Fried CPU

[holybob11]

Hi, I, according to my brother, fried my CPU yesterday. It was really wierd. I was just working regularly, and I wanted to plug in my joystick to play a game, so I went back and pluged it in, but my mouse is really touchy and I knocked it out of alignment, so I restarted my computer a couple times to get it to work, but one of the times it started up, it failed to post. So, I called in my brother, who knows a lot more than I do about computers, and after doing a number of things, including trying a new video card to make sure it wasn't a video issue, unpluging the hard drives and taking out the RAM and putting it back in. He then reset the jumper and we got loud beeping noises coming from the speaker...so he then took off the heatsink, with much trouble, as the processor was stuck to the HSF. He said that since the proc was stuck to the hsf, that the CPU was fried. Now somewhere along the way, somehow one of the pins got bent on the processor, so it's useless even if it isn't fried. So, I was wondering if you fine folk here at anandtech would mind answering a few questions.

1. What might have caused the CPU to fry?
2. Could my mobo be an issue? Do I have to replace that with the CPU?
3. Does the fact that the CPU was stuck on the HSF mean that the CPU is fried?
4. Could pulling out the CPU/HSF forcefully have anything to do with a single pin being bent?

Thank you very much for the help...I will be glad to provide any additional information that may be required. OH, by the way, here's my info:

Chaintech VNF3-250
AMD 64 3000+
512MB DDR 400 Crucial RAM
MSI RX9800 Graphics Card
All this stuff is no more than 6 months old.
Thanks again.

 

[Markfw]

1) it probably didn;t fry
2) maybe, and no
3) the fact they were stuck together is GOOD, thats the way they are supposed to be
4) yes

Lastly, your brother is an idiot if he said "He said that since the proc was stuck to the hsf, that the CPU was fried", so he probably did more harm than good. You need somebody who really knows computers to see if they can straighten out that one pin, put everything back together and diagnose the problem correctly.

 

[o1die]

You can straighten the pin. Placing the cpu/heatsink in the freezer for 30 minutes or so will make them easier to separate. Then I would remove the board from the case, and try posting again on a flat non-conductive surface, such as a phonebook. If it still doesn't work, send the board back to the vender or directly to chaintech. Just tell them it doesn't post.

 

[BigBadBiologist]

what was the other video card you tried?

As far as getting the sytem running again, I would reccomend unplugging every peripheral from the computer (HD, CD, floppy) and see if you can get it to boot after resetting the CMOS.

 

[holybob11]

I Already have the HSF and the CPU separated, so I could bend the pin back? Any idea of a place that might do that?

 

[BigBadBiologist]

yes, you can bend the pin back. One of the easiest ways to do it is to slide a mechanical pencil over the pin and SLOWLY bend it up again. If you don't have one, you just have to use a really small screwdriver and pry it up.

 

[MrControversial]

Excuse me for my ignorance, but never in my life have I experienced a chip sticking to a HSF. Never.

 

[BigBadBiologist]

It happens when there is really good contact between the IHS and HSF. There are a couple of threads per week where this happens. But it shouldn't happen. I've gotten into the habbit of wiggling my HSF before trying to remove it.

 

[Sparky19692]

What where the beeps they are normally for code to tell you what is wrong.
Do a search for your MB and beeps and you should find the codes.
It beeping is usually a good sign.

 

[holybob11]

Ok, good news, I just bent back the pin, but it was bent all the way over, so it was difficult and I bent a few other pins in the process. After bending those back, I put it back in the mobo and I no longer get loud beeping noises when I turn it on. However, it still will not post. Right now I feel like killing my brother, but unfortunately he is out of town. So, any clue on what could be the orginal problem. I dont have anything showing up on my monitor, the light isnt even changing to green when I turn on the PC. Also, both of my CD drives are spinning and making noises. Just need some advice on what to do next.

Thanks

 

[Sparky19692]

Is the PSU good about 1 year ago I had my PSU die when I was using the system. ity was like some won shut it off when I rebooted or tried all my LED's worked but no post.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Try resetting the CMOS jumper again. If you still get nothing, disconnect everything but CPU, video card, ram and PS, and see if you get anything. If that doesn't work, as someone else posted remove the mobo from the case and set it on a phonebook or a cardboard box with just CPU, GPU, ram, and PS. (The reason for this method is when you plugged in the game port, its possible you moved the mobo slightly and caused it to short out against the case, taking it out of the case eliminates this as a possibility) You should also test your power supply with a PS tester or a multimeter.

If you get beep codes, look them up in the mobo manual or online. If after all this if you still get nothing its probabally the mobo at fault

Also when you reset the HSF did you clean the old thermal paste off with IP alcohol and reapply thermal paste?

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Try resetting the CMOS jumper again. If you still get nothing, disconnect everything but CPU, video card, ram and PS, and see if you get anything. If that doesn't work, as someone else posted remove the mobo from the case and set it on a phonebook or a cardboard box with just CPU, GPU, ram, and PS. (The reason for this method is when you plugged in the game port, its possible you moved the mobo slightly and caused it to short out against the case, taking it out of the case eliminates this as a possibility) You should also test your power supply with a PS tester or a multimeter.

If you get beep codes, look them up in the mobo manual or online. If after all this if you still get nothing its probabally the mobo at fault

Also when you reset the HSF did you clean the old thermal paste off with IP alcohol and reapply thermal paste?

He's right. Cut it down to the bare minimum and then try to Post. I've had this happen when drives on the same IDE channel had conflicting master/slave jumper settings. If it still does not work, try swapping out the video card. But at this point it's likely the mobo.

I've also had it beep at me when I had the AGP video card not quite firmly seated in its slot. Reseating it fixed the problem.

 

[MrControversial]

Originally posted by: BigBadBiologist
It happens when there is really good contact between the IHS and HSF. There are a couple of threads per week where this happens. But it shouldn't happen. I've gotten into the habbit of wiggling my HSF before trying to remove it.

I never have to. Sure, there's aways a permanent rectangle at the bottom of the HSF from the burn in, but I never get it stuck on there. The paste is always as fresh as when I put it on there.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: MrControversial

Originally posted by: BigBadBiologist
It happens when there is really good contact between the IHS and HSF. There are a couple of threads per week where this happens. But it shouldn't happen. I've gotten into the habbit of wiggling my HSF before trying to remove it.

I never have to. Sure, there's aways a permanent rectangle at the bottom of the HSF from the burn in, but I never get it stuck on there. The paste is always as fresh as when I put it on there.

Usually happens when you use too much paste. With the correct amount of paste (one drop 3/4 the size of a BB) it should only require a slight twist to get it off.

 

[pudds]

last time i pulled my xp-120 off it bought my a64 with it and bent a pin. I was using AS5 , a small dab in the centre.

 

[brazzmunk]

i had the same problem.. most likely your BIOS got reset back to 1002(i think) ... you'll have to remove one ram stick to disable the dual channel and turn it on... it worked for me.. than just download the newer bios that has dual channel support and flash

 

[brazzmunk]

you got it?

 

[holybob11]

I'm just now reapplying thermal compound after cleaning the stuff. I don't have very high hopes for this doing much, but it could. If (when) this doesn't work, I will be trying the phonebook thing. Thanks for your continuous help, I'll keep updating.

 

[holybob11]

Ok, I reapplied thermal compound, which did nothing of course. So, after that, I unhooked everything and took out the mobo and put it on a phonebook. I had cut it down to the bear essentials, PS, CPU, RAM and GPU. I powered up, and my CPU fan spins, but still nothing on screen. I have no idea what this means, so I need some help here.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

No beep codes? If not its probabally your mobo thats screwed. If your CPU,GPU or ram where bad you should get some beep codes. There is still the possibility that its your power supply, do you have access to a multimeter to check the PS?

 

[holybob11]

I have a multimeter, how might I go about testing it?

 

[omniviper]

hmmm do you have somebody that owns an a64? if you can, you might as well test that cpu out on his board. if it doesnt post, youve got dead piece of silicon. if not, then youre motherbaord is crapped.

 

[holybob11]

Unfortunately, I don't know anybody with a 64, all the other PCs in the house are intel... do you think I should just go buy a mobo? If so, what would you reccomend, I don't want a stupid Chaintech again, their website and customer support are crap.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy

Originally posted by: MrControversial

Originally posted by: BigBadBiologist
It happens when there is really good contact between the IHS and HSF. There are a couple of threads per week where this happens. But it shouldn't happen. I've gotten into the habbit of wiggling my HSF before trying to remove it.

I never have to. Sure, there's aways a permanent rectangle at the bottom of the HSF from the burn in, but I never get it stuck on there. The paste is always as fresh as when I put it on there.

Usually happens when you use too much paste. With the correct amount of paste (one drop 3/4 the size of a BB) it should only require a slight twist to get it off.

Ditto




and....

"so he then took off the heatsink, with much trouble, as the processor was stuck to the HSF. He said that since the proc was stuck to the hsf, that the CPU was fried. Now somewhere along the way, somehow one of the pins got bent on the processor, so it's useless even if it isn't fried"

You do know your brother bent the pin right?