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Basic CPU Question

E

elmyra42

Member
I have a basic question about the AMD Athlon CPU; about all I know is how to install and use it. Anyway, I just got an Athlon 1.2 in the mail from another user on FS/T today, and it has some minor physical damage. The plate in the center of the CPU, where the stepping code is printed and such, is rather chipped around the edges. Is this plate a functional part of the CPU, or is it just basically a name badge? I want to know if I should be concerned about the damage and bring it up with the seller. Thanks in advance, and sorry for the stupid question! 😱
 
Well, after quite a bit more Googling (I wasn't searching for the right word combos at first, apparently) I got my answer. The little square at the center is the die, and apparently it is the most critical part of the CPU. It is usually chipped similar to mine when a heatsink is improperly installed or removed, putting to much pressure on the corners of the die. From what I was able to find, a chipped die might or might not cause a CPU to malfunction; I also found a couple of references to possible motherboard damage when using a CPU with a damaged die, so I'm glad I didn't take the advice above. The seller said it worked, but I'd rather not risk it. I've had other parts that worked in one MB but not another.

I guess I've learned something new, anyway.
 
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