Here are some close up of the capacitors.

I tried my usual method of making a small bubble of solder that extends across the width of the component to cover both sides, and then lifting the capacitor away once it had separated. However, I found the CPU to be a much too strong of a natural heatsink for this kind of casual work. Part of the issue was that the processor itself was a highly concentrated thermal mass, but also the ROHS solder binding the component to the PCB, which has a much higher melting point than traditional leaded solder. I switched to hot tweezers and the capacitors lifted away easily.

All three of the capacitors were the same physical size. Two of them measured 1uF, and the third closer to 0.5uF. I believe the last one was actually in error, as it was physically damaged, so I opted to use 1uF as a replacement for all three.

I then used a fine-pitched solder paste and hot air to attach the new capacitors. It was a struggle, again, due to the high thermal mass, but the solder eventually took and the components attached.

I plugged it into my motherboard and the system booted up perfectly. I've since put it through its paces with Prime95 and it appears to be stable. This is an expensive processor, so I'm glad that I was able to salvage it with this repair.

I almost had a different crisis with the motherboard I ordered to go with it, also from eBay. See if any of you can spot what made this photo such a terrifying surprise when I opened the box.

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-12-17, 13:35:

I almost had a different crisis with the motherboard I ordered to go with it, also from eBay. See if any of you can spot what made this photo such a terrifying surprise when I opened the box.

20221211_191208.jpg

P.S. I've read those little capacitors are difficult to re-solder. Usually a CPU works well without some of them.
Good job!

Roman555 wrote on 2022-12-17, 15:36:

my guess

The CPU socket was not protected by a lid

Yup. Somehow it made it through shipping undamaged. Incredible.

Roman555 wrote on 2022-12-17, 15:36:

P.S. I've read those little capacitors are difficult to re-solder.

Luckily I had bought some hot tweezers this past year, as I do encounter some very stubborn components on occasion where one would be useful. I have a very powerful Hakko iron, as well with high quality tips, but they just couldn't get the heat concentrated well enough to remove these capacitors. The hot tweezers removed them in seconds.