Bent pins CAN decrease performance

[Zenoth]

Some of you might have seen my threads recently.

Explaining what's going on, related to my actual issues related to low performance in games and benchmark applications.

The possibilities for the issues were:

1) Bad BIOS settings
2) Bad Memory
3) Bad PSU
4) Components physically placed wrong / not well installed
5) Faulty GPU
6) Bad Chipset drivers
7) Bad GPU drivers
8) Bad Windows configuration / drivers
9) Bad drivers installation

10) And some more I can't think of right now

I called a friend today. He arrived with his S939 A64 3700+ SD, so I could test the CPU.

Why ?

Because five (not three, like I originally thought, but indeed five) pins were bent during the un-installation of it from the previous Motherboard.

When I tried to take out the fan and the heatsink ... the CPU simply followed, and it remained sticked on it (teared off from the socket).

Since the CPU wasn't un-installed properly, those pins became ... bent.

I straightened them almost as they were, but I might have scratched the metallic surface of the pins to a very small extent, perhaps not enough to see it with my eyes, but surely enough so that contact was affected.

Affected to a point to decrease performance of it.

I simply formated with the new A64 3700+, installed SP1 + extra web updates from Microsoft, then installed nForce 4 chipset 6.70, Catalyst 5.11 ...

And guess what ? 7118 3DMark05 score.

Now I know my CPU is ... doomed. I just had the proof.

So, to any of you here who might one day bent one or more pins, and then believe it won't cause any effects if you straightened them, then verify twice before yelling victory. You might have a bad surprise.

It CAN decrease performance. Now I know it.

So, as a warning message, please guys, be careful when un-installing / installing a CPU, and do not rush its un-installation. As in, try to un-install it like I did just after I turned Off my system. If you don't want to unexpectedly tear off the CPU from its socket, like it did in my case as I said, then wait some time for it to cool off, or gently, very gently try to take if off.

Personally ... I've installed, what ... about six or seven CPU's, by myself, since I know "PC's". Never had a single problem. Never had accidents. Nothing un-expected.

But now ... man, I feel bad.

 

[ITPaladin]

Bent pins CAN decrease performance

Urologists are your best friend in this case.

 

[Zenoth]

Haha

 

[phr0m]

how many pins did you bend on the x2? and you could still sell the cpu if it still works

 

[Zenoth]

Five.

I'm just gonna return it, my local store has a "no questions asked" type of warranty for 7 days. You don't even have to explain anything. You just say "I have problems with it", then "alright, you got everything that came with it ? if so, perfect". But it's closed, tommorow, so I'll try to get something new Monday.

 

[Zenoth]

Here ... took two screenshots in Diablo II: Lord Of Destruction.

Usually, a very easy game to run for even hold systems. My settings in Diablo II are: Renderer Direct3D, 800 x 600, Perspective On, 3D Sounds and Bias On.

And look at the frame rates, taken with FRAPS:

1) http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/285/d2a1td.jpg
2) http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2872/d2b2og.jpg

You can laugh a good shot.

Oh, and, no A-A, no A-F of course, from Control Panels. I don't think it would apply anyway for that game.

Remember ... that's 800 x 600, on a Radeon X1800 XL ...

 

[LTC8K6]

I have unbent pins many times on CPUs. Scraped them all up and even soldered a few broken ones back on. Never had a problem.

I doubt that your pin straightening caused any problem at all.

 

[sodcha0s]

Appearently, you did more damage than "bent pins." Since your CPU was basically ripped from the locked socket, the pins and/or socket probably were damaged quite a bit more than you realize, or can actually see. I have bent pins on a chip before and haven't had any issues like you describe, as have many others. I feel for ya man, that has to suck especially on a high $$ chip like that.

 

[forumposter32]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
I have unbent pins many times on CPUs. Scraped them all up and even soldered a few broken ones back on. Never had a problem.

I doubt that your pin straightening caused any problem at all.

Maybe he wasn't wearing an anti-static wrist strap.

 

[AMDrulZ]

I have built several computer's without wrist strap's i just grab on to the steel part's of the case and at least 30 secound's to decarge my self before working on any thing or touching anything for that matter and i never had a problem...... but if you got the wrist trap's hell ware em........

 

[F1shF4t]

I have changed fans while the comp is running, took out memory chips accidently without switching off the comp, never wear a wrist strap, shorted out memory chips on a gfx card with a screw driver or rubbed it on a mat, of course this is all done on my older comp i dont care about (p4 1.7ghz, fx 5200), and i never had anything die on me. On my good comp i just touch the case for a bit before doing anything. So you would have to be very rough on parts to kill them.

 

[seanmcd]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
I have unbent pins many times on CPUs. Scraped them all up and even soldered a few broken ones back on. Never had a problem.

I doubt that your pin straightening caused any problem at all.

I would LOVE to see you solder a CPU pin back on lol...


Zenoth - I have bent pins in the past on CPU's and never had any issues. I JUST did the same thing you did a few weeks ago - removing the XP-90 from my motherboard and before I realized it - the CPU was halfway out as well (nearly glued on after close to a year) I had a whole row of pins out of "allignment" and then some. I got them all back in place. Everything worked as normal though. I am one to believe that unless you actually broke a pin - the problem was somewhere else.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

my cpu has done that many times, with my xp120, its got so much pressure that when i pull it off, basicly its stuck to the cpu like it would have adhisive on it, i'v bent pins to an extent and bent them back using a knife because of the small space between all of it and im fine, i got a a64 3500 winchester and this thing runs like a champ.

 

[forumposter32]

Does that stickyness occur more often with AS5 or with Arctic Silver Ceramique?

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Does that stickyness occur more often with AS5 or with Arctic Silver Ceramique?

Yes, but that is why you twist it a little. never apply alot of force should come out gently.

 

[GML3G0]

Originally posted by: w00t

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Does that stickyness occur more often with AS5 or with Arctic Silver Ceramique?

Yes, but that is why you run your CPU on load for a few minutes before shutting down and removing the heatsink.

fixed.

 

[jpetermann]

I have had several CPUs with bent pins. Never been an issue, just bent them back. In fact, back in the day, Thugsrook and I prayed for bent pins. Seemed the more bent pins there were, the better they overclocked. And I have had a few CPUs as well, probably 50-60 of them with no issues when pins were bent. Also, it avtually is better to remove the heatsink when it is still warm. Makes it easier to remove. You just have to be careful with it, no matter what.

 

[Zenoth]

Well, I still have the CPU, I'm using it right now.

My friend just helped with to verify with his CPU. Then 3DMark05 scored better with just a CPU change ?

Even if my CPU is "fine", I wouldn't see why my GPU would suffer.

I see no drivers problems. I installed them all correctly. I don't know what to do anymore.

 

[Zenoth]

It works now.

Just bought one of my friend's ClawHammer 3500+ for $150 CAN (I liked the price, hehe).

I'm gonna wait some time now until I feel it's necessary to go back with an X2. I'll let the dust fall after that pins-benting tragedy.

I scored 7262 in 3DMark05.

Link: http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1492414

Quite happy now.

All that issues saga has finally ended.

Within the past three days, I've posted many, many threads, here in Anandtech, but also at nVidia forums, DriverHeaven forums.

I feel relived.

 

[LTC8K6]

I would LOVE to see you solder a CPU pin back on lol...

Piece of cake with the right equipment, and remember that slightly older CPUs had bigger pins and more space between pins.

I recently did a very delicate repair to a 9800pro as well.

Not really worth it, but you gotta keep in practice.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I've never had problems with bent pins being a problem either. Also, how did pins become bent when the CPU gets stuck to the heatsink? Were you twisting and pulling the heasink out at a 45 degree angle or something?

I've reinstalled quite a few P4 Northwoods using Zalman 7000 Cu coolers, and it's almost guaranteed that after a month or two of use the CPU gets stuck to the heatsink when using arctic silver 5. As long as you pull straight up when removing the heatsink everything comes out fine, and you can then twist the CPU to get it off the heatsink.

 

[LTC8K6]

Also, how did pins become bent when the CPU gets stuck to the heatsink? Were you twisting and pulling the heasink out at a 45 degree angle or something?

Inevitably when you are pulling that hard on the chip, one side comes loose first. Voila! Bent pins on the other side. Usually the last row or two doesn't come out due to the angle and they get bent pretty bad.

Imagine the effect in slow motion. Pry up one side of the CPU and just keep on lifting it up. You will severely bend the pins on the opposite side.