Topic: So, I bent the pins on the CPU....

[NJAntman]

The little CPU (AMD X2 3600) that could reached the point of overheating again after 5 minutes of game use. Same thing as last year and I followed the same plan of re-applying the thermal grease. I was real careful like and cleaned out all the dust and took my time with the CPU, but of course after putting it all back together no joy at power up. Switched monitors, reseated cards, check all the connectors, then came down to the horrifying possbility I mave have borked the CPU. Pulled it back out and there were four bent pins  on one corner.

Finally found a steak knife with a fine enough point to bend the pins back into as straight a line as possible and then tried again. Borked it a second time trying to line it up, had to straighten up some more pins, got thermal grease all over my hands but by a quirk of luck it seated and works now.

The CPU is running at least 10 degress cooler at rest and seems to be able to handle games again.

BUT...... I was wondering, the only thing worse then bending the pins would be loosing a pin from the CPU and having it stuck in the socket. Or is that even possible? And if possible can they be removed with out screwing up the socket. Getting ready for next years CPU borking.

[Capt. Mike]

The pins can be removed from the socket...but I have a binocular microscope at work, and some very tiny tools...it's also what I use to look for cracks and bad solder joints...if it's a multilayer board, and it needs components replaced, or surface mount, I take it to circuit card repair on base, 'cause that's thier job.

Glad things worked out for you

Mike

[Elvis]

A good tool for straightening bent pins is a mechanical pencil.

[Kreeargh]

The little CPU (AMD X2 3600) that could reached the point of overheating again after 5 minutes of game use. Same thing as last year and I followed the same plan of re-applying the thermal grease. I was real careful like and cleaned out all the dust and took my time with the CPU, but of course after putting it all back together no joy at power up. Switched monitors, reseated cards, check all the connectors, then came down to the horrifying possbility I mave have borked the CPU. Pulled it back out and there were four bent pins  on one corner.

Finally found a steak knife with a fine enough point to bend the pins back into as straight a line as possible and then tried again. Borked it a second time trying to line it up, had to straighten up some more pins, got thermal grease all over my hands but by a quirk of luck it seated and works now.

The CPU is running at least 10 degress cooler at rest and seems to be able to handle games again.

BUT...... I was wondering, the only thing worse then bending the pins would be loosing a pin from the CPU and having it stuck in the socket. Or is that even possible? And if possible can they be removed with out screwing up the socket. Getting ready for next years CPU borking.

I had bent pins for a ultra machine quad core and fixed them myself i was warned not to and to return the processor i didnt and still paying for it as it shuts down on the 2 hr mark every time. Return dont fix is my thought.

[NJAntman]

Thanks Elvis I'll file that away for the next one time.

Kreeargh, do you replace the CPU thermal paste? Does anyone else?

Mike, don't got no binocular microscope, but I do have bifocals. I was thinking more along the lines of the potatoe to remove a broken light bulb trick, but for cpu sockets. Anoyone know what metal the pins are? I have some powerful magnets salvaged from hard drives but not sure what kind of damage that could inflict on motherboard componets.