Tulip Vision Line DT CPU Soldered?

[Tormbo]

Hi champs! I have this Tulip machine in very nice shape, I can't however figure out if the CPU is soldered or just socketed very firmly. I was hoping someone is able to shed some light on it.

It's a Tulip Vision Line DT486dx50i with a 486DX2 50. There is no visible latch and I can just barely see that the heatsink is clipped onto a ceramic cpu top.

I added some shots of the machine in question. If you need more detailed shots, please let me know.

I have not removed the motherboard yet, I am kinda afraid I will break stuff or fail to put it back together properly.

Edit: Last picture I found online, this is the motherboard in question, it looks like a proper socket, but I don't recognize it as a regular socket 3.

 

[deepm]

Hello, newer heard about 486dx soldered in desktops, cpu must be on socket.
Looks like: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/tulip-computers-tc38

 

[Tormbo]

It might be a pqfp196 instead, I couldn't get it unseated. Didn't remove the motherboard altogether, these units are pretty tough to put back together.

 

[ronaldvd_nl]

A soldered PQFP CPU would have been placed on position U56, which is left open on your board.
Also if you see a ceramic CPU top then it can't be a PQFP (P = Plastic).
I am confident that the CPU is actually in a socket.

 

[Tormbo]

Thanks for the insight. Should make it an easier sell.