need help tearing computer apart

[erf]

o.k. heres the deal. my wifes cousin called me earlier and he's like..."...ey i have this pc "case", without anything in it do you want it?", i'm like, "...sure whatever..."

he just dropped it off, and low and behold it had 1 stick of 512/266 mem that matched mine, so now i have i have 768mb of ram...it also has the mobo, proc, heatsink, psu, etc.

my first question is do i need special tools to tear this thing apart? i mean i've read somewhere about using non-conductive tools...???? right??? i just have normal screwdrivers etc.....the heatsink has a coolermaster "ball" on it....what exactly is this and is it worth salvaging? there is also a smaller coolermaster fan on the mobo, not sure what this is for. i'll be able to give more info once i find out if i can use my "normal" tools. btw i already tore the ram out and stuck it in my box and it shows up on my properties as my pc having 768mb now.....the numbers didn't exactly match but the sticks looked identical besides the newer being a kingston. if my computer recognized it should all be cool? anyway ill stop rambling now.

 

[jpmkm]

Regular screwdrivers are all good. Just so long as you don't go electrifying it or anything like that.

 

[erf]

Regular screwdrivers are all good. Just so long as you don't go electrifying it or anything like that.

sweet. thanks for the quick response...i'm all over it.

 

[mikeblas]

If your computer recognizes the memory, then it is working. If you're nervous, then run a memory tester on it for a while.

Indeed, you can use regular hand tools; just take ESD handling precautions if you care about the parts you're removing.

 

[erf]

ok i just removed the to coolermaster fans. one has a "ball" label the other has the "sleeve" label. i guess these are models of coolermasters? the "ball" was on the heat sink and the "sleeve" was located right next to the heatsink/proc. NOW.....

how do i get the heatsink and processor off without tearing it up. it's got this little metal bar on it and i cant figure out how to get it off. does the heatsink and proc. come off together or seperate. i'm so glad that im doing this so that i'll have at least some xp when i build mine in a couple of months. any help is appreciated...ehhe.

 

[mikeblas]

"ball" and "sleeve" are different types of bearings for the fan rotor. ball bearings are quieter; sleeve bearings are cheaper but noisier.

How you'll safely remove the processor will depend on hat kin of processor it is. If you can provide a good picture, or some information about what kind of motherboard you have there, it will be very easy to help you. Otherwise, you'll get guesses and vague advice.

 

[erf]

"ball" and "sleeve" are different types of bearings for the fan rotor. ball bearings are quieter; sleeve bearings are cheaper but noisier.

How you'll safely remove the processor will depend on hat kin of processor it is. If you can provide a good picture, or some information about what kind of motherboard you have there, it will be very easy to help you. Otherwise, you'll get guesses and vague advice.

ok the only signifigant # on the mobo i can find that is visible is EP-8K7A. i got the heatsink off and it's an AMD socket T462. i can't make out the numbers on the metal thing in the middle but will be able to once i get it out. it's got this little metal bar thing on the side am i suppose to use this to pull it out?

 

[setscrew]

The little bar on the side of the socket is the processor release lever.

Once the heatsink is removed from the processor, then gently lift the release lever up and remove the processor from the motherboard socket.

 

[ashmedai]

ok the only signifigant # on the mobo i can find that is visible is EP-8K7A

Epox 8K7A. Kinda old, but you probably knew that. Fold 'em.

So...sorry if I'm being obtuse but what are you planning to do with it at this point?

Here's a link to Epox's product info on it. Wasn't coming up for me earlier because I was apparently trying to load the Global/English server instead of the USA server, and my ISP is queer about latency on international sites.

 

[erf]

Epox 8K7A. Kinda old, but you probably knew that. Fold 'em.

So...sorry if I'm being obtuse but what are you planning to do with it at this point?

Here's a link to Epox's product info on it. Wasn't coming up for me earlier because I was apparently trying to load the Global/English server instead of the USA server, and my ISP is queer about latency on international sites.

yeah, i googled everything earlier. well i'm not sure what i want to do with this thing. i just wanted to tear it apart for fun just to get my hands wet. i took the coolermaster heatsink and fans off of the mobo and used the ram in my current rig.

i do have another question though. what does a heatsink come with? does it come with the mobo, processor, or what? i'm not sure i'll even be able to use the heatsink anyway. i'll probably just order new. there are a couple of fans i can take out of the case too. the psu is only 340w...is that thing worth keeping?

 

[ashmedai]

Better to practice on a POS system that you don't care much about the disposition of...

Heatsinks come with the processor (retail pack CPUs are bundled with one) or seperately.

You might have trouble finding a heatsink for it since it's old. If possible it would be a good idea to keep the current one intact.

I'd keep the PSU to power the system it's in...there's really not likely much in that thing I'd put in a new modern-ish rig. If you're throwing it out I'd keep the screws, fans, any memory/drives/cards/periphials.

 

[erf]

Better to practice on a POS system that you don't care much about the disposition of...

Heatsinks come with the processor (retail pack CPUs are bundled with one) or seperately.

You might have trouble finding a heatsink for it since it's old. If possible it would be a good idea to keep the current one intact.

I'd keep the PSU to power the system it's in...there's really not likely much in that thing I'd put in a new modern-ish rig. If you're throwing it out I'd keep the screws, fans, any memory/drives/cards/periphials.

hehe, the psu would actually be an upgrade for my p4 2.0 gateway. you might not believe this but my current oem rig w/ gf4ti4200 is running on a 200w psu.

i got the processor out and googled w/ these results:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K7/AMD-Athlon XP 1700+ - AX1700DMT3C.html

would it be a good idea to use this thing for practicing OC'ing...is it even possible to OC a chip this old? the only thing this old box is missing is a HD and cd/dvd drive. i might just fix this rig up to practice OC'ing....oh yeah! oops, it's also missing a vid card, i could just find a cheap one though

 

[ashmedai]

Never really thought of overclocking as something you practice...I usually just read up on the parts I'm working on and start fiddling.

Nothing wrong with a 200W PSU, just because people spec ones with ungodly wattages doesn't mean they're always needed...or meaningful. A lower wattage but high quality PSU is MUCH better than a high wattage piece of crap that will turn your system into molten slag the first chance it gets.

 

[compslckr]

wow, so you got a complete 1700+ system for free? did you see if it worked before you took it apart?

that would be a good system to practice building from the ground up before doing it with new parts if it still worked when you got it.

 

[ashmedai]

did you see if it worked before you took it apart?

Good question, I'd just assumed it did. If it does work I'd take pains to make sure it stays that way...even a slow computer is good for SOMETHING.

 

[erf]

wow, so you got a complete 1700+ system for free? did you see if it worked before you took it apart?

that would be a good system to practice building from the ground up before doing it with new parts if it still worked when you got it.

well he said it worked. it is missing the HD, cd/dvd drive, and vid card. what you mentioned does lead me to this question.

i'm not sure what it's called...around the metal thing on the chip that the heatsink lays on it looks like it's gotten hot. it's kinda got this blackish burned look to it. i'm not sure if this is normal from just getting hot or if it's burned up. besides that the chip looks like it's in good condition. everything else looks fine. i unplugged the fans and realized i dont know where to plug them back into... i think it would be cool to get it up and running, but just found out that i will have to purchase an OS for it...thats more than i want to spend.

 

[ashmedai]

it's kinda got this blackish burned look to it.

Frequently this means that all the magic smoke escaped.

but just found out that i will have to purchase an OS for it...thats more than i want to spend.

Ever thought about learning to use Linux? Free.

BTW you will need at least one of the following: a hard drive, an optical drive (cd/dvd), or a working computer networked to it combined with a number of other arrangements to boot it over the network. The video card would also be handy but isn't absolutely essential as there are ways to get around that if you have another networked computer again. There are more esoteric boot methods but those are the "normal" ones.

 

[erf]

Frequently this means that all the magic smoke escaped.




Ever thought about learning to use Linux? Free.

BTW you will need at least one of the following: a hard drive, an optical drive (cd/dvd), or a working computer networked to it combined with a number of other arrangements to boot it over the network. The video card would also be handy but isn't absolutely essential as there are ways to get around that if you have another networked computer again.

Linux! OMG! i almost forgot. will using Linux interfere with OC'ing at all? i mean is it pretty much the same as far as accessing the bios and such. i'm totally new to all of this so.....



edit: wait, i just checked that link about smoke....does that mean that this chip is fried?

 

[ashmedai]

Overclocking is generally between your BIOS and your hardware. Software has little to do with it other than tools to assist. So 'nix it is...just don't ask me which one.

 

[erf]

Frequently this means that all the magic smoke escaped.




Ever thought about learning to use Linux? Free.

BTW you will need at least one of the following: a hard drive, an optical drive (cd/dvd), or a working computer networked to it combined with a number of other arrangements to boot it over the network. The video card would also be handy but isn't absolutely essential as there are ways to get around that if you have another networked computer again. There are more esoteric boot methods but those are the "normal" ones.

does that mean that this processor is fried? the black on the chip that i'm seeing looks superficial but of course im totally ignorant as to what a chip is suppose to look like.

 

[ashmedai]

It could be...there's no real way to tell for sure without plugging it in and seeing if it works. It could just have crap all over it and work fine. If you have a picture and there's visible lethal damage I could tell you that way, but otherwise try it and see.

 

[erf]

It could be...there's no real way to tell for sure without plugging it in and seeing if it works. It could just have crap all over it and work fine. If you have a picture and there's visible lethal damage I could tell you that way, but otherwise try it and see.

would there be any way to boot the computer up and tell without having a HD, optical drive, and video card in the system? i'll try to describe the look of the chip in detail:

it's got a ring of heat induced looking black around the whole of the chips die. nothing on the pin side looks abnormal....

 

[erf]

actually there is something else that looks abnormal. besides the black ring, the outer edges of the die look like they've been kinda melted.....this doesn't look good boys.

 

[ashmedai]

It's probably quite dead, which is probably why he offered you the case and not his old computer.

 

[erf]

It's probably quite dead, which is probably why he offered you the case and not his old computer.

well when he called and offered it he said it didn't have anything in it. he said it was an empty case. though it wasn't a full pc i did get a mobo, 512 stick of ram, and the experience of tearing a processor off of the mobo. i'm satisfied.

now i just need to see how much it's gonna cost to get the system working. i know in theory "practicing" OC'ing is pointless but i just wanna go through the motions. i need a processor to fit the t462 socket, a cheap HD, cheap optical drive, cheap vid card, and linux and i'll be set.

anyone have a spare amd athlon 1700, 20g HD, cdr drive, and maybe a uhhhhh Gf4mx440 they want to donate?

 

[compslckr]

the socket type is actually socket A for the 1700+ CPU, so try looking around the for sale section of these forums for a cpu

 

[ashmedai]

If you're going to buy stuff, you might want to set a budget and see what you can get...you don't necessarily have to get tied to that motherboard. Sempr0ns are damn cheap for one.

 

[erf]

If you're going to buy stuff, you might want to set a budget and see what you can get...you don't necessarily have to get tied to that motherboard. Sempr0ns are damn cheap for one.

hehe. i'm about to build a $2k dollar system in a couple of months. see, this whole thing started when i told this dude i was building a pc. he was trying to be nice and offer me a case. i told him i already had a case picked out, and he went on to say he'd drop the "case" off anyway.

i'm just having fun with this that's all. it's actually helping me with my computer knowledge believe it or not.

from the quick search i just did i'm not going to be finding a replacement processor. any suggestions?

 

[ashmedai]

Froogle, eBay.

It's possible other components like the motherboard/PSU are also KIA. Just so you know.

It probably overheated, or misapplied thermal compound went kablooie, or got hit with an electrical surge. Varying degrees of probability of system-wide destruction depending on what exactly happened to the CPU. It's quite possible and even likely that it's the only thing that's dead...does anything else look visibly damaged?

 

[erf]

Froogle, eBay.

It's possible other components like the motherboard/PSU are also KIA. Just so you know.

It probably overheated, or misapplied thermal compound went kablooie, or got hit with an electrical surge. Varying degrees of probability of system-wide destruction depending on what exactly happened to the CPU. It's quite possible and even likely that it's the only thing that's dead...does anything else look visibly damaged?

everything else looks fine. i guess the only way to find out is to get it going. ill just hope for the best.

 

[umbra]

i do have another question though. what does a heatsink come with? does it come with the mobo, processor, or what? i'm not sure i'll even be able to use the heatsink anyway. i'll probably just order new. there are a couple of fans i can take out of the case too. the psu is only 340w...is that thing worth keeping?

keep it just in case yours blows out and you need one for a week or two till a new one arrives. heck I'm going to use a sepperate psu to run all the lights in my new cube case I'm getting

 

[ashmedai]

i guess the only way to find out is to get it going.

Yep. GL finding an appropriate CPU...make sure to check whatever you find against Epox's compatibility list for that motherboard.

If you're planning to run it as a folding box there's a bit of an exchange network for that.