VOGONS


First post, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

First of all and very important: I am personally not interested to advertise the showed tool of „Der8Auer“ in every way!
I have modded this tool just because I already have it and because I was not able to find another solution for this problem in a faster way.
If someone else does know another method to delid an AMD-CPU of those generations in a SAFER way – you are welcome to share your experience!
After this modding, the tool can still be used for delidding of Intel-Core-CPUs, so it is a "2-in-1"-tool!

OK, let‘s start.

Some days ago I started to build a retro-system with AMD socket 939 (first dual-core generation by AMD for the mainstream market). My choice is an AMD Opteron 185, as this is one of the fastest dual-core CPUs for this socket. But, sadly, shortly later I noticed very high core-temperatures in Windows at a CPU-frequency of about 3 GHz. So my opinion is to use liquid metal and a good cooler.

The problem: the copper-cover of my CPU-exemplar can not be dismounted by „cutting“ the silicone, as this silicone is really very hard 🙁
As you can see in picture 1 (where the Opteron 185 is showed), at least two corners of the CPU became some little „discolorations by friction“ using a very sharp flat blade to go between the CPU and the cover – sadly, NO CHANCE to do it...!

Looking forward for a solution I found this thread on vogons Socket 939 FX-60/Opteron 185 cooler recommendation for 110W TDP, where there is shown exactly what does not work in my personal case.

So I tried to find out, if my tool for delidding of an Intel-Core-CPU can be modded for use together with AMD-CPUs of this generation and so a more safety and quickly result (compared to the use of a sharp blade) can be reached.
And yes, it can! 😉

As the AMD-CPU is thicker and as it has pins, they are some things to be considered:

- how to save the pins (to prevent any bending of them)
- how to prevent the CPU (the CPU-base) itself (not the cover) from damage
- with regard to the first two options, finally how to use the technical principle of “skirmish“ of the cover and the base offered by the tool

Well, fortunately, it is more or less easy.
To prevent the pins, they have to go up (not down).
To prevent the CPU-base, the surface TWO of component A must have contact with the CPU-base (as its contact to the CPU-base is entire the total width; in opposite, surface ONE would have contact only to the corners of the CPU-base and so damage the base!)
Finally, a longer screw (component B in picture 1) must be used (minimum 3,0 cm longer than the original screw component F in picture 1), AND the original threated hole from surface ONE has to be extended/prolonged in its own axis to the opposite end of component A (and so reaching surface TWO).
That’s all!

Please take attention by the orientation of component A in generally, as shown in the pictures!

So, in fact, the CPU-cover is fixed, and the CPU-base is moved by some millimeters – it is the reverse principle like for delidding of an Intel-CPU (where the CPU-base is fixed and the cover is moved -> for what this tool is meant originally).

Some final remarks:
- this construction is not absolutely stable in use, as the CPU-cover is not at 100 % fixed (but the fixation is still good enough)
- as you can see, a delidding of an Opteron 285 (socked 940; this was my test-CPU) is possible, too. So at least CPUs for socket 754, 939, 940 and MAYBE socket AM2(+)/AM3(+) can be delidded
- be careful by delidding of newer AMD-CPUs (e.g. Ryzen → not tested by me!), as their cover are maybe lower! In this case, maybe their pins will be damaged!
EDIT: yes, Ryzen CPUs can be delidded, too (see text and pictures in this topic few days later)

Good luck!

Last edited by gonzo on 2025-10-06, 16:20. Edited 18 times in total.

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]

Reply 1 of 8, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

And here the final pictures.

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]

Reply 4 of 8, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Even more good news: a delidding of AMD-CPUs for socket FM2 is possible, too.
Just tested with an A4-4000.
Once again - it's really very important to use the appropriate surface TWO of component A to prevent damage of the CPU-base (see the pictures).
So I renamed the topic to include this FM2-socket, too.
In the last picture a more detailed comparison of the original screw (at the right) to the needed longer screw (at the left) is shown (length in centimeter).

Last edited by gonzo on 2025-10-03, 08:26. Edited 1 time in total.

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]

Reply 5 of 8, by AlexZ

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Do s754 and s939 CPUs have thermal paste under the heatspreader?

Pentium III 900E,ECS P6BXT-A+,384MB,GeForce FX 5600, Voodoo 2,Yamaha SM718
Athlon 64 3400+,Gigabyte GA-K8NE,2GB,GeForce GTX 275,Audigy 2 ZS
Phenom II X4 955,Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3,8GB,GeForce GTX 780
Vishera FX-8370,Asus 990FX,32GB,GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Reply 6 of 8, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
AlexZ wrote on 2025-10-02, 18:59:

Do s754 and s939 CPUs have thermal paste under the heatspreader?

Yes. As far as I know all of them have "normal" thermal paste (not liquid metal).

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]

Reply 7 of 8, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Today I delidded a Phenom II X4 980.

Sadly, there is old liquid metal inside 🙁

Any ideas how to clean it?

EDIT: just started a new thread here: How to clean old hard liquid metal from a CPU-core?

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]

Reply 8 of 8, by gonzo

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Today I delidded a Ryzen 5 5600G.

Somebody gave it to me yesterday as defective - so some pins are crooked, and I can not test if it works after the delidding.

The same problem like Phenom 980 🙁

The good news are: a delidding is possible, and the CPU-core (the die) goes NOT broken (the trick is to use a strictly horizontal force by the screw, and NOT to hive the lid (= vertical force) by e.g. a small screwdriver)
If the lid goes not open during the "first attemt" of delidding: just dismount the tool, then rotate the CPU at 90 degrees, and do the delidding-procedure once again. After a maximum of 4 attemts (as the CPU has 4 sides), the lid will go open even in case of this ugly metal used by the factory.

So I changed the topic-name to include the socket AM4.

I LOVE CPUs RUNNING IN [GonzoHz]