Costly error / valuable lesson caused by stock AMD thermal paste
Costly error / valuable lesson caused by stock AMD thermal paste
The issue isn't related to the stock thermal compound. Various aftermarket options tend to become rigid in cold conditions. As others pointed out, you should have taken the heatsink out when it was warm—perhaps with a brief stress test—and not simply by lifting it. It's common to shift blame onto hardware for one's own errors.
I completed my 2600 couple days ago, had to take out the fan after it got stuck. It felt like it was heavily glued, but I managed to slide the fan over the CPU a few times and it finally came off. I believe you should avoid pulling directly—just create some air bubbles by sliding it side to side. Never use too much pressure on electronics; if it doesn’t budge, consider using a very sharp blade to carefully insert it between the fan and CPU.
There are numerous things I should have done, and I’m aware of them all. However, I failed to remember, losing track of what needed attention. As I mentioned earlier, it was a valuable personal lesson in recalling proper actions and avoiding mistakes.
I usually just turn the cooler until the paste comes off and it slides away easily. There’s always some space to move it, so why not try?
Whenever I take out a cooler from an AMD setup, the chip is always included. Fortunately, I haven't caused any lasting harm.
Certainly, the clear best option is unmistakable, though this situation remains quite awkward and unacceptable.
Absolutely certain about every pga socketted chip I've tried—it has this problem where the clamping force on the CPU is much weaker than with an LGA chip. I've gotten used to keeping a sharp tool nearby for repasting or cooler swapping. The twisting technique works well, along with using hot paste. When I take out a cooler, I apply pressure on one side while lifting the other to keep the CPU secure. This method isn't feasible on older chips without an IHS, but for modern AMD CPUs it's the most effective approach I've found.
Great update on the situation... The Danish shop is planning to request AMD to return the CPU, aligning with my discussions with AMD support. They've confirmed approval for the RMA process. Now the shop will send the CPU back to AMD, and they believe a refund or replacement is likely. Overall, things seem favorable right now. If you've experienced this before, I suggest reaching out to AMD customer service.