Costly error / valuable lesson caused by stock AMD thermal paste
Costly error / valuable lesson caused by stock AMD thermal paste
This was a costly learning process. I upgraded my old system with a new motherboard, CPU, cooler, RAM, and power supply. To begin, I set everything up on the table for testing before placing it into my case. I also checked functionality. I installed the motherboard alongside the CPU, RAM, PSU, and connected the stock AMD Wraith cooler for testing. Everything functioned perfectly.
Next, I removed the stock cooler to fit it into my case with the AIO model. I adjusted the locking mechanisms and everything worked fine. However, when I tried to take out the stock cooler, it seemed stuck to the board. I carefully worked through the process and finally managed to release it—POOF! The CPU came loose too, stuck to the cooler, and several pins bent. *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*.
After some effort and using a scalpel and tweezers, I corrected the damage. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X CPU was severely damaged. *BEEP* and a pin at the corner broke completely.
I realized I hadn’t removed the stock thermal paste from the cooler, which acted like glue. This taught me a valuable lesson: always remove stock thermal paste before installing new coolers.
On another note, the NZXT Kraken M22 AIO has a mounting plate on its back. If you're using an Asus ROG Strix B450-i Gaming board, this plate won’t fit properly due to the mounting holes. This could cause issues with RAM installation. *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*.
Fixing this required cutting the taps off for the Intel mounting holes. It was another lesson learned after over 20 years of experience.
But hey, I’m glad it worked now! *YAY*! My new rig is running. But *BEEP*... the last pin on the outer row is missing!
Attempt to take out the cooler during high temperatures; the thermal paste would not stick as well. You may also be eligible to return the CPU without paying twice.
Already got a fresh CPU... just bought another one... I’ll be munching pasta and ketchup for the rest of the year! Sent a message to AMD but haven’t gotten any good news. The store here in Denmark isn’t helping, they asked them too.
I've encountered this before too. It's really shocking that it's still a concern—it's a significant issue that requires attention. It seems to trivialize the situation.
Consensus... I chose an AMD CPU mainly because of the price. Usually it would have been an Intel one, but in Denmark it was twice as expensive as AMD... Honestly, I didn’t really save any money this time by picking AMD.
This method works well. Perform a test run before powering down the system for a CPU adjustment. Also, gently rotate the cooler while taking it off. The type of paste doesn't really matter since they all achieve similar results. Another option is a graphite pad. Suction isn't recommended with these, though temperatures may be slightly higher than with a proper compound (as seen when I used it on a 3600).