Open/Closed screw on laptop socket - what's it for?

[IgoByte]

I just disassembled an old Dell i1100 with a Cellie proc and right above the CPU socket there's a little screw that can be turned to open or closed position. Turning the screw moved the top part of the socket up or down. Anyone know what the purpose of this is?

 

[mnewsham]

Hold the CPU to keep it from moving i would assume

 

[IgoByte]

Hold the CPU to keep it from moving i would assume

I thought so too at first but you can't lock it with the CPU in the socket. If you did, you'd essentially cut off the pins.

 

[mnewsham]

i thought so too at first but you can't lock it with the cpu in the socket. If you did, you'd essentially cut off the pins.

do eet!

 

[IgoByte]

do eet!

LoL. It's a Celeron after all, right...

 

[mnewsham]

LoL. It's a Celeron after all, right...

My thoughts exactly! :awe:

 

[alkemyst]

holy fuck!

 

[ThatsABigOne]

It won't cut the pins. It just compresses the pins to hold the processor in place.

 

[Tim]

holy fuck!

Know how I know you're .....

 

[Rubycon]

It's a compact ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket. No difference than a desktop except smaller. It uses a screw to actuate the locking (shift of upper half) mechanism rather than a lever.

 

[IgoByte]

It's a compact ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket. No difference than a desktop except smaller. It uses a screw to actuate the locking (shift of upper half) mechanism rather than a lever.

So, that means I should turn the screw to lock it? If I remember correctly (I could check this but I'm feeling lazy), the lever on a Socket 370 also moved the upper park of the socket, right?

When I pulled the heatsink off on this one the CPU went right with it and it was a pain to separate.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Yep, try it.

 

[Rubycon]

So, that means I should turn the screw to lock it? If I remember correctly (I could check this but I'm feeling lazy), the lever on a Socket 370 also moved the upper park of the socket, right?

When I pulled the heatsink off on this one the CPU went right with it and it was a pain to separate.

Yes. A cpu can easily become bonded to the heatsink if the TIM hardens and this often results in the CPU coming off with the heatsink. The lock is to make sure electrical contact is made and is not for physical retention.

 

[IgoByte]

Yes. A cpu can easily become bonded to the heatsink if the TIM hardens and this often results in the CPU coming off with the heatsink. The lock is to make sure electrical contact is made and is not for physical retention.

Gotcha. Thanks.