I was replacing a working Ryzen 7 7800X3D with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D in a Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2. The new CPU would not POST and the CPU warning light stayed on. When I reinstalled the 7800X3D, it also failed, and I then noticed a bent pin in the motherboard socket.
I bought a Gigabyte B850 Eagle WiFi 6E and tested the original 7800X3D in it, but it still will not POST. The status lights alternate between CPU and DRAM errors. I have tested four previously working memory sticks individually in the recommended slots. After leaving the system powered on for several hours, the CPU light went out, but the DRAM light remains on.
The current setup is stripped down on a desk: motherboard, CPU, cooler and fan, one PSU connected to the 24-pin motherboard and 8-pin CPU power connectors, and no other components. I am relying on the processor's integrated graphics. I have also tried two power supplies.
Could the bent pin in the old board really have damaged both CPUs or the memory, or is there another likely explanation before I risk installing another CPU in the new board?
3 Answers
For a barebones POST test, keep the CPU cooler installed and connect the CPU fan, but remove all drives, USB devices and unnecessary accessories. Use one known-good memory module, confirm it is fully latched, and check the board's manual for the exact DIMM slot. The integrated graphics should be enough for a display if the processor and board initialize. If the 7800X3D still gives a DRAM light on the new board after a CMOS reset and a supported BIOS, test the memory in another known-working system before assuming the CPU is dead.
Start with the simplest memory test: clear CMOS, install only the 7800X3D and one RAM stick in the board's recommended slot, usually A2, and let it complete memory training. Try each stick separately, but don't jump straight to testing two sticks. AM5 systems can take a while on the first boot, though several hours is excessive. Also verify that the B850 board has a BIOS version supporting the 7800X3D and that the CPU power cable is an EPS/CPU cable rather than a PCIe cable.
A bent socket contact does not automatically mean the CPUs were fried. Many socket pins handle memory channels or signaling, so a damaged contact can produce CPU or DRAM errors without destroying the processor. Carefully inspect the old socket and the new board's socket under bright light or magnification. If the 7800X3D was working before the swap, it is more likely that the old board or its socket was damaged than that both CPUs suddenly failed.
The original CPU was definitely working before the upgrade, which is why I am worried the old socket caused the problem.
I have already tried every stick individually in A2 and B2, but I will recheck the BIOS support and clear CMOS again.