Why would re-seating a CPU cause boot issues?

[Pete.Dakota]

Doing some spring cleaning in the PC, and now after re-seating the CPU (Q8300), I'm getting boot issues. It only boots some of the time; others I get blue screens before or at the Windows logo, sometimes the Windows logo hangs, but sometimes it boots right in and behaves just like normal.

I noticed that before clamping the processor down, it has a bit of wiggle room on the socket - maybe around 1mm in each direction. So it's possible to clamp it down in a slightly different position from before, so could contact pins be an issue? Would a computer boot strangely if the CPU wasn't contacting the socket properly?

I was very cautious taking it out and putting it back in as always. I haven't taken it back out to test yet as it's late and I don't want to be making noise!

 

[Hazkirby]

Did you re-seat anything else?

 

[OLDPHART]

Have never none a a CPU to have movement once its down in its socket, sounds like its not seated correctly. Why reseat the CPU if it was working fine, get something like MX4 TIM it does not need replacing for about 8yrs, if l remember correctly.

Check your CPU for damage and reseat if its ok.

 

[Plec]

As above - if you feel it's the CPU reseat it again.

However, as you're taking everything apart. I would first disconnect everything apart from: 1 stick of memory, gfx, cpu from the motherboard and then test the system. If you suddenly find that your boot issues have disappeared you will know it's something else.

 

[LEUVEN]

Wiggling the CPU whilst sat in the socket. I would expect you to have damaged/bent the pins.

 

[Plec]

Wiggling the CPU whilst sat in the socket. I would expect you to have damaged/bent the pins.

Unless he was applying considerable pressure - it's unlikely he's damaged his pins with slight socket wiggle (felt odd to type that last bit ).

 

[panyan]

Unless he was applying considerable pressure - it's unlikely he's damaged his pins with slight socket wiggle (felt odd to type that last bit ).

i agree, seeing as they arent really pins and they are more like round pads/ small ball bearings, i doubt a slight wiggle would cause damage

 

[Pete.Dakota]

OK, I reseated it. And now it's fine again.

It's pretty hard to explain this 'wobble' within the socket. Imagine you had a square peg in a square hole, and the peg was about 1% smaller than the hole. You're able to move the peg tiny amounts up against each of the walls of the hole, including up into the corners.

What I did was start with the CPU pressed up into one corner of the socket and booted. I got blue screens and it only once got to the desktop before crashing again. I then moved the CPU down into the opposite corner of the socket and booted. No problems. Happy in Prime and no issues at all.

So I'm guessing because this movement is allowed, at the extremes of one of the corners, certain pins aren't connected properly and the processor becomes unstable? Sound about right?

It's really not something that could have been troubleshooted, it was just luck that the first time I installed it it wasn't poorly seated. If I'd had these problems from day 1 I probably wouldn't have thought to reseat the chip.

 

[=VTA=MANFACE]

Good Job. Would have suggested as above, reseat.

 

[Durzel]

Bit of a concern that there's that much play in the socket since when the PC is upright the CPU could presumably work its way into a position where it's unstable again? (complete speculation though)

 

[RiseAgainst]

I dont think the cpu would move when attached, not just because of the clamp but also most cpu coolers put a fair amount of pressure on cpu's which would help to keep it in position