CPU damage

[Smith84]

Hello

I have a question. I have a motherboard that wont boot, and I removed all the cards, and drives, and used a PCI BIOS code reader. The PCI Card told me that the problem was either the CPU or the Mainboard. So, If I replace the CPU with a known good one, and the mainboard is damaged, will it damage the CPU? And vice versa, CPU in known good motherboard.

Oh yeah, and I see these "refurbished" CPUs. What does that mean? I didnt think it was possible to repair the microcirutry... or even the pins!

Smith

[kc8adu]

Re: CPU damage

if the problem is a damaged vrm it may kill every cpu you install and power on.
if the cpu had been damaged and presents a short to the vrm it may damage the vrm.
with the suspect cpu and board together read the voltage of vcore.this will be across the large lytics nearest the socket.if you get 5 or 12 v your vrm is bad and so is the cpu.if it is at the recomended vcore for the cpu you are safe.

[Chris1992]

Re: CPU damage

As for refurbished cpus, those are just rma'd cpus which were tested to work and then resold. Bent pins can be fixed with a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil. Empty the pencil of all lead, slide the point sleeve onto the bent pin until the bend, then bend the pin back. It's better to undershoot using this method.

[Topcat]

Re: CPU damage

I traditionally fix bent pins with a razor blade, you can straighten a whole row in one whack. If its just 1 or 2, the mechanical pencil trick works well also.

As far as electrical damage, AMD is the worst for not surviving a dying VRM. I've seen some Intels die too, but the deathrate on AMD is a lot higher. I've never heard of 'refurb' CPU, either they work or they don't. There's nothing to refurb....

[Smith84]

Re: CPU damage

Thats the way I fix them too, Topcat. Heh. Thanks everyone, for your help in resolving my confusion! What I did was I used an older AMD to test the motherboard, and it didn't work. I also used an older motherboard to test the chip which also failed. The memory however did survive. I dont really know the history of this system, but I might try to repair the mainboard. When I do, I will make sure to move my postings to the appropriate board.

Thanks again!

Smith

[AK0R]

Re: CPU damage

After all your testing, does the old AMD processor work in the old board? If so, both the (new) processor and board are bad and, after you repair the board, you'll want to use the old processor to test it. As KC8ADU mentioned, using a bad processor may undo all your hard work.