Need help with inside computer
 

Was going to try and remove the dvd rom cause it is not working right and somehow a strange piece in the middle of the inside of my computer fell off. It is square in shape with a bunch of points and has a bar that goes through the middle kind of like a pipe with two hooks on each end. It is an AMD 64. I am on the computer now and it is working but whatever the piece is must be important. Any computer gurus have any info as to what this piece is? Sorry I can't seem to explain it better my computer hardware knowledge is limited.

Might be the cooling element of an AMD video card.. see if there's any solder left on your video card (match up what the monitor plugs into to find it)

sounds like a heat sink, for the chipset on the motherboard... find a rectangle about the same size and snap it back in..
although if it has hooks, sounds like its for the cpu itself... in which case a plastic hovering around the chip is where the hooks go

Thanks some more details ...

It has some kind of glue attaching it to the board and I think I am lining it up correctly. There is one hoop that one of the hooks can go into but the other side and hook doesn't seem to have anywhere to go.

I thought so also, but without the heat sink CPU temps would skyrocket and the MOBO would shut itself off or alarm typically, yes?

On a side note should I even have this computer on right now LOL don't want to fry it :Oh crap

The "glue" definitely sounds to be pointing to the heat sink.. look for the processor on your main board -- also square in shape, usually under the CPU fan.. in all the computers I've built, if you're looking into the case from the side it's on top left -- to see if it has similar substance.

You got a camera phone or cell phone or webcam or something? Would make things a bit easier.. :) Most newer boards will sound a two-tone alarm or shut the PC off if CPU temps rise past levels set via BIOS/CMOS.. you ought to be safe if you aren't hearing anything and the PC's still on.

Ok the thing that fell off is just right and below the fan inside the computer if your looking into from the case. If I look to the top left from inside I see a grey box that is the inside of where they keyboard and mouse would plug in.

its not glue, hehe its thermal compound which helps transfer the heat from the chip to the heat sink to dissapate heat more efficiently...

Thanks for your help I am not able to take a picture at this moment my girlfriend has our camera :(

Everything sounds ok so far what search terms should I use to try and find a picture online ?

Hmmm thanks for your help as well. When I try to place it back on it kind of sticks but not so much that I think it will stay anymore. Since I can only seem to find the one hook that the pipe can latch to not sure how it can stay.

The place that it fell off of, is it on the motherboard or video card?

well possibly it broke the mold that holds it in wihch case might explain how it came off, things like that normally are stuck for life once they get hot enuff..

i wouldnt run your computer at any length of time, and stay away from any 3d apps or heavy cpu proccessing until you get it taken care of, and leave the computer case open for the time being to keep cool

You will be ok. It's ok to work on it while it's plugged in also. Especially if your feet are wet. That way you will be good and grounded. Just take a metal butter knife and poke it around as many places as you can. You will find where it goes.

On the motherboard :)

Alright thanks for the help :) Definitely sounds like the heatsink going to turn it off for now and try to get it back in properly :winkwink:

take a picture of it. I build my own machines. I'm sure someone here can identify the part if they could see it.

sometimes hardware works better if you get rid of some parts