Can a CPU from a motherboard with bent pins damage a new motherboard?

Pontoon · Mar 4, 2014

Hi all,
I have been reading Toms Hardware for sometime, but this is my first post (please be gentle

)

I recently built a new system, and upon turning it on the cpu fan would spin for 1 second then cut out. After stripping back the entire system, and getting down the barebones CPU, PSU, RAM etc I still had the same problem.

I removed the CPU from the Socket, and low and behold several bent pins! The worst two were actually touching, with the contacts right next to each other. I am not sure how I did this, or if I did this – it is my first build in many years and I am certainly out of practice.

I tried to straighten them out (following an online guide with a magnifying glass, rat nose tweezers and a pin), but to no avail, so I bought a new motherboard, which I am expecting tomorrow.
My question /s are;

Could these bent pins have damaged my cpu?
If my CPU was damaged by bent pins, will putting this cpu in a fresh motherboard actually damage this new motherboard?
Am I better to chalk this up to experience and buy a new cpu and use this with my new motherboard?
When screwing down my H100i, if it was over tightened or unevenly secured could this bend motherboard pins

My components are as follows
i5 4670k
Corsair H100i
MSI z87i Gaming mini itx motherboard LGA 1150
Kingston Hyper X 1866hmz DDR3 2x4gb
MSI GTX 760 Twin Frozr gaming
CS650m Corsair Builder Series PSU

Thank you for taking the time to read this, any help would be much appreciated.

cuecuemore · Mar 4, 2014

Could these bent pins have damaged my cpu?

I don't know for sure, but I'm leaning heavily towards "no".

If my CPU was damaged by bent pins, will putting this cpu in a fresh motherboard actually damage this new motherboard?

I'm leaning even more heavily towards "no".

Am I better to chalk this up to experience and buy a new cpu and use this with my new motherboard?

Unless someone with more experience than I have comes along and warns you off this based on more informed answers to the two previous questions, then no.

When screwing down my H100i, if it was over tightened or unevenly secured could this bend motherboard pins

You'd be more likely to break the mounting assembly first, it's not going to let you damage the socket itself. Most people undertighten the H-series coolers, so I wouldn't worry about this.

techgeek · Mar 4, 2014

Pontoon :

Lets answer you last question first. It is unlikely (read impossible) that attaching the H100i had anything to do with the bent pins. This usually happens when you place the CPU in the socket. It needs to land in the socket perfectly, if it's off and you try to slide it into the correct position you will most likely bend pins. If it doesn't line up with the socket don't slide it, lift the CPU back out and try to place it again. Once you've locked the CPU down it is pretty much impossible to bend the pins.

As for the CPU involved with the damaged motherboard. Will it damage your new motherboard? It really depends on which pins bent over and where they were touching on the CPU. It is remotely possible that your CPU was damaged internally when in the damaged motherboard. Even though it's possible, it's unlikely. I would give it a try. Of course if it initially doesn't work, I would check the very basics and if you're sure you've done everything right, don't keep trying it.

So though I can't be certain, I'd say with 85 - 90% certainty that your CPU is alright as long as you can't see physical damage on the pads on the bottom.

Pontoon · Mar 4, 2014

Thank you for such fast responses, incredible!

The CPU contacts have gone a very slight copper/gold colour, i have to really look with a magnifying glass and tilt it into the light to see them, but all of the discoloured pads match up to a bent pin.

Aside the small pin hole type marks that the pins left, some of the contact pads look slightly roughed up, i.e. it looks like the pin heads might have scratched them.

techgeek · Mar 4, 2014

As long as the pads are there (not missing), evenly spaced (not pushed from where they are supposed to be), you should be OK. Scratched is OK as long as they aren't mangled or pieces missing.

If you are really worried, do you have a computer shop near by? If so, ask them if they wouldn't mind testing the CPU for you, it'll cost you but should be a lot cheaper than getting a new CPU if you don't need one. I'd say ask a friend, but on the off chance it takes out the motherboard, could be an unhappy friend.

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Can a CPU from a motherboard with bent pins damage a new motherboard?

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