OMG I failed!

R

rUmX

Gawd
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
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So last week I placed an order for a brand new AMD system. I actually haven't built any AMD systems since like, when I bought a A64 X2 3800+ when those first came out. I stuck with that until I picked up a q6600 G0, and from then on I've only built systems around Intel Core2/i7 cpus.

But now, here's my first AMD build in a very long time:

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Quad Core Processor AM2+ 3.0GHZ 8MB Cache 125W 45NM Retail Box
Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P AMD790X ATX AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E SATA2 RAID Sound GLAN Motherboard
G.SKILL F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH Ripjaws PC3-10666 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1333 CL7-7-7-21
Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V H.D.T.
Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400CX
Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 850MHZ 1GB 4.8GHZ GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI HDMI Display Port Lite Retail Video Card
WD Caviar Black 640GB
Antec Three Hundred


So here is where I totally messed up. I screwed up big time. The X4 940 is a AM2+ CPU, which I've just realized will not work in the Gigabyte AM3 motherboard.

I didn't realize this until it was too late, as I installed the cpu and ended up breaking 2 of the pins during installation. I did remember reading that AM3 cpu's works in AM2+ boards. I guess I messed up and at the time of ordering the parts and thought that it was the other way around, meaning I figured AM2+ cpu's would work in AM3 boards.

So hot damn, I'm really upset right now and I don't know what to do. Is there any way I can get the CPU returned/RMA'ed so I can get a AM3 cpu instead? Do you guys think the e-tailer will accept the processor back? I opened a RMA request with NCIX, where I bought the parts. I also emailed AMD support.

But man I feel like crap, $160 down the drain. I really sure hope I can get it RMA'ed.
 
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if you get this "RMA" approved, it will hurt everyone else (ie all of us enthusiasts) in the long run

although i feel your pain, this is not a defect and is simply user error

my 2 cents
 
Geez, I feel bad for you but no dice on a return me thinks. I know we all get overly excited when we get new toys, but this goes to show you it pays to take your time when ordering and assembling.
 
Call them and tell them what happened. See if they'll work something out with you on partial cash back. If they get it broken and you didn't tell them about it beforehand, they'll definitely not work with you.
 
I think if you bought NCIX's buyer protection insurance or policy, they might have let you do an exchange but you are sadly out of luck.

Matching a CPU to a Motherboard is probably the most important step of building a PC, how could you do something so careless?

***!!! Funny enough, here is an NCIX video on how to deal with broken pins on a Phenom. It's unfair to send back the CPU since you've broken it but exchange the AM3 board for an AM2 board and try what Linus does
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdDccsbv5hA
 
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/OT I just watch that NCIX video, I love at the end where he goes "Holy shit! I didn't think that was going to work"

Anyways, I think you should try fixing it, if your careful I would assume you could solder it back on (don't quote me on this). But for sure you can do the pin in a socket thing that the NCIX video shows.
 
Pure jokes in this thread, I like it. In fact, it's what I wanted, considering the title :)

So ya, like I said I haven't built a AMD system in a long time, and besides reading reviews like enthusiasts we are, I didn't know what to expect. I'm not a intel fanboy, I just usually get the best bang/performance for my buck, which only intel has been delivering lately. This build was for a friend, not myself, and he wanted a quad core system with a good video card on a budget, so this is what I threw together (albeit without barely any research, shame on me).

I think if you bought NCIX's buyer protection insurance or policy, they might have let you do an exchange but you are sadly out of luck.

Matching a CPU to a Motherboard is probably the most important step of building a PC, how could you do something so careless?

***!!! Funny enough, here is an NCIX video on how to deal with broken pins on a Phenom. It's unfair to send back the CPU since you've broken it but exchange the AM3 board for an AM2 board and try what Linus does
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdDccsbv5hA
Click to expand...

The CPU will still work in an AM2+ mobo:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...om,2148-4.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip guys. Definitely the CPU will not work on a AM3 board, since it lacks DDR3 support. Not gonna try it... don't wanna fry the mobo either.

I also don't have a AM2 board, so there's no way for me to test if the CPU is still "good".
 
Uberbob102000 said:
Anyways, I think you should try fixing it, if your careful I would assume you could solder it back on (don't quote me on this). But for sure you can do the pin in a socket thing that the NCIX video shows.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. Can you solder gold? I don't know what the added resistance of even the most conductive solder would do to the CPU.
 
soldering wont work as the cpu has to sit flush on the socket. A glob of lead will get in the way.
 
I hate to say it but you just turned 160 USD into a really expensive wall display or keychain

I can hardly believe you actually tried to force the CPU in. All guides and videos state it ought to just go right in.

Harsh and expensive lesson but do us all a favor and cancel your RMA. Its YOUR fault.
 
rUmX said:
I also don't have a AM2 board, so there's no way for me to test if the CPU is still "good".
Click to expand...

So buy one, go exchange your AM3 one for one.

We have evidence in this thread that you can get it to post by dropping broken pins in the socket directly from NCIX and also evidence from Tom's Hardware that snapping off the pins and putting it into an AM2 board anyway will work just as well.
 
Lol. Thanks for the laugh :)


If I were you I would try dropping the broken pins method, it should work. Man you must have pushed pretty hard to break the pins! I've bent a few in my day, but just in doing that while I was being impatient and not thorough--I knew something wasn't right.

Good luck with whatever you try
 
I would see if a service will repair the pins for you and then resell it if you want to stick with the AM3 motherboard.

Gary Headlee did this for me once a few years ago, but his website has disappeared...
 
I would still request an RMA for the chip, just be sure to disclose exactly what happened in your request. If they are down to replace it even though it's your fault (and you may be surprised by the answer) then everyone is happy. It's at least worth a shot.
 
NCIX will call AMD to ask whether AMD will RMA such processor; AMD will say nein - NCIX will say no to you. Then you will call AMD to see if they'd RMA the processor; you may choose to lie and say something else happened and the processor came with missing pins - they'd bring it in for inspection and it'd be pretty damn obvious the processor was damaged due to mis-installation. If you decide not to lie - they'd point you to the big giant warning somewhere on http://support.amd.com that states that AM2/AM2+ procs are not compatible with AM3 boards.

Ask me how I know all of this ;) ;)
 
DarrisBard said:
How does that work?
Click to expand...

Because manufacturers roll the cost of defects into the price of their products. When people RMA products that were not defective due to anything the manufacturer did or didn't do, that just increases the cost to said manufacturer. They're not going to simply absorb it and will increase their prices to accommodate.
 
fuelvolts said:
soldering wont work as the cpu has to sit flush on the socket. A glob of lead will get in the way.
Click to expand...

#1. Almost all good solder doesn't contail lead anymore.

#2. If you know how to solder, it is not that hard to solder stuff that small, get a good connection, and not have a glob of solder.

But yeah... a jeweler is a great place to take something like that like the other posters mentioned. They have the proper equipment to be able to handle a job like that. They work with tiny stuff like that all the time. And I am betting that they would not charge you that much at all... maybe $5 a pin.
 
ryan_975 said:
Because manufacturers roll the cost of defects into the price of their products. When people RMA products that were not defective due to anything the manufacturer did or didn't do, that just increases the cost to said manufacturer. They're not going to simply absorb it and will increase their prices to accommodate.
Click to expand...

exactly
 
GunDoingItWrong.jpg



bush_doing_it_wrong.jpg
 
Hey guys, you're right :p NCIX absolutely wouldn't take it back. That's why I also opened a RMA to AMD as well, and guess what? They'll replace it for the same processor. I fully explained my situation and the tech guy was kind enough to accept the return. Good stuff! This is why I've loved AMD. They care about their end users :)

I just placed an order for the Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P and G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ PC2-6400 memory, and will be returning the other board and memory back (plus re-stocking -.-).
 
Glad that you took the high road and didn't try to pull a fast one and glad things worked out. :cool:
 
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