Post Your Biggest CPU Mistakes

[jpishgar]

Back when I was in middle school, I sawed an AMD K6-2 CPU in half using a Dremel. See, it was a different pin configuration than the socket for the motherboard I was using, and I wanted it to fit. Yes, there was some peer pressure involved. I think the biggest stupidity was plugging the thing in and pressing the power button. The smell was quite impressive. Since then, I've always associated the scent of computer components burning with a deep sensation of personal guilt. Life lesson: Never take a Dremel to a CPU.

Now that you have my embarrassing confession, let's hear yours.

We want to know what your biggest mistake building PCs has been as it relates to CPUs. What mishaps have you had that make you look back and go "Oh man, what the heck was I thinking?".

Consider this a no judgement zone - and a fun means of tech-related therapy.

Include images, if you've got 'em. If we get some good horror stories, we might even turn this into an editorial feature and showcase our communal misery.

-JP

p.s. Check out the other threads, too.
• Post Your Biggest CPUs Mistakes
• Post Your Biggest Graphics Card Mistakes
• Post Your Biggest Motherboard Mistakes
• Post your Biggest Storage Mistakes
• Post your Biggest Cooling, Cases, & PSUs Mistakes

 

[Jack_H14]

I came here to say I bent and broke a pin on the motherboard of my first build by shoving the cpu in too hard. but now I feel like I have nothing to share lol

 

[weberdarren97]

I tried to get the Asus m5a78l-m/usb3 to power the AMD FX 8350 at 5GHz. Yeah, I burnt out the power delivery systems on the motherboard and bricked the CPU. So I got another 8350 and then got the Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard and attempted to make it to the magical 5.2GHz, then I couldn't figure out why my CPU burnt up after like fifteen seconds... I forgot to put on thermal paste.

So then I got my third 8350 and put it in correctly then I actually managed to get to 7.15GHz just out of luck, I seem to have won the silicon lottery with this last CPU.

 

[Kurz]

Mine isn't as glamorous.

I was lazy and didn't want to turn off the computer to move components around in the case.
I think I had a x800 XL AMD card. The screw driver touched the back of the card, Sparks flew and the computer froze up.

The computer booted back up just fine.
Though gaming performance was impacted...

I am not proud of this but I was an teen at the time.
I successfully RMA'd the card and get it replaced.

 

[nigelivey]

AMD. That is all.

 

[Snipergod87]

I bent some pins for my LGA1155 motherboard, causing Windows to freeze up unless the proper pressure was applied to the processor. I bent the pins back and it all works fine.

 

[Corwin65]

First build, "Stand offs, what are stand offs?" Thankfully RMA saved me.

OOps forgot, Silicone for thermal paste. That one still hurts.

 

[sam1275tom]

When I was about 8 years old, I powered on my Cryix 6x86 without heat sink, after entered windows 98, I touched it and fell very hot, I turnoff it step by step instead of hit the AT power immediately, before I reinstall the heatsink. However it is alive until today.

 

[Ambular]

Couldn't figure out why my CPU didn't seem to line up properly in the socket. As it turns out, this will happen if you put the processor in upside-down. -_-

Fortunately I did have brains enough not to try to force anything, and once I figured out what was wrong and flipped it over, all was well.

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

I once tried to use Core Unlocker on a chip that already had all the cores unlocked. And then tried to overclock it to what worked out to be 5.6gHz. The CPU was not happy, and the motherboard needed a reset. I suppose Dremel sawing trumps them all, though.

 

[Hidgerknight]

I had a compaq 8510p and I tried to overclock the CPU so that I could play games with better FPS, suffice to say it turned off and would not come back on.

 

[jpishgar]

I'm honestly surprised that no one has beaten my Dremel story, yet.

Worst part was, it wasn't even my own computer.

 

[Corwin65]

I'm honestly surprised that no one has beaten my Dremel story, yet.

Worst part was, it wasn't even my own computer.

You just beat your own story.

 

[FlintIronStagg]

buying AMD.

 

[Supahos]

My first build ever was an lga775 build e6700 CPU I stupidly used a case with a built in power supply it died in 5 days, and made minor artifacts appear on the video from that moment forward... But it was the best mistake ever I played a fps called America's army and after I goofed the GPU it let me see shadows through all structures. Was the best legal wall hack ever. Oddly enough the computer still functions to this day despite the fact all case fans are ceased up and is oced somewhat heavily for over a decade (I think) on stock cooler

 

[Supahos]

I guess if it has to be cpu related I helped a friend build his first computer and he asked if he had processor right, I was on phone and just said yes... He proceeded to put it in the socket upside down and put thermal paste on the pins without latching it (obviously as it wouldn't when upside down) I think he did manage to get the rma to go through after some discussion with newegg

 

[gamerk316]

Purchased an ran with a Pentium D 820 with a stock heatsink.

 

[ENFORCEZz]

Got my brand new i5 6600k and the plastic thing around felt like it was flipping vaccum sealed i pulled really hard and it opened and landed on the silverside down on the hardwood floor.......... so glad it wasnt the gold side!

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

I think the things are weighted intentionally. I had a mobile CPU though that I dropped right on the floor- no heat spreader, after all. Pin side up. Fortunately the CPU didn't really have any use and ran like $2 on eBay, so it wasn't much of a loss.

 

[Volcruz]

I damaged the cpu socket(pins) on my motherboard while placing the cpu.It happened when i was explroing the cpu for the first time and was trying to reassemble it.

 

[urishima]

Forgot to remove the little bit of transparent plastic that covered the base plate of the after-market cooler for my Phenom II. I only realized why the temps of my CPU would skyrocket as soon as I turned it on, when I removed the cooler to reapply thermal paste.

There was no lasting damage, but I felt like right idiot at the time.

But yeah, I don't think anyone can top OPs dremel story 😛

 

[thedigitaldevil]

This took place when I was about 22 I think which would be roughly 13 years ago. I can't remember the CPU socket type of model but it was a top of the line intel. I was building a new PC and based on the recommendation of my brother, who was great with PCs, I ordered some arctic silver along with my gear. He had sent me the Newegg link. Unfortunately, I never reviewed the one he chose. So after I got the parts and was building it, for some reason I had to remove the CPU. Well, it wouldn't come off. Turns out he had unknowingly picked out the adhesive cement version of the arctic silver. So, after hours of agony, pain and tempers soaring and trying to pry it off the fan using a few screw drivers, I ended up doing some permanent damage to it forcing me to buy a new one. I think in the process I also broke the MB socket that holds the CPU in place...

It was a nightmare...I should have reviewed his suggestion in the first just to cover myself. Live and learn.

 

[elektrichead22]

My first build forgot to enable hyperthreading in bios for two years.

 

[Whitunga]

When I first got into building, I took a bland, cheap Austin Evans part list and spiced it up with a different case and some other deviations. The cost of the case I purchased, a NZXT H440 Razer Edition, was about 2-3 times as much as the one originally in the build and I wanted to cut back. I ended up skimping on the CPU and bought a CPU that was incompatible with the socket of the motherboard I purchased; not on purpose, of course.

Your initial reaction may be "Just sell the CPU open-box" or "Maybe make a trade with a compatible CPU through Reddit" — I did neither of those. I did something so horrible and stupid, that I shouldn't be allowed on here; yet, here I am.

Being the impulsive, in-the-moment kid I am, I wanted to make a joke out of the problem rather than fix it. I decided it would be funny to put body wash all over my CPU and motherboard and then run water over the set, all while taking a picture, because it'd be funny, ya know?

Well here is the end result: http://imgur.com/PWAZgjj

In retrospect, I shouldn't have even gone with that build, or let alone that case, yet I do believe it was a good learning experience (an expensive one at that.)

 

[dreamalittle]

ha, that's easy. i tried putting an LGA775 cpu (i think it might have been a pentium D?) in a p35 motherboard. i vaguely recall smoke or sparks or a popping sound. anyway whatever happened wasn't good, and the chip was fried. it gave me an excuse to buy a Q6600, which I loved and used for many years while hating the sound the stock cooler made!

edit: wow, the guy above me did the same thing, and then one-upped himself by going into the bathroom with his computer parts. and i thought I was crazy!