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Cpu Socket Damaged

quasimodo

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Oct 11, 2022
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Hi, since my motherboard is not getting any power, I tried with a different psu, ram and there was no change. I tried it without the processor, still the same power did not come. What the warranty tells me is that there is physical damage to the processor socket and they can repair for a certain fee. What I'm asking is, is it normal for a motherboard with a damaged processor socket to have no power at all?

Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M S2H

Here the socket damage https://ibb.co/vhTwF30
 
It's difficult to see clearly, but the contacts/receptacles for the CPU pins in the upper left on the picture seem to be damaged. But the main question is, how did the entire closing mechanism, along with the plastic slider, get torn off?
 
It's difficult to see clearly, but the contacts/receptacles for the CPU pins in the upper left on the picture seem to be damaged. But the main question is, how did the entire closing mechanism, along with the plastic slider, get torn off?
Warranty service sent me this photo.
 
How was the socket damaged? was it you or are they trying to con you into giving them money for a few bent pins?
 
How was the socket damaged? was it you or are they trying to con you into giving them money for a few bent pins?
I am not sure if warrant service damaged the socket but my some CPU pins bented because of my stupid cooler. What I want to know now is the socket damage a reason for the computer not to boot?

I pay the service fee if I know my computer will work when the socket damage is repaired.
 
Transistors don't function without electricity. Some of the pins provide data, others provide electricity. Damage to either type can prevent the PC from booting.

Regardless of whether the damage happened to data pins or power pins, the fact is your PC is dead and this isn't something that the average person can fix. It's your call whether or not you want to pay the warranty service to do it, to take it elsewhere, or kiss that motherboard goodbye.
 
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you have bent and missing pins in the top left hand corner, you need to get a pinout dag to see which ones are power im not up on that socket but someone may come along who is.
pins.jpg
 
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I will pay the fee, I hope the warranty service doesn't screw me up. Many people complained about that warranty service with same socket damaged problem.
 
That type of damage only happens when PGA cpu gets stuck on the heatsink. If you've ever ripped or "wiggled" the CPU out of the locked socket - that's probably the reason why it's damaged.
Also, unlike LGA - it's not easily fixable and in most cases requires replacing an entire socket.

Many people complained about that warranty service with same socket damaged problem.
That type of stuff rarely happens in the "normal" service center. Just from my typical practices I don't even put thermal paste on the CPU while testing the motherboard (makes it easier to reassemble the rig while checking dozens of things).

But the main question is, how did the entire closing mechanism, along with the plastic slider, get torn off?
They took it off for diagnostics. It's held in place by a few plastic clips and can be easily removed. Just need to be careful not to break them.
Most of those damaged pins are located just in the right place to be detected even by a cheap-ass AM4 socket tester.
 
That type of damage only happens when PGA cpu gets stuck on the heatsink. If you've ever ripped or "wiggled" the CPU out of the locked socket - that's probably the reason why it's damaged.
Also, unlike LGA - it's not easily fixable and in most cases requires replacing an entire socket.


That type of stuff rarely happens in the "normal" service center. Just from my typical practices I don't even put thermal paste on the CPU while testing the motherboard (makes it easier to reassemble the rig while checking dozens of things).


They took it off for diagnostics. It's held in place by a few plastic clips and can be easily removed. Just need to be careful not to break them.
Most of those damaged pins are located just in the right place to be detected even by a cheap-ass AM4 socket tester.
I had to ship my computer for college and I didn't remove the CPU cooler either. I guess that explains everything.
 
I had to ship my computer for college and I didn't remove the CPU cooler either. I guess that explains everything.

It depends on the computer, the CPU cooler and how it was designed and packed. There are certainly prebuilt systems (both consumer and enterprise) that ship with installed coolers and other parts. There are often supportive structures in the packaging that prevents parts from shifting.

Companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, etc. have specialists who design packaging. Joe Consumer doesn't have that sort of expertise and has to rely on his/her common sense on how to provide the necessary support.
 
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I pay the service fee if I know my computer will work when the socket damage is repaired.

They should test their work before sending it back.
 
I had to ship my computer for college and I didn't remove the CPU cooler either. I guess that explains everything.
Have you straightened the pins on the CPU?!
 
No unfortunately I broke 2 pins and bent 4-5 of them while trying to fix it.

I gave the processor to a service, she said maybe it can be fixed, do you think it will give its old performance if it is fixed?
 
Yes, it will have the old performance if they manage to fix it
 
Out of curiosity what are they charging you for the repairs?
 
Just looked at sAM4 pinout, and it seems that most of the pins on your second photo relate to iGPU and display output. Some are SoC power, but those are duplicated a dozen of times and one or two missing won't make much difference. In theory(if you have a Ryzen CPU without graphics), it should work as-is, without socket replacement. But just in case I'd pay someone to put broken pins back onto the CPU.
 
My experience with gigabyte might help. I had A GIGABYTE Z97X GAMING G1 WIFI-BK Black Edition (very high end motherboard). Had it for over Year. It started having something going on .. cant remember what ... but after talking with gigabyte .. they told me to RMA it. So happen, that I had the Motherboard out on my bed , tryn to find anti-static bag ... my nephew threw something at me .. and well .. it missed and landed right on the socket ... messed it all kinds of up ... (it was bad). I was Livid.

anyhow .. let them know about the new issues with bent pens .. they said send it in .. they might be able to fix pins ... if they could not .. I would have to play for A replacement socket so they could test the motherboard. ($50.00) .. was a 450.00 board .. so I was ok with that.

They replaced the socket ($50) ... found the board was defected and then replaced the board with A new one.


Once they replaced the stocket .. they have to test the board .. so you should get a working board back no matter what ... however the stocket dmg is on you. (most manufacture wont replace socket ... will say you are sol .. buy a new board).

What you need to look at is .. the cost of the stocket replace + how much time left on warrnty .. vs A whole new board.

If they charge 50.00 .. board cost 150.00 .. but you only have 3 months of warrnty left .. might just pony up for a new board.
 
Out of curiosity what are they charging you for the repairs?
1/3 of the motherboard price. Like 20$

Just looked at sAM4 pinout, and it seems that most of the pins on your second photo relate to iGPU and display output. Some are SoC power, but those are duplicated a dozen of times and one or two missing won't make much difference. In theory(if you have a Ryzen CPU without graphics), it should work as-is, without socket replacement. But just in case I'd pay someone to put broken pins back onto the CPU.
First of all thank you for your effort. I need to repair the socket in any way to get it to display now, right? And as you say, the socket needs to be powered at least as it is. When I tried to run it without the CPU, there was no power at all. This means that apart from socket damage, there is another problem with the motherboard. Warranty service may charge me for the other problem as well. This wouldn't make much sense to me. I don't know, I'm really confused.
 
When I tried to run it without the CPU, there was no power at all.
Different boards behave differently. Some boards will start without CPU, some boards will start, but won't enable CPU/SoC VRM, and some boards won't start at all (won't react to power button etc.) So, that's not the indicator that the board is dead.
The thing I'd start worrying about is the cost. If fixing few pins on CPU is definitely cost effective with current prices on Zen, replacing the socket and possible "other" damage on the low-end motherboard may be not. That board can be found as cheap as $50 new, pretty sure it's a little cheaper on the used market.
 
I was ready to buy a new CPU and pay the warranty fee, but the new warranty service fees they might charge me are confusing me. As you said, service charges can reach levels that can almost buy a new motherboard.
 
I was ready to buy a new CPU and pay the warranty fee, but the new warranty service fees they might charge me are confusing me. As you said, service charges can reach levels that can almost buy a new motherboard.

Up to you to get clarification from the Gigabyte support desk about the warranty charges that you will be on the hook for.

And then you decide whether or not you pay the charges or if you'd rather buy replacements (CPU, motherboard, whatever) whether they be used or new, identical or different.

Your money, your call.
 
Up to you to get clarification from the Gigabyte support desk about the warranty charges that you will be on the hook for.
They will charge $20 to replace the socket. The part I'm worried about is that the socket replacement is not enough for the repair and they ask for a fee again(They said there would be new fees).

Anyway, I guess I'll pay the warranty fee and try my luck. Thank you very much for all your answers.
 
Well, ask them what those additional repairs might/will be and their associated costs.

It's not like anyone here can tell you the full extent of damage to your equipment is and what the repair costs will be. I've had both good and bad warranty service from various companies (and not just PC component manufacturers).

And for every person who has had a good experience with Gigabyte's warranty service provider, there's probably someone who had a negative experience. No one here has a crystal ball that will tell you what exactly will happen.
 
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