Is my Processor dead?

GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

Hi, ive recieved a new processor (FX-55) and when i opened the packaging thermal paste is everywhere around the pins etc. Ive put it in anyway and the computer turns on but absolutely nothing else. Is it dead? Or is it fixable? Lets hope its the latter

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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

RMA that sucker. Thermal paste is conductive, so if you didn't clean it all off, you more than likely shorted several pins out. Personally, I wouldn't have even attempted........I would have sent it back ASAP.
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mk000000 · TweakNOOB Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Philly

Not Sure I totally understand... if it were new, OEM or Retail, there is no thermal paste. Retail would ship with a thermal pad on the HSF and OEM would ship with the chip alone. So why did yours ship with paste, let alone paste that was all over??? Sounds like you bought a used chip.

Secondly, thermal paste should be non-conductive, therefore should not damage the chip. I would clean it off with sterile q-tips before trying it... Hope you did this cause you don’t want to clog the socket and lose connection to pins with the paste. Use rubbing alcohol if necessary, but apply it to the q-tips.

Do you have a spare chip to test in the mobo? If not, remove everything, ram, video card, any pci card, etc… with just power, the mobo should post and you will hear beeps. If that doesn’t happen, your problems are related to the mobo. If it does post, its related to your CPU.
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GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

Cheers for swift replys.

Firstly it was used and 'working' before it got sent to me. Thermal paste was also everywhere on the inside of the bag so thats definitely the cause. My current Athlon 3700+ still works so its definitely the FX-55. Unfortunately i dont have any alcoholic cleaner (might get some soon) so will just use a q-tip whatever.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

they fit in the same board?
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racing87stang · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject:

Yep a FX-55 and a Athlon 3700+ are both 939 socket procies. Be careful when cleaning the pins though. Once you bend one.... Its time for a tiny TINY tweezer and some time to straigten. But I would try to send it back if it was DOA.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

it was used...im sure he has no warranty
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mk000000 · TweakNOOB Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Philly

I don't know if your necessarily correct Toggle... I think warranties do transfer ownership, let alone if the previous owner never enacted on their warranty or register the product, than AMD does not know who the original owner is. I would try to contact AMD for a defective product, but only after I first tried to go after the person who sold me a bad chip!
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

good point mk.

I was just basing it on how long ago the FX-55 was released.....theres a good chance its already expired.

Lets hope in WRONG! i often am.
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Xal · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

Soft bristled toothbrush and isopropic alcahol. Scrub gently till clean then leave to dry for 2 hours and give it a try again. I had the same problem when I removed the thermal compound on my gfx card (I smudged it over the contacts and everywhere). Works fine now.

Good luck and don't scrub too hard

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Mordacain · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:04 pm Post subject:

You may want to try the Arctic Silver thermal compound remover. It runs circles around alcohol, and will be far better at dissolving that kind of thermal compound mess. After having used it for the past year on several cooler replacements, I don't think I could live without it now.
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

mk, thermal paste can indeed be conductive, depending on which kind it is. Your cheapie, standard silicone-based thermal paste is not conductive, as it is mostly synthetic. Silver-based paste, though, contains metal, which makes it electrically conductive. Arctic Silver, for example, contains no silicone, but is instead based on zinc oxide, aluminium oxide and boron nitride, and is 99% silver-pure.........all of which means that it can, in fact, conduct electricity.

If that's what the paste was that was all over his FX55, I almost guarantee that's what caused the problem. Whoever removed and repacked that proc was a nitwit, and he needs to get a refund.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

end the CPU back and get your money back.

He probably sold you a blow CPU.
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GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

Thanks very much for advice guys. Im going to try and do what Xal said first, see if its any good, then ill arrange a refund (ive already messaged him to say what happened, no reply yet, as you may expect). Can i find this arctic silver paste remover in a PC store as well?
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Once it has been shorted in most cases it is shot.

Don't waste your time trying to revive it, GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!!
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Xal · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:56 am Post subject:

Yeah, try get your money back first. If you can't for some reason then try what I said but bare in mind its only a small chance it will work.
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GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

Right yeah, i went to a PC store today, and they were disgusted with it, so messaged the guy a few hours ago for a refund.

Thanks very much for the help.

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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

Sent back, awaiting for refund :)

Cheers
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Xal · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:58 am Post subject:

Good to hear, never waste time on something like that if you can get the $$ back

Good luck with the cash

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Xal · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject:

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

GeForce · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 81

I did pay him through paypal, ive got a reciept on my paypal account, but not physically.

Thanks
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406