Question Did my CPU die already?

[SentinelNismo]

Sorry this is my first ever post and I don't know how to structure it well
CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
Mobo: Aorus B550 PRO AC
RAM: T-Force DarkZ
PSU: 750W Gold
Few days ago I got to finally build my own PC, I've been wanting to for 7 years. And I used the stock cooler that came with the 5600X, but today I wanted to replace the thermal paste on it so I took it off and cleaned it and put it on, now it won't post. There are debugging lights on the motherboard and one of them is CPU and it stays lit. After I reseated the cooler, I forgot to plug it in the fan cable so I flipped the PSU off and plugged it in and tried again and it still stays on the CPU light, did I somehow mess it up? I don't know what to do and I'd like some help please. I even took it apart again and put it back in to check and it still won't post. I think it might be because some of the stock thermal paste of the CPU cooler got onto the base, not inside the socket, the actual base where it meets around the socket and I couldnt clean it. I can't even reach it because I have to move the retention arm down to see some of it. Could it be that?? What should I do,

 

[Pytheus]

I've heard taking off the cooler can unseat the CPU even with the tension arm down. Did you try taking the CPU out of it's socket and reseating it? Can clean off the thermal paste with some alcohol. Thermal paste may or may not be electrically conductive depending on what you used. There is also the possibility that you damaged the motherboard when installing the cooler.

 

[Karadjgne]

I'd pull the cooler back off, clean it all up, remove the cpu (carefully), check for bent pins underneath, clean up the paste around the socket (take your time with this, better to get it all than rush it) then rebuild using the right methods to apply paste.

 

[thefxgamingrules]

Another possibility may be ESD.

 

[SentinelNismo]

I've heard taking off the cooler can unseat the CPU even with the tension arm down. Did you try taking the CPU out of it's socket and reseating it? Can clean off the thermal paste with some alcohol. Thermal paste may or may not be electrically conductive depending on what you used. There is also the possibility that you damaged the motherboard when installing the cooler.

I took the CPU out to make sure I seated it correctly, the pins aren't bent either. I cleaned the paste off the best I could and reapplied Noctua's thermal paste

 

[SentinelNismo]

I'd pull the cooler back off, clean it all up, remove the cpu (carefully), check for bent pins underneath, clean up the paste around the socket (take your time with this, better to get it all than rush it) then rebuild using the right methods to apply paste.

I did my absolute best to clean off thermal paste, there was none on or around the socket that I could see. I checked the CPU as well and none of the pins were bent. It may've been the tiny bit of stock thermal compound that went under the sliding socket, should I get a replacement motherboard?

 

[Pytheus]

I did my absolute best to clean off thermal paste, there was none on or around the socket that I could see. I checked the CPU as well and none of the pins were bent. It may've been the tiny bit of stock thermal compound that went under the sliding socket, should I get a replacement motherboard?

You could try another motherboard. Worst case it doesn't work and you can just send the new mobo back.

 

[cryoburner]

Have you tried clearing the motherboard's CMOS to reset its BIOS settings to their defaults? Perhaps not having having the fan initially plugged in or cutting power during boot somehow messed up the BIOS settings. It probably wouldn't hurt to try anyway.

 

[SentinelNismo]

Have you tried clearing the motherboard's CMOS to reset its BIOS settings to their defaults? Perhaps not having having the fan initially plugged in or cutting power during boot somehow messed up the BIOS settings. It probably wouldn't hurt to try anyway.

Oh, I perhaps could've actually tried that, I returned my motherboard and ordered a replacement which is coming in tomorrow. I don't know why I haven't thought of that. Thanks I'll keep that in mind next time something like that happens again through my stupidity