Question New system won't display. Did I mess up the CPU socket and CPU

[jboy210]

Hi all. As the title says I am building a new system (first one in 6 years).

Using a ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus motherboard with Intel I9 processor. When I power up it passes the ASUS CPU part of the boot, but shows fault but shows VGA and Boot faults. According to ASUS site this may be a CPU issue. When I pull CPU, it looks fine, but the socket looks strange with shiny flat spots as shown in the picture. Did the pins somehow get missed up? If so, what is the course of action, replace MB and processor? Also, if this the issue how do I avoid it in the future?

Thanks!
------------ updated with better link and info --------------------
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mCw7iK3nqWEdZ3ZA8

CPU: Intel i9
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D15
Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus
Ram: 64GB
SSD/HDD: 2-Crucial T700 2 TB
GPU: Asus TUF Gaming 4090
PSU: Corsair HX1200i
Chassis: Silent Base 802

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

When I pull CPU, it looks fine, but the socket looks strange with shiny flat spots as shown in the picture.
Your link doesn't work for me.

When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:

 

[jboy210]

Pic cant opening

Edited:

( I dont think prblem is CPU but) Which gen CPU do you using? I9 12th 13th 14th ?

I also hope it is not the CPU. Using 13th gen, i9-13900KF.

But if not the CPU then ...

 

[jollypirate]

From the photo it looks like you have 3 bent pins at the top 6-9 rows from the middle. Possibly a fourth one further up. You can go straight to RMA or try bending them back if you have steady hands and some small tools

 

[geofelt]

Looks like some socket pins are damaged.
It is all too easy to do.
If you had to smoosh the chip around to get it seated, you damaged pins.
One needs to drop it in cleanly.
Such damage is considered as user error, not a valid RMA.
You can perhaps use a needle to bend the pins back into position.
Otherwise, you can send the motherboard in for repair or buy a replacement.
The cpu is not likely to be damaged.

 

[USAFRet]

I see this as the likely problem:

 

[jboy210]

Thanks for the comments. If I read them correctly it sounds like the Motherboard and CPU must be replaced. Pretty depressed about this.

How can avoid trashing $800 worth of part again?

 

[geofelt]

Thanks for the comments. If I read them correctly it sounds like the Motherboard and CPU must be replaced. Pretty depressed about this.

How can avoid trashing $800 worth of part again?

The cpu is almost certainly still good.
Next time line up the little delta shaped notch and just drop the cpu into the socket.
There should be no need to wiggle it to get it seated.

 

[jboy210]

The cpu is almost certainly still good.
Next time line up the little delta shaped notch and just drop the cpu into the socket.
There should be no need to wiggle it to get it seated.

The one thing that happen is that little plastic cap preinstalled on the MB over the CPU socket fell off as soon as I opened the CPU clip. I did line up the delta on the notch and dropped the cpu into the socket.

PS. Is the Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus a good motherboard? Using the system to train and run ML models. No gaming planned, but ...

 

[jboy210]

Its good Motherboard

Thanks! The replacement should arrive today, so hoping to install tommorrow!

 

[jboy210]

Well, only minor changes. New Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus MB did not fix issue. System does not Post and the boot light is lite up on the MB. Only the boot light lite is better than before when the VGA light was also lit.

I was on the phone with Asus support for a couple of hours and they seem stumped also. Below is a summary of that was tried with the 2 Asus tech support people.

Notice the part about Asus saying I needed an OS on the system to get to the POST screen. That seems wrong to me.

Both of the Crucial T700 2TB Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSDs are brand new.

I appreciate any help anyone can offer. In 2 days my return window for these parts starts running out.

===================================
11:00 AM

On the Asus Tuf Gaming Z790-Plus Wifi Motherboard, there are 4 status lights on the motherboard (Q-LED), CPU (red) , DRAM (Yellow), VGA (White), Boot (Yellow Green).

Until the Graphics card was installed the VGA and Boot light were on and NO POST screen displayed.

After the Graphics card was installed VGA light went out, but Boot light was still on.

I contacted Asus Tech support on these issues (Case # N2411010264).
Asus tech support says this is indicating that there is no bootable media, which is correct. I EXPECTED THE SYSTEM TO STILL BRING UP THE POST SCREEN, BUT ASUS SUPPORT SAYS THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

Support said I now need to install an OS. And at this point there is no OS on the system. So, I need to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive on another computer, and use that USB drive to load Windows 10 onto the new system.

11:50 - created Windows 10 bootable USB drive. But, I can't figure out to make it work without getting the post screen.

4:00 - Asus tech support forwarded this case to the next support level using case number.

 

[jboy210]

Weird. One time this morning I was able to get the POST screen. I even set the date and time correctly. But, after that I have been unable to press <DEL> and get into the POST. Does anyone know if there is specific time for pressing <DEL> key? My keyboard lights do not come one until very late, but I have tried pressing the key at a lot of different times and after40 or so tries still cannot repeat getting to the POST screen.

I am running out of time on my return window, so appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.