Bent CPU socket pins - 1155

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 01:43

Hey folks,

I did post this problem already on a separate thread, but it was a bit off-topic, so I thought I should ask somewhere more relevant (not even sure this is the right section).

I just fitted a Corsair H100i AIO watercooling setup to my Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P with i7 (1155) CPU. When I first turned the PC back on, there was a small pop and a flash from what looked like one of the fan headers on the motherboard, and then the PC just shut off. Sure enough, when I checked, I had plugged the 3-pin fan connector in a bit wonky, and only 2 of the 3 pins were actually connected. I figured the pop and the flash were some kind of short. I plugged it back up properly, but there was still no power.

I then went through a pretty standard bunch of troubleshooting checks as follows:
- Tried a different PSU
- Removed everything apart from 1 stick of RAM
- Removed new cooler back-plate in case of a short
- Removed battery, cleared CMOS

The result was always the same. The PSU fan spins up for a few seconds, and then just shuts off. The case and GPU fans move slightly (not even one full turn), and then stop.

Finally, I took the CPU out, and this is what I found:

As you can see, there's a bunch of bent pins, some of which are touching + what I think is thermal paste on some of the pins. I have a macro lens, so this shot makes the pins look A LOT bigger then they actually are. You can barely distinguish individual pins without the lens!!

Could bent pins like this cause the PSU to power up very briefly, then just shut off after a few seconds? Might this be the source of my issues, even though the flash I saw came from the fan header (although it was very fast, so I could be mistaken .. but it was plugged up wrong for sure)? I have tried bending the pins back, but without much success so far it would seem .. it's a fiddly job!

I seem to be having the perfect storm of bad luck right now, this is just yet another nightmare in a long list of PC-related issues in the last week or so!!

Sorry for the long post, wanted to get as much info in as possible.
Cheers!

Akagi · 22 Jan 2015 at 02:05

Yes it could be the issue, and if you are VERY careful, you should be able to straighten them. I successfully straightened much smaller LGA2011 pins with a needle and a magnifying glass.

Mynight · 22 Jan 2015 at 02:13

Yeah it could cause it. The psu will power on to start POST. If it can't POST due to cpu being MIA then it will just power off again.

Although if you had only just removed the cpu to check and it was working previously it suggests it's not the fault,I'd be surprised if you bent the pins taking it out it's normally when you drop the retention bracket on install. So it's been like this since you installed it.

Erm have you tried resetting the cmos?

Did you smell any burning? I've blown a fan header before and it booted up fine after the cmos was reset.

Edit: which fan header was it? I'm wondering if it's a cpu cooler fail safe prevent it from booting.

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 02:21

Yah, I reset the CMOS and took the battery out for a while. I did take the CPU out to clean it up before installing the new cooler, so maybe I managed to bend the pins during that process! I don't remember doing anything crazy, but these things are delicate, so you never know! I didnt smell any really strong burning, no. Maybe a very mild smell, but nothing that made me think "uh oh, this is properly game over right here!!"

I did try bending the pins back before with a small pin, but with no success yet. They weren't perfect, for sure, but at least they weren't touching anymore. I do need a magnifying glass to make it easier. I was taking macro photos and reviewing them to see my progress.

I will take my CPU to work tomorrow and drop it in one of the PC's there to rule that out as the problem. Might even be able to borrow motherboard until I fix mine!!

Thanks for the help ��

Dave2150 · 22 Jan 2015 at 03:16

Only things I can think of that cause bent pins like that:

1. Trying to insert CPU in the wrong orientation, even if you didn't close the retention bracket.
2. Somehow not securing the retention bracket properly, causing the pressure from the HS to apply uneven force the CPU
3. Removing the CPU from the socket by 'dragging' it slightly across those pins, instead of a careful vertical lift.

There are some computer shops that can bend them back for you - alternatively the motherboard manufacturer will do it for a greater charge.

Begbie · 22 Jan 2015 at 06:56

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=27515372#post27515372

I had this very issue recently, managed to sell the bent one on ebay.

Mynight · 22 Jan 2015 at 07:00

And this is why I don't use ebay

.

Begbie · 22 Jan 2015 at 07:07

Mynight said:
And this is why I don't use ebay .

It was clearly advertised as so, with a photo of the cpu with pins showing. No false advertisment going on, no trying to scam people etc.

It obviously never sold anywhere near what it's worth for that reason too

Mynight · 22 Jan 2015 at 07:12

I was taking the ****

.

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 08:49

I know I didn't insert the CPU the wrong way, but now I think about it, I did "drop" it very lightly when I was moving it into place. I mean literally a 1mm drop onto the pins. I didn't notice at the time, but that may well have been what did it.

I'm going to take everything out today and spend a bit more time trying to fix it myself. There was one location where it almost looked like a pin was missing, but I can't be 100% when they are so small. The board is about 3 years old, so I guess I'll start looking at alternative 1155 boards just in case .... just need something with 7.1 onboard sound, and decent overclocking.

Need to go find myself a magnifying glass or something first!!

Thanks again!

McGraw · 22 Jan 2015 at 09:24

I can't imagine a 1mm drop doing that considering the force closing the socket puts on the pins.

Also how did you get thermal paste on the pins when normally you install the cpu then add a small blob/line(s) afterwards?

Surely this was done taking it out?

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 09:34

I have no idea how that thermal paste got there. I can only imagine there was some residue on the old fan that somehow got onto the bracket, and then made it's way onto the pins when I removed the CPU to clean up the old paste.

I've taken it all out now anyway ... gonna go grab some tools and start poking again!

ED209 · 22 Jan 2015 at 09:57

good luck with bending the pin back and i hope this sorts the issue out.

I have never had this happen and fingers crossed I never do! lol

Jony27 · 22 Jan 2015 at 10:18

I had a similar issue a few months back when I got myself a motherboard from eBay.
I managed to bend them back by using a lot of light, sowing pins and time.
Take your time with it, rushing will only do more harm.
Don't force the pins, instead tease them back into position, again take your time.
Good luck.

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 10:25

Well, I just got myself a magnifying glass, lots of light and some very delicate pins. Upon closer inspection it looks like I have lost at least one pin altogether, so I think this might be game over. No idea where it could have gone, but it's so tiny, that the chances of finding it are pretty much 0

I have bent the others back into place as best as I can, so I'll give it a go anyway on the off-chance that the missing pin might be redundant, or not used right now, but with my luck I am not holding out much hope.

Time to start looking at new MoBo's

Cheers!!

Mynight · 22 Jan 2015 at 10:30

Any luck the pin is still in the mobo? I've heard of people just leaving it there and it works ok.

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 12:17

I think I did find the pin actually. Chances of getting it back in the hole without an electron microscope are pretty minimal though ...

However, I didn't think it was possible .... but things just got WORSE!! I brought my CPU (i7 2600k) into work, and dropped it into a Asus P8Z77-V LK motherboard that we currently have with an i5 in it. Turned on the power .... same problem. CPU fan moves slightly, PSU fan moves slightly, then it powers down. It doesn't do that common thing where it keeps trying to start up and shutting down, it just shuts down once, and that's it.

I dropped the office i5 back in, and sure enough, it booted straight up. So, I can only conclude that the bent pins have also taken out my CPU with them! So not only do I now need a new motherboard, but I guess I need a new CPU to go with it .... if I wasn't laughing about my luck here, I'd be crying. The setup I had was 3 years old, and I was running the i7 2600 at 4.6ghz, but it was going strong with no problems at all. Gutted ...

Any suggestions for a new CPU + Motherboard setup that's not going to explode my bank account, but will be an upgrade for what I've just managed to destroy. It was one of the early i7 CPU's that I had.

Thanks again, I'm gonna go for a cry!

wazza300 · 22 Jan 2015 at 13:04

its rare for bent pins to kill a cpu,ive not come across it and ive fixed a few boards

you simply might have needed to clear the cmos to get the 2600k working after swapping out the i5

as for the board it depends on the pin,some are redundant unused pins,my asus z68 board has a missing pin yet it works and overclocks fine

you don't want to play with the pins too much as they fatigue and snap off instantly and without warning

your best bet was to request rma with gigabyte and see what they say,usually they are verygood with socket repairs

Oriaz · 22 Jan 2015 at 15:15

Yah ... I tried clearing the CMOS, and removing the battery etc. Still the same problem, and as soon as I put the i5 back in, everything works fine. I can't see any other conclusions other than my CPU being fried as well. If you look at the underside of the CPU, there are some "darker" patches. Maybe this picture will show it better ... they are very feint, but it's there for sure ...

It's not a great image, but you can see the dark patches in the upper-right side. My Gigabyte board is over 3 years old now I think, and I've put it through hell and back, I am not sure if RMA is an option. It was also bought in the UK, but I am currently living and working in Spain, which adds another layer of complication.

I have my eye on the Asus Maximus VII Ranger motherboard with i7-4790k as a potential replacement (if needed) right now. I've put the pins back into position as best as I can on the Gigabyte board, so I'll give it one last go when I get home, but I'm not holding out much hope.

In the meantime I am lucky enough to be able to "borrow" the P8Z77-V LK + i5-3570 from work while I sort this out!

wazza300 · 22 Jan 2015 at 17:35

does seem fried then,but its the first one ive seen happen from bent pins

I wish I could have caught the thread early you could have posted the board to me to fix but nvm