I'm a first-time PC builder and while I was taking my 9800x3d CPU out of the box, I got confused about how the plastic cover opened and accidentally dropped it about an inch or two onto a granite countertop. Luckily, it landed on the IHS and I didn't see any visible scratches or dents. In my panic, I quickly installed it without checking the bottom gold pads. Am I in trouble, or should I be okay? Thanks!
3 Answers
As long as it fell on the IHS, I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep an eye on it for any overheating issues, and you're good to go.
If it's an AM5 CPU, you're probably fine. Just check for dirt or anything that might have gotten on the pads. If it was AM4, then you might want to check for bent pins.
You should be fine! Unless you really smashed it, CPUs are pretty resilient. Just make sure the pads underneath are clean.
I think it was just an adrenaline rush! I slotted it into the AM5 socket fine, and the latch closed perfectly.