Argghh, bent CPU pins on 3900x

VincentHanna · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:03

In 20+ years of building PCs I've never damaged a CPU

I was giving my nephew my 3900x and took it out of my motherboard, cleaned it up etc and located it in his new Asus Tuf gaming plus WiFi motherboard

I thought I'd use the wrath cooler that came with it, but the thermal paste that comes pre-applied is so sticky (like glue) that even though the CPU was locked in place, when I was attempting to seat the heatsink/fan its yanked the CPU out of the socket and bent about 20 pins in the process!

What are my options here?

wedrum · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:04

Drill a hole in it and use it as a keyring

Amd are **** for this, always warm the computer up first for a bit.

bloodkil · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:05

If you have a steady hand, you can probably bend them back depending how bad they are

NoNameNoNumber · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:06

Magnifying glass and a needle, I have straightened a load out before although nothing like 20.
Patience is key.

VincentHanna · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:10

I think it's totally ******.

I can't believe how tacky that pre-applied stuff is.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:12

VincentHanna said:
I think it's totally ******.

I can't believe how tacky that pre-applied stuff is.

If you haven't snapped any pins you should be alright. You can bend them back (very slowly). Done plenty of them in my time but never snapped any.

Vince · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:13

20 pins... credit card, pair or precision tweezers and a bit of patience. Ive saved many a cpu with this method. Also as above never broke a pin yet.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:16

^^ trust Vince - he rides CPU's every day to work. It's his main transport.

d_brennen · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:22

Chop it with a credit card like a 90s musician

LtMatt · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:23

VincentHanna said:
In 20+ years of building PCs I've never damaged a CPU

I was giving my nephew my 3900x and took it out of my motherboard, cleaned it up etc and located it in his new Asus Tuf gaming plus WiFi motherboard

I thought I'd use the wrath cooler that came with it, but the thermal paste that comes pre-applied is so sticky (like glue) that even though the CPU was locked in place, when I was attempting to seat the heatsink/fan its yanked the CPU out of the socket and bent about 20 pins in the process!

What are my options here?

https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/cpu-7

As above.

But if it can't be saved, you can apply for an RMA, just be honest and explain what happened.

Can't promise it will be accepted, but you can try.

VincentHanna · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:39

RMA? Its over a year old though.

LtMatt · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:40

VincentHanna said:
RMA? Its over a year old though.

Is it a tray CPU? If so the warranty is one year with place of purchase. If it’s a retail CPU it’s three years with AMD.

~>Dg<~ · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:42

mechanical pencil is also good as is cotton credit card.

VincentHanna · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:44

LtMatt said:
Is it a tray CPU? If so the warranty is one year with place of purchase. If it’s a retail CPU it’s three years with AMD.

Retail

jigger · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:57

Magnifying lamp and watch tweezers.

LtMatt · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:00

VincentHanna said:
Retail

Try and fix it first should be easy if it’s just 20 pins, just be gentle.

NathG79 · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:05

good luck.

I feel your pain. mechanical pencil and a magnifying glass.

oh, and take your time.

pc-guy · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:08

so you pulled the CPU out of the socket at the same time as trying to take the heatsink off it? does your motherboard still work?

woaza. did you try twisting and wiggling it before you went full force pulling it off?

no way AMD will RMA that for you. best bet is to patiently bend pins back and hope you dont break any.

lesson learnt hardway!

Quartz · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:16

VincentHanna said:
when I was attempting to seat the heatsink/fan its yanked the CPU out of the socket and bent about 20 pins in the process!

Linus did a video on how to do it.

VincentHanna · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:39

pc-guy said:
so you pulled the CPU out of the socket at the same time as trying to take the heatsink off it? does your motherboard still work?

woaza. did you try twisting and wiggling it before you went full force pulling it off?

no way AMD will RMA that for you. best bet is to patiently bend pins back and hope you dont break any.

lesson learnt hardway!

No, I was trying to install the heatsink on it!