AMD CPU Socket Design?

With Bulldozer coming out it would be a great time to move the pins on to the board, I know that they want to keep backwards Compatibility. Though Having bent the pins on a 955 (7 months ago; Heatsink Drama) I was wondering does the lock mechanism need updating too?

It's stopping me from going AMD(Bulldozer) as i wasted money on a motherboard and CPU I never got to use?:whip:

I was just wondering if there is a reason other than backwards compatibility, if so why they haven't done so. Does anyone else think it needs an update?

The Intel socket setup needs a lot of force to secure the CPU IMHO. When I was installing my Core i3 2100 into a mini ITX motherboard I was worried that I may end up damaging the pins on the motherboard. On top of this the stock coolers and a few aftermarket ones use the fragile push pins too!:censored:

I agree the stock cooler is far from ideal.

I found the force needed to clamp the CPU onto the MOBO ok - a bit disconcerting at first, but it worked fine despite the crunching sound as it went in :surprised:.

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Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH

The Intel socket setup needs a lot of force to secure the CPU IMHO. When I was installing my Core i3 2100 into a mini ITX motherboard I was worried that I may end up damaging the pins on the motherboard. On top of this the stock coolers and a few aftermarket ones use the fragile push pins too!:censored:

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Yep, I hate the push pins myself :juggle:.

What would be the perfect CPU socket then?

I have never had problems with either. I don't know why it would break if you are carefull

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Originally Posted by Cleeecooo

I have never had problems with either. I don't know why it would break if you are carefull

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Well when I removed the heatsink and even though i twisted it slightly, it still pulled up the CPU out of the socket.

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Originally Posted by Blackmage

Well when I removed the heatsink and even though i twisted it slightly, it still pulled up the CPU out of the socket.

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couldn't you RMA?

Don't you apply the cooler once the CPU is in the socket with the securing plate down? Therefore removing the cooler should be done with the plate still down, so how can the CPU lift out? I don't get it.

The AMD sockets don't have the plate that the Intel ones have. Anear perfect design would use the intel locking plate with the AMD retention system.

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Originally Posted by Cleeecooo

couldn't you RMA?

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I'm sure your not able to RMA due to a broken pin?

I really don't trust the intel push pins. One of the criteria I had when buying an aftermarket cooler for my i7 was that it had to be heavy so that it would bolt to the board instead of use the push pins.

So, no one wants to go back to slot 1 then?

I'm not old enough to have used one of those :D

The only time I've ever pulled a CPU out of its socket due to heatsink stick (a s478 celeron) it just dropped straight back in and worked fine. Sounds like you've been unlucky.

I don't think LGA is a magic solution tbh - Intel haven't been without their socket problems recently - and with the pins on the CPU it is at least possible to bend the pins back into place if they do get disturbed (takes a lot of nerve and a steady hand though ;) ). That said, AMD have already said that AM3+ is going to be their last PGA socket / chip, haven't they? I'm pretty sure desktop Llano will be coming on LGA...

I quite like the AMD socket tbh. AthlonXP, 64 and Phenoms have all worked fine. Drop in the CPU, gravity pushes it in and pull the lever and voila.

Slot A though was little more tricky.

If it does stick you could warm it a little by running th ePC just before you pull out the CPU.