PII X4 955 bent pins

[turn_pike]

I was wondering why my X4 955 BE was very hot, flirting the 62C even with medium load. So I cleaned the dust inside and around the case and noticed that the cpu heat sink + fan have gathered dust.

After cleaning the fan, I noticed that the CPU was somehow stuck to the heatsink. Before I managed to do anything my allergy showed itself and I sneezed a couple of times. When the "dust cleared", I realized with mounting horror that some of the CPU pins are bent. The next two hours was spent trying to straighten every pins with moderate success.

However even with what I perceive to be pretty okay pins and that the CPU kinda sorta can be attached to the socket, the computer still wont boot. The next several attempts to further straighten the pins were futile. It still wont boot even though as I said it ... seemed okay.

TL DR; CPU pins bent and then straightened. Yet it wont boot

What else I can do.
Bought it from Newegg about 8 months ago.
Should I try to RMA ?

If everything else fails, what kinda of processor would you recommend ?
I need at least quad core with around 120USD budget.\
This is the mobo :
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4A88TDM/
NB AMD 880G/SB850

 

[BD231]

Last time I did that was to an athlon x4 and it turned out I'd just gotten some conductive thermal paste on the pins. Went to clean it off and dropped the thing on a hardwood floor from about five feet and it still works.

You should be alright, flash the bios and clean up the pins, also make sure you didn't miss a pin as there might be one that's flat by now that u failed to see. If all else fails I'll buy it off you .

 

[Gillbot]

Check them again, clean if you can and retry.

 

[turn_pike]

What did you use to straighten the pins and clean up the thermal paste ?
I did notice some thermal paste and cleaned it up. But I also suspect some might have gotten -into- the socket itself. Wish I had some other processor to test if the socket itself is okay.


the thing is though, I dont have a thermal paste at the moment. The one that was put onto the heatsink has already dried.

PS
Forgot to mention that the reason it was running so hot was because I forgot to lock the heatsink in place. So it just stand on top of the processor instead of being locked tightly together. I am surprised that it wasnt running hotter. (40 idle, 50 -60 with medium usage)

PPS
How much would you but it for ?
I should probably just go either Thuban or join the Dark Side (Intel) if I cant make this work

 

[Gillbot]

I use a mechanical pencil to fix CPU pins.

To clean tim on pins, I usually just pull and place it into the socket repeatedly and open/close the latch a lot. Sometimes if there is a lot or a stubborn "glob" i'll use a razor knife, pin or something to manually remove as much as I can and alcohol on a folded piece of paper to run in between the rows of pins like a saw.

 

[richierich1212]

Yeah I use a mechanical pencil to fix the bent cpu pins, then a credit card to help align them easier. Did you forget to put the cpu fan back into the fan header on the mobo? I'd wait until you get new thermal paste before reinstalling.

 

[turn_pike]

Wheeee !
I got it working again !
Thanks to your encouragement, I spent the next 30 minutes or so cleaning and re-straightening all the pins. I think the real difference was that this time I really -pushed- the CPU into the socket.

Crazy thing is :
Before this, I couldnt overclock my 955 BE at all. Even an increase from 3.2 to 3.4 could cause a freeze when booting. Now I am typing this while OC-ed to 3.8.

Prime95 would push it into the 95C+ range so I am not going to continue with it.
My Coretemp (ver 0.99.8) is slightly screwed up. The Low field shows the highest temp i.e. 99 C while the high field shows the lowest temp i.e. 42C. Is this a software problem or did I incorrectly connect the cpu fan ?

PS
But yeah it has not thermal paste on it at the moment.
I am buying a True Spirit TS-120 so I will probably downclock it back to stock until I get the True Spirit.

 

[Quantos]

Happened to me a couple of times too. Usually I would use a small ruler (15cm) or something similar to align everything back. Works pretty well!

 

[Gillbot]

Try real temp or another program maybe?

 

[guskline]

Glad to hear it's working!

 

[gmaster456]

I bent the pins on an old northwood P4 once. I just used tweezers to bend the pins back. Worked like a charm.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Depending on if it can get to 4GHz or not stably, I'll trade you my 1055t + some cash for it...

Just a shameless plug. Delete away if it violates any form of rules.

 

[BD231]

Wheeee !
I got it working again !
Thanks to your encouragement, I spent the next 30 minutes or so cleaning and re-straightening all the pins. I think the real difference was that this time I really -pushed- the CPU into the socket.

Crazy thing is :
Before this, I couldnt overclock my 955 BE at all. Even an increase from 3.2 to 3.4 could cause a freeze when booting. Now I am typing this while OC-ed to 3.8.

Prime95 would push it into the 95C+ range so I am not going to continue with it.
My Coretemp (ver 0.99.8) is slightly screwed up. The Low field shows the highest temp i.e. 99 C while the high field shows the lowest temp i.e. 42C. Is this a software problem or did I incorrectly connect the cpu fan ?

PS
But yeah it has not thermal paste on it at the moment.
I am buying a True Spirit TS-120 so I will probably downclock it back to stock until I get the True Spirit.

Good job, however I'd refrain from using it without thermal paste. There's really no sense in taking any risks. If you've no other option I'd downclock/undervolt until your replacement arrives, and DO make sure you use some paste.

 

[exar333]

OP - congrats on getting it working again!

 

[PG]

Good job getting it fixed. A razor blade works well too for getting the pins straight. Just put it between rows, all the way down to to the underside of the cpu, and tilt it as necessary. Look at the cpu from all directions and at different angles in good lighting.

 

[Modular]

I cant believe you're overclocking this thing with no thermal paste and no real (accurate) idea of the current temps. Sounds like a processor death wish to me....

 

[Magic Carpet]

Try real temp or another program maybe?

Isn't Real Temp "Intel only"?

 

[Gillbot]

Isn't Real Temp "Intel only"?

No idea, I haven't been keeping track of what works with what lately.

 

[LV3]

There's always Speedfan too

 

[Stayfr0sty]

OP lol remember to always "twist" the hsf when removing it from CPU. Or else well, you see what happened

 

[Magic Carpet]

No idea, I haven't been keeping track of what works with what lately.

Real Temp is a temperature monitoring program designed for all Intel single Core, Dual Core, Quad Core and Core i7 processors.

Nothing new here.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

OP lol remember to always "twist" the hsf when removing it from CPU. Or else well, you see what happened

+1

 

[turn_pike]

OP lol remember to always "twist" the hsf when removing it from CPU. Or else well, you see what happened

It should seriously be in all the cpu booklet and mobo manual with a big warning sign.

I am mystified that even though the CPU is fastened to the socket, it still can be pulled out that easily.

 

[cmaMath13]

So great that you got it fixed and it's running better than before too!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

It should seriously be in all the cpu booklet and mobo manual with a big warning sign.

I am mystified that even though the CPU is fastened to the socket, it still can be pulled out that easily.

maybe because most people never take their heatsink off?