AM3+ socket - how to get to the pins?

GrzegorzG_

Commendable
May 20, 2016
9
0
1,510
I need to check if all pins on the socket are fine, but their are hidden beneath the "frame" (i don't know the correct name of that thing).
How to remove it to get there?

Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0

AMD_AM3%2B_CPU_Socket-top_oblique_PNr%C2%B00380.jpg
 
Solution
There are no pins beneath it.
The pins are on bottom of processor for AMD's AM3, the socket has only holes and that lever moves the top plastic bit sideways a bit to apply slight pressure to the side of the pin, pressing it against it's contact point and at same time, "locking" it in place.

Said locking rarely works though and processor can and often is lifted up along with the cooler (due to thermal paste being sticky) which can result in.. as shown in picture, a pin being stuck and having been ripped off of processor.

I am 99% sure that the socket itself is fine as long as you get that single pin out. If you take the socket apart, i'm 99% sure you will break said socket.

PLiWdPb.png


That said, to prove...
I think one of the processor pins has gotten stuck and as such, said processor is dead.
the pin is left in the socket.
XF1Yt8A.png


edit: You might be able to salvage the motherboard though, open up the latch and turn it upside down, the pin should drop out or.. if not, you might be able to pull it out with small pliers or pincers.
 

GrzegorzG_

Commendable
May 20, 2016
9
0
1,510
Guys - thanks for answers!

This photo is only a reference one (it is not mine). I just want to know if / how I can get to the core of the socket (remove that plastic frame with the holes). Beneath the pllastic there are metal pins which i have to check if all are fine.
There should be some way to detach it as someone attach it ;) I just don't know how.
 
There are no pins beneath it.
The pins are on bottom of processor for AMD's AM3, the socket has only holes and that lever moves the top plastic bit sideways a bit to apply slight pressure to the side of the pin, pressing it against it's contact point and at same time, "locking" it in place.

Said locking rarely works though and processor can and often is lifted up along with the cooler (due to thermal paste being sticky) which can result in.. as shown in picture, a pin being stuck and having been ripped off of processor.

I am 99% sure that the socket itself is fine as long as you get that single pin out. If you take the socket apart, i'm 99% sure you will break said socket.

PLiWdPb.png


That said, to prove myself right, I dug out old AM2 board (same socket layout) and took it apart.
Removing the black cooler attachment is easy, ph2 screws and that is it.
turn lever open/upright
pull lever out from the socket. (yes, sideways, completely, unlike in my picture) and then you can pull the top plastic part up from the socket AM3 side.
You will likely end up with a mess, old heated up plastic is not most durable material.
 
Solution
According to the other thread, problems started after removal of CPU cooler.
While the picture of socket is not yours, it is still possible that one of the pins on processor has been torn off. (like in posted picture)

This might result in what you describe since memory controller is on the CPU and if it is missing one of the pins for the misbehaving memory socket, single/dual channel functions might not work.

I would consider re-examining processor's bottom pins with that in mind, single missing pin might be hard to spot but as noted on the socket, there should be only 4x2 pins missing in the middle. (or in case of AM3+, 3x2 and 1 single pin.)
 
May 12, 2018
1
0
10
My GA-MA78LM-S2H was giving my consistent beeps during post. Didn't totally figure it out but what I did knowbis that the socket died. Before I gave up I tried checking out the pins by following the directions about and it was a shit show. My AM2+/AM3 socket ended up looking like the picture little me uploaded. Don't get me wrong the info in this post was super helpful but not in my case. I thankful I had a 970A-G43 as a back up.