That's not liquid metal that's Indium solder AMD and Intel both used on a range of CPUs. (Intel calls it STIM or Solder Thermal Interface Material)

Liquid metal is a fairly recent invention and these CPUs are far too old to have used it. (Wish it was liquid metal as that would be easier to remove than this solder will be)

As to how to remove it ..hot air station and solder wick and a lot of flux perhaps or possibly once its hot you could wipe it off with a Qtip and liberal flux.

Honestly not sure how well solder wick would move Indium but its a start.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/63 … d-list-tutorial

Seems like the information here may assist.

I’ll be amazed if a soldered IHS came off cleanly without damaging the die if you delidded it without heat and just brute force.

Money on that CPU being dead.

paradigital wrote on 2025-10-04, 12:19:

I’ll be amazed if a soldered IHS came off cleanly without damaging the die if you delidded it without heat and just brute force.

Money on that CPU being dead.

Age has likely helped here, indium solder much like leaded solder weakens and dries out with age and these CPUs are getting long in the tooth.

Still I wouldn't be at all surprised to find dead memory channels and other issues on that CPU.

Trashbytes wrote on 2025-10-04, 11:45:

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/63 … d-list-tutorial
Seems like the information here may assist.

Thank you, I will check what I can do.

paradigital wrote on 2025-10-04, 12:19:

I’ll be amazed if a soldered IHS came off cleanly without damaging the die if you delidded it without heat and just brute force.
Money on that CPU being dead.

How to avoid a damage of the core:
After the FIRST TIME (FIRST one procedera/action using the screw) of delidding using the Intel-tool, the trick is just to FEEL if the lid is going to go open by itself ("voluntarily") with NO FORCE to open the lid by yourself.
If the lid still remains "closed", just dismount the Intel-tool, then rotate the CPU at 90 degrees, and try the hole delidding-procedera once again. So, after maximum 4 attemts (as the CPU has 4 sides), the lid will go open 😉

Whatever solder it is - it should dissolve in mercury.

gonzo wrote on 2025-10-04, 15:06:

How to avoid a damage of the core: After the FIRST TIME (FIRST one procedera/action using the screw) of delidding using the Inte […]
Show full quote

paradigital wrote on 2025-10-04, 12:19:

I’ll be amazed if a soldered IHS came off cleanly without damaging the die if you delidded it without heat and just brute force.
Money on that CPU being dead.

How to avoid a damage of the core:
After the FIRST TIME (FIRST one procedera/action using the screw) of delidding using the Intel-tool, the trick is just to FEEL if the lid is going to go open by itself ("voluntarily") with NO FORCE to open the lid by yourself.
If the lid still remains "closed", just dismount the Intel-tool, then rotate the CPU at 90 degrees, and try the hole delidding-procedera once again. So, after maximum 4 attemts (as the CPU has 4 sides), the lid will go open 😉

You shouldn't do this with soldered CPUs is what they were hinting at, to de-lid soldered ones you would 100% need to heat them to melt the solder first.

Not using heat will nearly 100% of the time do damage to the substrate under the CPU die or worse crack the CPU silicon.

There are lists of which AMD and Intel CPUs used this solder material and which ones used thermal paste instead.

Maybe a dumb question, but what gave you the idea to do this in the first place?

I have never heard of delidding a CPU to replace the TIM, especially if it is likely to be soldered.

SSTV2 wrote on 2025-10-04, 20:40:

Whatever solder it is - it should dissolve in mercury.

I mean sure since Indium has the greatest solubility of any metal in mercury, but liquid mercury is a bit difficult to get in many countries due to how hazardous it is. Its not really something you can just pop down to the local hardware store and buy.

Personally I would just heat the solder up and scrape it off with a razor blade than go messing with liquid mercury.

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 01:26:

Maybe a dumb question, but what gave you the idea to do this in the first place?

I have never heard of delidding a CPU to replace the TIM, especially if it is likely to be soldered.

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which helped immensely with temps, Intel used some really horrible TIM

Still The Phenoms wouldn't really need this done, they are not yet old enough for the TIM to have dried out and become ineffective, AMD also used much better TIM than Intel did.

I also would have checked to see it was soldered or not before even attempting to delid it, plenty of lists around identifying which CPUs used TIM.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/36 … idding-soldered there is a big list here of soldered CPUs for Intel.

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 02:30:

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which […]
Show full quote

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 01:26:

Maybe a dumb question, but what gave you the idea to do this in the first place?

I have never heard of delidding a CPU to replace the TIM, especially if it is likely to be soldered.

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which helped immensely with temps, Intel used some really horrible TIM

Still The Phenoms wouldn't really need this done, they are not yet old enough for the TIM to have dried out and become ineffective, AMD also used much better TIM than Intel did.

I also would have checked to see it was soldered or not before even attempting to delid it, plenty of lists around identifying which CPUs used TIM.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/36 … idding-soldered there is a big list here of soldered CPUs for Intel.

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applying new TIM under the IHS of an old CPU to lower temps? All I'm finding are people either delidding new (unsoldered) chips to apply liquid metal under the IHS or running them with a bare die. Both are just done to decrease temps for extreme overclocking.

I've also never heard anyone comparing the quality of TIM used on Intel vs AMD chips that aren't soldered, so if you have any links that cover that I'd be interested in seeing those as well.

Still, relating to the OP, was this chip overheating or something? I feel like I'd have to have a good reason and some kind of precedent set (article, forum thread, etc. showing that it can be done and is beneficial) before I'd delid a CPU that ended up having liquid metal or possibly solder under the IHS.

If this can happen accidentally, I don't imagine that delidding a Phenom II is without significant risks:
(Warning: CPU Gore... R.I.P.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comment … _rip_phenom_ii/

(Notice which side the die stuck to better...)

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 05:02:

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applyi […]
Show full quote

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 02:30:

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which […]
Show full quote

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 01:26:

Maybe a dumb question, but what gave you the idea to do this in the first place?

I have never heard of delidding a CPU to replace the TIM, especially if it is likely to be soldered.

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which helped immensely with temps, Intel used some really horrible TIM

Still The Phenoms wouldn't really need this done, they are not yet old enough for the TIM to have dried out and become ineffective, AMD also used much better TIM than Intel did.

I also would have checked to see it was soldered or not before even attempting to delid it, plenty of lists around identifying which CPUs used TIM.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/36 … idding-soldered there is a big list here of soldered CPUs for Intel.

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applying new TIM under the IHS of an old CPU to lower temps? All I'm finding are people either delidding new (unsoldered) chips to apply liquid metal under the IHS or running them with a bare die. Both are just done to decrease temps for extreme overclocking.

I've also never heard anyone comparing the quality of TIM used on Intel vs AMD chips that aren't soldered, so if you have any links that cover that I'd be interested in seeing those as well.

Still, relating to the OP, was this chip overheating or something? I feel like I'd have to have a good reason and some kind of precedent set (article, forum thread, etc. showing that it can be done and is beneficial) before I'd delid a CPU that ended up having liquid metal or possibly solder under the IHS.

If this can happen accidentally, I don't imagine that delidding a Phenom II is without significant risks:
(Warning: CPU Gore... R.I.P.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comment … _rip_phenom_ii/

(Notice which side the die stuck to better...)

You really don't need to go that deep into it, its the exact same as reapplying the thermal paste to old GPUs since its the same stuff, it dries out with age and eventually stops transferring heat to the IHS much in the same way old paste wont work for old GPUs. I personally only ever do it if the CPU cannot stay within its typical temps and I know that its using TIM and not solder, every CPU I have done it to has dropped back to its typical temp ranges, I would never delid a soldered CPU due to the risks you have pointed out. (I do Re-Lid the CPUs, a bit of high temp silastic will stick the IHS back to the CPU with little issue)

So if you are willing to repaste a GPU why not a CPU that you know is using TIM ? the risks are about the same and the benefits are huge.

As for identifying which CPUs are soldered its also not that hard and there is plenty of information out there on the topic, also you wont find liquid metal under any IHS unless its been done 3rd party, neither Intel or AMD have ever used liquid metal and its a fairly recent substance for cooling purposes. (If you really want to see why they don't use it just go check out the GORE from the ASUS ROG laptops that have used liquid Metal .. or the gore from the PS5s that have died from LM leaking out)

I did this to an 939 Athlon last night, a bit of work with a razor blade and the IHS came off with no issue, the TIM was dry and caked and needed to be replaced so it behaves exactly like the TIM on old GPUs with age.

KISS or you just end up buried in information that only gives you more questions.

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 05:26:

You really don't need to go that deep into it, its the exact same as reapplying the thermal paste to old GPUs since its the same […]
Show full quote

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 05:02:

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applyi […]
Show full quote

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 02:30:

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which […]
Show full quote

Delidding to replace TIM on old CPUs is a thing, not a common thing but I have done it a few times on non soldered 478 P4s which helped immensely with temps, Intel used some really horrible TIM

Still The Phenoms wouldn't really need this done, they are not yet old enough for the TIM to have dried out and become ineffective, AMD also used much better TIM than Intel did.

I also would have checked to see it was soldered or not before even attempting to delid it, plenty of lists around identifying which CPUs used TIM.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/36 … idding-soldered there is a big list here of soldered CPUs for Intel.

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applying new TIM under the IHS of an old CPU to lower temps? All I'm finding are people either delidding new (unsoldered) chips to apply liquid metal under the IHS or running them with a bare die. Both are just done to decrease temps for extreme overclocking.

I've also never heard anyone comparing the quality of TIM used on Intel vs AMD chips that aren't soldered, so if you have any links that cover that I'd be interested in seeing those as well.

Still, relating to the OP, was this chip overheating or something? I feel like I'd have to have a good reason and some kind of precedent set (article, forum thread, etc. showing that it can be done and is beneficial) before I'd delid a CPU that ended up having liquid metal or possibly solder under the IHS.

If this can happen accidentally, I don't imagine that delidding a Phenom II is without significant risks:
(Warning: CPU Gore... R.I.P.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comment … _rip_phenom_ii/

(Notice which side the die stuck to better...)

You really don't need to go that deep into it, its the exact same as reapplying the thermal paste to old GPUs since its the same stuff, it dries out with age and eventually stops transferring heat to the IHS much in the same way old paste wont work for old GPUs. I personally only ever do it if the CPU cannot stay within its typical temps and I know that its using TIM and not solder, every CPU I have done it to has dropped back to its typical temp ranges, I would never delid a soldered CPU due to the risks you have pointed out. (I do Re-Lid the CPUs, a bit of high temp silastic will stick the IHS back to the CPU with little issue)

So if you are willing to repaste a GPU why not a CPU that you know is using TIM ? the risks are about the same and the benefits are huge.

As for identifying which CPUs are soldered its also not that hard and there is plenty of information out there on the topic, also you wont find liquid metal under any IHS unless its been done 3rd party, neither Intel or AMD have ever used liquid metal and its a fairly recent substance for cooling purposes. (If you really want to see why they don't use it just go check out the GORE from the ASUS ROG laptops that have used liquid Metal .. or the gore from the PS5s that have died from LM leaking out)

I did this to an 939 Athlon last night, a bit of work with a razor blade and the IHS came off with no issue, the TIM was dry and caked and needed to be replaced so it behaves exactly like the TIM on old GPUs with age.

KISS or you just end up buried in information that only gives you more questions.

I wasn't trying to over complicate things, I was just asking if there was any other information out there about the actual benefits of doing this. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone say that delidding a CPU to reapply TIM is a normal long term maintenance thing.

Also, I only mentioned liquid metal because the OP did. I wouldn't delid a CPU I intended to use unless it was clearly running way hotter than expected and I was 100% positive that I'd find dried out silicone paste with air gaps when I cracked it open.

EDIT: I am also not finding a comprehensive list of AMD CPUs that are soldered or not soldered, the way that the list exists for Intel.

Trashbytes wrote on 2025-10-04, 11:45:

That's not liquid metal that's Indium solder AMD and Intel both used on a range of CPUs. (Intel calls it STIM or Solder Thermal […]
Show full quote

That's not liquid metal that's Indium solder AMD and Intel both used on a range of CPUs. (Intel calls it STIM or Solder Thermal Interface Material)

Liquid metal is a fairly recent invention and these CPUs are far too old to have used it. (Wish it was liquid metal as that would be easier to remove than this solder will be)

As to how to remove it ..hot air station and solder wick and a lot of flux perhaps or possibly once its hot you could wipe it off with a Qtip and liberal flux.

Honestly not sure how well solder wick would move Indium but its a start.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/63 … d-list-tutorial

Seems like the information here may assist.

Evidently that indium solder even wets whatever ceramic material the core package (or is it the silicon IC die?) is made from. Copper solder wick will work just fine anywhow 😀

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 01:26:

Maybe a dumb question, but what gave you the idea to do this in the first place?

I have never heard of delidding a CPU to replace the TIM, especially if it is likely to be soldered.

Well, I just didn't know what's under the lid (I assumed, it's just thermal grease, not a metal, and nothing soldered)

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 00:20:

You shouldn't do this with soldered CPUs is what they were hinting at, to de-lid soldered ones you would 100% need to heat them to melt the solder first.

Believe me, the CPU-core is still not damaged and still works fine (a short boot-test without the lid, with careful placed small cooler directly on the die, and at a lower frequency by setting a lower ratio/multiplier in BIOS).
This indium (at least in this soldered condition) seems to allow STRICTLY horizontal force, so the lid can be opened as described. Or maybe the...hm...."break-resistance"....of the CPU-core itself is better for forces in horizontal than in vertical direction.
The once thing NOT to do is to force the lid with VERTICAL force (e.g. using a small screwdriver) , if the lid is still not "loosed" enough - in this case, the entire core (or parts of it) will go up together with the lid -> a desaster will happen.

SSTV2 wrote on 2025-10-04, 20:40:

Whatever solder it is - it should dissolve in mercury.

I will keep my hands off in case of mercury.....

This was just a waste of time. Delidding is only done for CPUs with thermal paste. I would probably try to scrape it off die with hard plastic, same as I do for hardened thermal pads or burned in paste. For the heatspreader the same, a flat metal tool or very fine sand paper.

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 05:55:

I wasn't trying to over complicate things, I was just asking if there was any other information out there about the actual benef […]
Show full quote

Trashbytes wrote on Yesterday, 05:26:

You really don't need to go that deep into it, its the exact same as reapplying the thermal paste to old GPUs since its the same […]
Show full quote

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 05:02:

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applyi […]
Show full quote

My googles are failing me. Do you know of any articles or posts that delve into this and show results of before and after applying new TIM under the IHS of an old CPU to lower temps? All I'm finding are people either delidding new (unsoldered) chips to apply liquid metal under the IHS or running them with a bare die. Both are just done to decrease temps for extreme overclocking.

I've also never heard anyone comparing the quality of TIM used on Intel vs AMD chips that aren't soldered, so if you have any links that cover that I'd be interested in seeing those as well.

Still, relating to the OP, was this chip overheating or something? I feel like I'd have to have a good reason and some kind of precedent set (article, forum thread, etc. showing that it can be done and is beneficial) before I'd delid a CPU that ended up having liquid metal or possibly solder under the IHS.

If this can happen accidentally, I don't imagine that delidding a Phenom II is without significant risks:
(Warning: CPU Gore... R.I.P.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comment … _rip_phenom_ii/

(Notice which side the die stuck to better...)

You really don't need to go that deep into it, its the exact same as reapplying the thermal paste to old GPUs since its the same stuff, it dries out with age and eventually stops transferring heat to the IHS much in the same way old paste wont work for old GPUs. I personally only ever do it if the CPU cannot stay within its typical temps and I know that its using TIM and not solder, every CPU I have done it to has dropped back to its typical temp ranges, I would never delid a soldered CPU due to the risks you have pointed out. (I do Re-Lid the CPUs, a bit of high temp silastic will stick the IHS back to the CPU with little issue)

So if you are willing to repaste a GPU why not a CPU that you know is using TIM ? the risks are about the same and the benefits are huge.

As for identifying which CPUs are soldered its also not that hard and there is plenty of information out there on the topic, also you wont find liquid metal under any IHS unless its been done 3rd party, neither Intel or AMD have ever used liquid metal and its a fairly recent substance for cooling purposes. (If you really want to see why they don't use it just go check out the GORE from the ASUS ROG laptops that have used liquid Metal .. or the gore from the PS5s that have died from LM leaking out)

I did this to an 939 Athlon last night, a bit of work with a razor blade and the IHS came off with no issue, the TIM was dry and caked and needed to be replaced so it behaves exactly like the TIM on old GPUs with age.

KISS or you just end up buried in information that only gives you more questions.

I wasn't trying to over complicate things, I was just asking if there was any other information out there about the actual benefits of doing this. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone say that delidding a CPU to reapply TIM is a normal long term maintenance thing.

Also, I only mentioned liquid metal because the OP did. I wouldn't delid a CPU I intended to use unless it was clearly running way hotter than expected and I was 100% positive that I'd find dried out silicone paste with air gaps when I cracked it open.

EDIT: I am also not finding a comprehensive list of AMD CPUs that are soldered or not soldered, the way that the list exists for Intel.

Never said it was normal, far from it, not sure why the OP is doing it.

There is no official list for AMD because AMD never released that information like Intel did, however from the information about 754/939 all appear to be using TIM, while AM2/AM3 and AM4 are generally soldered but there is the odd model that are TIM like a few cheap AM4 CPUs with IGPU.

Warp9 has some information on this, the page I previously used is no longer up so I cant link that one.

https://warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/63 … d-list-tutorial

It might actually be worth making a list here on Vogons with this information on both AMD and Intel CPUs, while its not at all normal to delid it could be useful for anyone attempting this in the future