[SOLVED] Can Bent CPU Pins Affect CPU Frequency and Boost?

[Iver Hicarte]

As the title states, can bent CPU Pins (even though if it's only bent slightly) affect a processor's frequency? Obviously if it is severely bent then worse case scenario surely would be that the PC would not post. But what if the pins are only slight bent (Since in some scenarios, CPU's can still function even though if some of its pins are slightly bent)? Can that affect CPU frequency? Long story short, I had to ask this because I dropped my processor when I first opened it from its box, the processor is the Ryzen 9 5900x (yeah I'm an idiot for dropping it), though it did not drop from a great height, it slipped from my hands and down to the table's surface, I inspected it but didn't see any bent pins, at least with what my eyes saw. Still, it got dropped whatever lol. But the CPU right now is running with no issues, although it is not reaching its boost frequency of 4.7ghz, it's only at 4.2ghz, maybe it's because I dropped it? Though my cooler is 5 years old and it is not really Ryzen compatible, I bought a compatible bracket for it to fit the CPU socket since I did not wanna spend money to buy a new cooler, the cooler is the Corsair Hydro H115i 280mm liquid cooler. Maybe it's also the cooler? Maybe it's just too old and cannot give adequate cooling the 5900x needs to reach its boost frequency?

THANKS!

 

[rgd1101]

if it is not making contact to the socket, it could cause unknown issue/error

what the cpu temp under load?

 

[SkyNetRising]

can bent CPU Pins (even though if it's only bent slightly) affect a processor's frequency?

If the cpu goes fully into the socket, then it should be fine.
Unless you have some pins broken off.

Max boost frequency is achievable on single threaded workloads only and, if power/temperature limits allow that.
Check temperatures.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

if it is not making contact to the socket, it could cause unknown issue/error

what the cpu temp under load?

Under full load the CPU is throttling and hitting its thermal limit of 90 degrees, I use thermal paste from Deepcool. Well the CPU pins are indeed making contact even though I can't see it for myself, how do I know, because I can use the PC normally.

 

[drea.drechsler]

As the title states, can bent CPU Pins (even though if it's only bent slightly) affect a processor's frequency? ...

An extremely slight bend won't affect if it's still making contact but even one bent badly enough to not make contact isn't likely to affect the CPU's operating frequency, although it may cause other symptoms. But if bent bad enough and something like one of the (many) ground or core power pins it could affect stability at a given frequency forcing you to settle on a lower frequency if you're overclocking.

 

[guymarshall]

Under full load the CPU is throttling and hitting its thermal limit of 90 degrees

There's your problem! Try and repaste the CPU after cleaning off the old paste thoroughly from both the CPU and heatsink base. It looks like the lower clock speed you encountered is just because the processor is trying to save itself. Although that is a powerful CPU, I don't think it should be hitting 90C and throttling with a decent cooling solution.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

There's your problem! Try and repaste the CPU after cleaning off the old paste thoroughly from both the CPU and heatsink base. It looks like the lower clock speed you encountered is just because the processor is trying to save itself. Although that is a powerful CPU, I don't think it should be hitting 90C and throttling with a decent cooling solution.

Repasted it, and it still not hitting the boost frequency of 4.70ghz.

 

[guymarshall]

Repasted it, and it still not hitting the boost frequency of 4.70ghz.

Hmm interesting... please can you send a screenshot of HWinfo whilst running a blender render like classroom or spring? Just to see what the voltages/currents/power etc is like.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

Hmm interesting... please can you send a screenshot of HWinfo whilst running a blender render like classroom or spring? Just to see what the voltages/currents/power etc is like.

On full load, the max frequency it reaches is 4.3ghz, tried rendering a couple of videos then monitoring the frequency at the same time.

 

[LeviTech]

Have you checked the energy plan?

 

[geofelt]

What is the make/model of your case and what is the fan arrangement?
Where is the H115 mounted?
Do you also have a hot graphics card?
Any cooler needs a good supply of fresh air to let it do it's job.
Take a side cover off and direct a house fan at the innards; see if that helps.

How old is the H115?
aio coolers do not last forever. Air will intrude into the system and it will need to be replaced.

 

[guymarshall]

Have you checked the energy plan?

I second this! Good idea! My threadripper 3970x sticks to 3.7GHz on power saving mode!

 

[guymarshall]

On full load, the max frequency it reaches is 4.3ghz, tried rendering a couple of videos then monitoring the frequency at the same time.

Interesting. I might look into the power plans like @MangaTech recommended.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

Have you checked the energy plan?

I have the power plan on high performance.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

What is the make/model of your case and what is the fan arrangement?
Where is the H115 mounted?
Do you also have a hot graphics card?
Any cooler needs a good supply of fresh air to let it do it's job.
Take a side cover off and direct a house fan at the innards; see if that helps.

How old is the H115?
aio coolers do not last forever. Air will intrude into the system and it will need to be replaced.

The H115i cooler is turning 4 years old, it's mounted on the top of the case. And yes, the side panel is off, since my GPU is so bulky it won't fit if you put the side panel on. And I have 3 case fans mounted on the front on a push configuration.

 

[Iver Hicarte]

I second this! Good idea! My threadripper 3970x sticks to 3.7GHz on power saving mode!

Is 3.7ghz the base frequency or is it the boost? If it sticks on that boost frequency and it stays on that on the "power saving" mode....that's kind of uncanny.

 

[SkyNetRising]

The H115i cooler is turning 4 years old, it's mounted on the top of the case.

Did you check cpu temperatures? Is it still hitting 90C ?
If so, then either cpu block is clogged or pump failing. Replace the cooler.

 

[guymarshall]

Is 3.7ghz the base frequency or is it the boost? If it sticks on that boost frequency and it stays on that on the "power saving" mode....that's kind of uncanny.

3.7 is the base, it boosts to 4.5 I think! Power saving mode disables the boost, so it stays at 2.0GHz unless a massive load is applied for a long time like a blender render and it slowly climbs to 3.7. Otherwise normal behaviour is it spiking all over the place haha xD