Paste on Pins - Help!

[Dirk Diggler]

I just installed a 3600 and it wouldn't boot, I took it out to have a look and I've accidently got some paste on the pins.

Is it dead?
Any suggestions for recovery?

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I've put the original 1300x back in and it's booted into BIOS no issues, so the socket is OK. I've just recently bought the 3600 CPU so assuming it's the paste that's causing the no boot issue as I've never actually seen it working.

I'll get some tooling bought after Christmas and see if I can salvage it. Out of interest, does AMD do RMA based on serial number i.e. no requirement for invoice?

 

[Dirk Diggler]

It's a b450m MSI Bazooka V2 and I flashed the BIOS to the latest stable which was dated June 2020. I'll need to double check the CPU support details as it may be a BIOS issue after all.

Edit: actually, the BIOS I installed was 7A38vPB which was showing as the latest on the download page, but now I'm looking at the compatibility page it's showing 7A38vP5 for the 3600.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I was thinking the same thing. But chances are it will be fine.

Did you buy the CPU new @Dirk Diggler

It's Arctic Silver I've used, but it might also be the stock paste from the AMD heatsink that was fitted to the previous CPU.

I bought from the MM so hoping AMD do easy RMA if the worst comes to the worst.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I've ordered some IPA and a soft bristle toothbrush. I've also updated the BIOS to the version linked for the 3600.

Hopefully I'll get it going again.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

It's all sorted. I didn't need to use the IPA as when I broke the paste away with a cocktail stick it all came off in one piece. I rolled back the BIOS to the version that was listed on the CPU support page and now it's fired up with no issues.

I actually think it was the BIOS causing the boot failure, which is strange because I had installed the latest version.

Anyway, all good now and thanks for the help.