Motherboard bought from ebay has a bent pin, what to do?

[Mysterae_]

I bought a used Z97I motherboard from ebay (I know...) and it was sold as working etc, but me being me, I visually checked over the board before putting any components in it.

Yep, one bent or misaligned pin, here's the best macro shot I could get of it:

The landing pin is only a few degrees out of alignment or bent and it may go to it's correct position when the processor is fitted. Or it may not and totally miss the pad of the processor and/or short with the pin next to it.

The Intel datasheet gives the following information:

The offending landing pad is AU40 and it may short with it's neighbour AU39.

AU40 is "VSS_NCTF" - Non-Critical to Function: These pins are for package mechanical reliability.

AU39 is "RSVD" - Reserved: All signals that are RSVD and RSVD_NCTF must be left unconnected on the board. Intel recommends that all RSVD_TP signals have via test points.

So that sounds promising, yeah? Yeah? Should I:

a. risk it for a biscuit as it is and just try it with my processor?
b. try and move the landing pad to a more aligned position?
c. send it back to the ebayer untried?

 

[drakulton]

Option B, it's an easy enough job.

 

[Mysterae_]

Option B, it's an easy enough job.

I'll have a go tomorrow as I'll need the microscope and work, plus a steady hand...

 

[drakulton]

I'll have a go tomorrow as I'll need the microscope and work, plus a steady hand...

Fine point tweezers and a little twist will straighten it up.

 

[random_matt]

Magnifying glass and a needle worked for me when fixing pins on a X299.

 

[DC2K]

C. As someone who’s sold motherboards on eBay my advice would be to not touch it and to just return it. If that pin falls out or is repositioned, you’ve changed the product description and you won’t be eligible for a return.

I’ve had buyers knock capacitors/ cpu pins off motherboards, and haven’t been able to refund them.

Alternatively, you could ask the seller for permission to try option A or B via eBay messenger as this should offer you protection in a claim. I personally would go with C though.

 

[darkwildchild79]

for your time and nerves and no guarantee i would go for option C if it was me

 

[mickyflinn]

If the end of the pin is bent down sharply then send it back but of its just stuck under the other pin then it doable.

 

[jrwagh333]

C. As someone who’s sold motherboards on eBay my advice would be to not touch it and to just return it. If that pin falls out or is repositioned, you’ve changed the product description and you won’t be eligible for a return.

I’ve had buyers knock capacitors/ cpu pins off motherboards, and haven’t been able to refund them.

Alternatively, you could ask the seller for permission to try option A or B via eBay messenger as this should offer you protection in a claim. I personally would go with C though.

Well, going by OP, the product description is working.

 

[Mysterae_]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I decided to crack on and adjust it as I'm sure the landing pad was pretty redundant going from the Intel spec sheet. I didn't want to waste my time and that of the seller's, plus the waste of returning a perfectly good motherboard.

Here's a microscope image before before:

And here's an image from after a little bit of gentle nudging with some fine tweezers.

Sorted and no drama. In fact I'm posting this from that very same motherboard .

 

[VaderDSL]

Much better job than the hack I did on mine, nicely done

 

[Mysterae_]

Much better job than the hack I did on mine, nicely done

It helped that it was only one pad and not any of the 1,149 others....