slightly bent pins in CPU socket, what can be done?

[tviceman]

Just as the title says, horror overcame me when I saw that I bent 3-4 pins in my cpu socket while I was taking it apart my setup. My wife is an esthetician and therefore has access to some nice magnifying glass + built in lighting, as well as very fine needle-point tools. If I were to get the pins back into position, is there a good chance the motherboard will still work? Or are bent pins usually irrevocably damaged?

 

[DooKey]

As long as you don't break the pins and you get them back to the right position the motherboard should work just fine. Be careful, they are easy to break off.

 

[Smoblikat]

As long as you don't break the pins and you get them back to the right position the motherboard should work just fine. Be careful, they are easy to break off.

I agree.
Also, id like to rent your space.

 

[Rvenger]

I used a very small flat headed screw driver to bend the pins back into the positions. Make sure you are well grounded. It's not too hard to do

 

[Puppies04]

I see a lot of people advocating using a mechanical pencil with the lead taken out to straighten the pins as it help to keep them straight while bending them back.

 

[Gillbot]

I see a lot of people advocating using a mechanical pencil with the lead taken out to straighten the pins as it help to keep them straight while bending them back.

That's on an older CPU most likely, doesn't work on the new LGA sockets.

 

[bankster55]

yeah, no mention of WHAT socket
775 sockets are easy
1155 sockets are lot harder
2011 are the worst

I use a headband magnifier like they use in machine shops and two large sewing needles. I find when I use 2 I have better control

You can buy more exotic magnifiers $20 - $60 or even higher
http://www.amazon.com/Magnifying-Headwear-power-Glass-Overhead/dp/B004BNW1HC
http://www.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVisor-Headband-Magnifier-Magnification/dp/B0015IN8J6

The greater the magnification, the better

 

[Rvenger]

LGA 1155 are not bad depending on how many pins are bent. You have to look at the socket at various angles and lights to make sure you are adjusting the pins right.

 

[tviceman]

Thanks for encouragement. The idea with using a super small screwdriver is good - I'll have it on hand in case the tools my wife has for her work aren't as small as I hope.

 

[Jman13]

Be prepared for a fried system, though. I was having some trouble with my Athlon 64 build several years ago...after 2 years of stable use it had become crash prone. When I removed the heatsink, I had forgotten just how much pressure is on those AMD clips, and didn't stabilize the heatsink with my hand when undoing the clip. It pulled back and literally pried the chip out of the socket, gently bending two entire rows of pins.

With a knife blade, I was able to realign the pins, and none broke. Reseated the CPU, reapplied thermal grease and reseated the heatsink. The chip worked fine right away, but obviously, there was some damage that eventually won out...the whole thing was fried within a week. (not burnt, just completely unable to boot). Luckily, no issues with any peripherals or hard disks...just the mobo/CPU. So, hopefully you can repair it, but even if you get it to be successful...you might have a ticking time bomb on your hands....but if it lasts a month after you fix the pin, chances are it'll be fine.

 

[EVGA_MatthewH]

I have heard of people taking their board to a jeweler for repair since they are used to working with delicate metal. Just a thought but YMMV

 

[rgallant]

bent pins are a big fear of mine so when lifting a cover or cpu in or out ,
I use a piece\strip of duct tape in a small roll ,sticky side out to lift and lower the cover or cpu ,
-just makes a tab that you have full control handling the placement\alignment without the fear of dropping it into\onto the pins.
-over redundant FTW.

 

[Golgatha]

Nothing. Not worth risking frying the CPU in the socket IMO.

 

[manifia]

Yesterday,i was purchased new motherboard(Mercury intel H61 chipset),before installing some of pins are pent.If i fix to processor ,it will working or not .Kindly answer me.

 

[dma0991]

Yesterday,i was purchased new motherboard(Mercury intel H61 chipset),before installing some of pins are pent.If i fix to processor ,it will working or not .Kindly answer me.

Its better if you fix the bent pins first. You may end up with a fried motherboard and CPU if you don't. First, send it back and try getting a replacement. If they're reluctant on giving you another motherboard, then fix it yourself by nudging the bent pins with a sewing needle.

 

[Boondox]

It will be hard to prove that the CPU socket was damaged prior to the removal of the socket cover. Being that it's a Mercury (HSING TECH/PC Chips/ECS), I wouldn't bother trying to get an RMA out of them.

 

[aigomorla]

need a picture of how bad the pins are bent b4 we can advise you.