Need some help setting up new motherboard....

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Positively Negative

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Hi guys,
just received a motherboard which is compatable with my cpu,ram etc. I actually don't know WTF I may have gotten myself into here :cry:

Firstly the cpu from the old pc has a huge steel heatsink over it and it seems to stuck to the heatsink with some paste. I have to remove the cpu from the heatsink right before I can place it into the board? the lever that locks the cpu is clashing with the heatsink so I think I gotta remove it? Also can you guys suggest the simplest method of removing it. Should I also buy some new thermal paste when I set the heatsink back on at some stage.


Also I think when I was very GENTLY trying to set the cpu in ,2 of the pins bent :cry: I seem to have them back in place but we all know,the slightest degree out of it's original spot, and they bend for good. Will the cpu still operate if a pin or 5 are damaged ? FFS I should have just told me parentals to fcking get a new pc. I tried to save them some cash but now it looks like I might have wasted it :mad:

secondly (still cpu related) - The CPU fan power cable is a pin connection. This mobo states it supports 4-pin head connectors. WTF...really? Is there something I can do or get an extension to make it compatable :confused:

Thirdly - This seems to be one of those mini boards. Now it doesn't exactly fit in like the older board did, but I don't really care. As long as it starts up and operates. What type of surface can I prop it up against inside the case? Will a sturdy piece of wood be fine for example :o

So yeah it's mainly the CPU query for now and CPU fan. The memory and everything else seems good.

People who build their own pc's have got balls I tell ya :D
 
You need to remove the heatsink before you take the cpu out of the old motherboard. you need to clean the thermal paste off the cpu as well as the bottom of the heatsink (if you are reusing the same heatsink) with some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and a lint free cloth.

The new motherboard should have a cpu_fan header, which you plug the cpu fan into. Fan headers usually have a plastic 'guide', so that you don't connect the fan the wrong way. If the header has more/less pins than the fan cable connector, use this 'guide' to determine how you should plug the fan in. Its quite simple if you just have a close look at the mobo header and the fan connector.

If youre still confused I can post pics for you, or just google it.

In terms of the bent cpu pins, I don't know much about that. I've read that you can carrfully realign them and there shouldn't be any issues, however I've never had to do this myself yet so don't have any experience.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
 
abdul89 said:
You need to remove the heatsink before you take the cpu out of the old motherboard. you need to clean the thermal paste off the cpu as well as the bottom of the heatsink (if you are reusing the same heatsink) with some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and a lint free cloth.

The new motherboard should have a cpu_fan header, which you plug the cpu fan into. Fan headers usually have a plastic 'guide', so that you don't connect the fan the wrong way. If the header has more/less pins than the fan cable connector, use this 'guide' to determine how you should plug the fan in. Its quite simple if you just have a close look at the mobo header and the fan connector.

If youre still confused I can post pics for you, or just google it.

In terms of the bent cpu pins, I don't know much about that. I've read that you can carrfully realign them and there shouldn't be any issues, however I've never had to do this myself yet so don't have any experience.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Cool thanks man. I checked the manual and found the CPU fan header and it fits fine.

I honestly have no idea WTF the last people used as thermal paste for the cpu. It almost seems like a hard sedimentary rock is now inbetween the CPU and the heatsink :eek: I will have to carefully pick away at it and try my best not to fck up things further.
I think I may have re-alligned the cpu pins back but FFS I am stressing about having to pop the CPU back in at some stage, because I know how fragile those pins are!!! If I haven't re-alligned them correctly and try pop it in again, it will be completely fcking over for that cpu :cry: ! Then this motherboard is a pointless waste of R800 aswell :eek:

I will try fight on further. thanks for the help :(
 
abdul is right that said ....... experience cost money most times if you are not careful :D
 
Ok well the CPU fitted perfectly in after I got it off the heatsink :D

I want to power up and test that all is working fine. Can I place the heatsink over the cpu without any thermal paste. I will buy some on saturday.... can the cpu fry instantly without the thermal paste :eek:
 
Positively Negative said:
Ok well the CPU fitted perfectly in after I got it off the heatsink :D

I want to power up and test that all is working fine. Can I place the heatsink over the cpu without any thermal paste. I will buy some on saturday.... can the cpu fry instantly without the thermal paste :eek:
Click to expand...

I wouldn't attempt to do much before getting some thermal paste on. Modern motherboard and cpu design does try to prevent you from frying your cpu and it should shut down automatically before reaching critical temps (unless this is turned off in the BIOS). I however would rather not even bother risking it - you will have to get the thermal paste anyways so you may as well just wait an extra day.
 
Poor quality thermal paste will eventually harden (cure) over time and can be a problem to separate cooler from cpu. Always spend a bit extra and buy decent after market thermal paste instead of those cheap and nasty little packets of stuff.

I once pulled the actual metal cap off a cpu trying to get it loose, so trust me, I have learnt the hard way. Being a computer geek, once a year I strip my machines to clean them and remove dust and usually replace the thermal paste at the same time.

I use the Zalman thermal grease that comes in a plastic syringe and it is a non-curing product.

Insofar as the bent cpu pins, I normally use the flat metal slot cover from the back of a computer case to line up the pins again.
Do it very gently in both planes (horizontal & vertical) by putting the flat metal between ALL the pins and then twisting the flat metal slowly. By keeping the flat metal between all the rows, you have enough resistance to apply pressure evenly.

I do not carry static so if you are worried about static, cover the flat metal will something non-conducting like a paper sticker.

Doing this very carefully and slowly and by looking down the rows of pins and you will be able to straighten them pretty well.

However, when re-inserting the cpu back into its socket, do not use any pressure and dont force it, it should drop in easily. If it does not, then you still have a misaligned pin.

Been straightening them for years with the above method and so far have not yet trashed a cpu.

Teaches you a lot of patience :)
 
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Thanks guys!

yeah the cpu seems to be fine and all now but I have a new issue. The PSU just blew :eek:
I cannot believe how badly things rust and deteriate here at the coast. The inside of the case looks like it has been pulled from the Titanic site. Crazy stuff.
But yeah once I get a new psu and thermal paste I should be back up and running.

Just ONE last question. The mobo seems to be one of those mini board. My folks case is a normal case for a regular sized board.
What can I customize to place the new mobo on. Can I use a sturdy wooden platform as support? What else can I used to screw the board into ?
 
There shouldn't be more than a very thing layer of paste,sounds like there was too much causing it to stick. The main problem i have when getting a new mobo is the front panel connectors for led and switch etc. :( Good luck.
 
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ponder said:
You sure? What happened?
Click to expand...

The original mobo fried about 3 weeks ago. The chassis sits near a window that usually is safe. about 1 week ago we had a hectic storm here that blew everywhich way. So yeah I plugged the PSU and the lights tripped. Took it to another wall unit and tried again...huge spark flew from the back end of the psu fan. Opened it up and it was already rusting and there were bits of water residue in the psu :eek: Just gonna make sure my folks cover the pc at night from now on. it's insane what the sea air does to EVERYTHING here...eish
 
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