AMD Can Do Almost No Wrong, Except for the Horrible Lock Mechanism on Its Mobos

As far as desktop processors are concerned , AMD has been kill it for the last few twelvemonth . If you missedthe big announcementon Thursday , the fellowship ’s launch its next - gen C.P.U. , Ryzen 5000 , on November 5 . If all the benchmark number they presented in its presentment are true , we could be looking at a major shift in how many gamers use Intel processors in their builds versus AMD . I ’ve used AMD processors in my last two builds , largely because I have to build on a tight budget , but I have also yet to be disappointed by any of AMD ’s Ryzen processor . But its motherboards , specifically the AM4 socket , is a entirely dissimilar fib . I just can not with AMD ’s ever disappointing mainframe curl chemical mechanism .

The AMD socket is a Zero Insertion Force ( ZIF ) socket , which is on the button as it sounds : you do n’t need to use personnel to put the CPU into the socket and lock it in place . The free weight of the CPU itself provides enough force , so when you push the lever back down after locate the processor into the socket , the contacts easily close up and grip the pins . Intel sockets are also ZIF sockets

But unlike Intel motherboards that have a alloy frame and a sturdy lever that hooks under the framing to tightly hold the processor in place , AMD motherboards have a skinny lever that you urge straight down to lock the processor in place . That ’s it . The lever tumbler feels flimsy enough to photograph off like a twig , and the lock chamber itself does n’t hold the CPU in place all that well . You ca n’t really even see it lock away in place , unlike Intel mobos where it ’s completely obvious .

Photo: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo

Part of this matter has to do with the way AMD design its Ryzen processors . AMD uses a Pin Grid Array ( PGA ) . That ’s why you see all those piddling pins stick up from the undersurface of the chip . Intel uses a Land Grid Array ( LGA ) meaning the pins consist flat on the underside of its chips , like midget pads . LGA has two major advantages over PGA , but one of the most obvious is durability . If you ’ve had the unfortunate experience of using too much thermic paste , you ’ll eff exactly what I ’m talk about .

There ’s a cause why you should always gently twist off your cooler as you remove it from the CPU : the CPU will total off with it . I ’ve never had this issue with Intel CPUs , even if I used a slight too much library paste , but I ’ve circumstantially yanked AMD CPUs straight out of the socket even though they were imagine to be lock in place . While I was twisting the cooler off , too ! With a fresh clod of paste ! That ’s the flying direction to bend a few pins and send your fantasy , novel AMD mainframe correctly back to the smelter .

If you ’re really concerned about screwing up your AMD processor ( see : my genus Bos ) there are other choice than paste , like thermic pads . caloric launchpad are light to instal and make removing the tank from the processor easier , but they are n’t as effective as a thin layer of paste . Plus you ’ll have to undress the digs off from the heat sink , which is a painfulness in the bottom all on its own , and once you do that you ’ll have to replace it . Paste is definitely the more economical solution if you benchmark a lot of desktop CPUs like I do , and if you apply it right you should n’t have to worry , but I still do . ( Another note : do n’t draw the cooler straight out of the loge and put it on your CPU . Clean that teetotal , cakey paste off and replace it with some sassy ooze . )

Arty photo. Very bent pins.

Arty photo. Very bent pins.Photo: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo

AMD has said previously that it’sgoing to keep its current AM4 socket around for as long as it can , which is outstanding if you require to upgrade an old CPU but it means we ’re probably stuck with this flimsy locking gadget for a few more year . Hopefully , when AMD moves to its AM5 socket , or whatever they ’ll call it , it ’ll redesign the lock so it wo n’t give many of us mini heart attack as soon as we start remove the ice chest .

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