Chip creep refers to the problem of an

integrated circuit An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

(chip) working its way out of its socket over time. This was mainly an issue in early PCs. Chip creep occurs due to thermal expansion, which is expansion and contraction as the system heats up and cools down. It can also occur due to vibration. While chip creep was most common with older memory modules, it was also a problem with CPUs and other main chips that were inserted into sockets. An example is the

Apple III The Apple III (styled as apple ///) is a business-oriented personal computer produced by Apple Computer and released in 1980. Running the Apple SOS operating system, it was intended as the successor to the Apple II; however, it was largely cons ...

, where its CPU would be dislodged and the user would need to reseat the chips. To fix chip creep, users of older systems would often have to remove the case cover and push the loose chip back into the socket. Today's

computer systems A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...

are not as affected by chip creep, since chips are more securely held, either by various types of retainer clips or by being soldered into place, and since system cooling has improved.

References

* {{cite book , last1=Meyers , first1=M. , last2=Jernigan , first2=S. , title=Mike Meyers' A+ Guide to PC Hardware , publisher=McGraw-Hill Technology Education , series=Mike Meyers' A+ Guide Series , year=2004 , isbn=978-0-07-223119-9 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvo5rpAX3RsC , access-date=2022-07-11 Integrated circuits