I was trying to switch components between two computers and thought I knew what I was doing. However, I twisted the cooler before removing it, which might not have been the best approach for an AM5 socket. I also noticed some thermal paste got into the socket, so I carefully cleaned it with a light brush and 90% isopropyl alcohol. Now my PC won't boot up, and I'm getting "CPU not detected" and "DRAM not detected" errors. I've tried flashing the BIOS, reseating the CPU and RAM multiple times, and disconnecting everything, but still no luck. The system was running fine for a year before my tinkering. Now, I see some suspicious spots on the socket - it looks like I might have damaged some pins. What do you think happened? Is there any chance I can fix this?
3 Answers
You definitely messed up if you're getting those errors. Be careful going forward with cleaning - thermal paste usually isn't a big deal unless it's conductive. Just hope it's not as bad as it looks!
It sounds like your socket might be toast if you can see holes or if pins are missing. If they're just bent, there's a chance you could gently straighten them out. Check out some repair videos online for tips. But remember, avoid twisting, blowing air, or using brushes on the socket in the future. It's best left untouched!
Yeah, I misread too. But honestly, twisting the CPU is pretty risky! I'd start looking for a new motherboard if I were you.
Honestly, it seems pretty cooked, my friend. Those pins are delicate, and messing with them can cause serious problems. If you're lucky and just bent a few, maybe you can bend them back with a small tool. But from the error codes, it sounds like you might have hit something critical.
Right? I mean, I've seen people clean sockets with thermal paste and have no issues, but it’s risky. Could be looking at a new board here.