slide parts to break the adhesion. Trying to pry a CPU off sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Tried twisting first. Didn’t work lol. It was very stubborn. I’m still using the CPU rn so it ended fine.
Photo?
Not even yours, look for something that looks the same
Could you provide a picture? Something sounds off, like you’re conflating the CPU with something else, or you’ve missed a step such as opening the CPU “cage”.
AM5 socket is similar to many other sockets, and it basically goes like this:
- Remove heatsink
- Open the socket with the small lever
- Lift open the socket.
- Pull the CPU out straight
Note that if there’s an excessive amount of coolant paste that has dried up, some components might seem stuck.
So I might be missing something, but it’s not these. I built this PC from parts, so I know all these steps.
I would post a picture, but honestly, the PC is built and in the case right now. I might want to swap the motherboard soon though (and last time I tried removing the CPU from this motherboard, I faced this issue and gave up), which is why I am asking.
MSI B650 Gaming Plus WIFI is the motherboard, it sounds weird yes, it sounds like there shouldn’t be something surrounding the CPU, but the CPU literally goes in the “hole” and is surrounded by it.
