Broken AM4 Socket? New build won't POST.

[Kidbest100]

TL:DR I think my AM4 CPU socket might be broken.  Please check the attachments to see pictures and a short video, and let me know if you think this is normal behavior for these sockets, or if you think it's broken.

 

I've been helping a friend of mine build a PC.  Last night we got it all together, but it wouldn't POST.  Long story short and many hours of troubleshooting later, I ended up taking it all apart today down to the barebones.  Motherboard, CPU, 1 stick of RAM, PSU plugged in with just the 24Pin and both CPU power cables for good measure, nothing else is plugged in.  When I power on the PC, I don't get anything displayed on the screen.  Doesn't POST or get to the BIOS.  All I get is a diagnostic light on the side of the board labelled "CPU", and it means exactly what you'd think it means (Motherboard manual says the code means CPU is not detected.)  If I plug an HDMI into the motherboard it goes to the "VGA" light instead, and the manual says this means a CPU device isn't detected.  Since it's onboard graphics, that'd essentially mean the same thing as the CPU code in this case.

 

I decided to try and take out the CPU and check for bent pins or any damage to the socket.  When I went to lift the CPU retention arm, I noticed it felt "stuck" about 90% of the way up, and the CPU wasn't moving at all like they usually do when you lift the arm.  Normally you lift the arm, and the CPU slowly moves / follows in the direction of the arm as the plastic socket slides backwards with it, but the socket in my motherboard doesn't move nearly at all when I do this.  Once I get 90% of the way up, the retention arm requires a large amount of force to move further, and then it eventually lurches with a very loud POP noise.  I've attached a video showing this.

 

Worrying the socket had somehow damaged the CPU, I removed it and checked for bent pins but luckily found none.  This popping didn't damage the CPU at all, so I put it back in and very gently lowered the arm.  Going down, the arm requires noticeably less force than other AM4 sockets I've installed CPUs into in the past, and it makes another strange (quieter) scratching noise while lowered.  I also noticed that the socket doesn't seem to close all the way.  If you check the pictures I've attached, I highlight what the socket looks like both open and closed, with a CPU installed and without.  You can see the socket seems to move downwards and close completely with no CPU installed, but with one installed the socket doesn't seem to close all the way and there is a noticeable lip of plastic hanging out that is usually covered when the socket is closed without a CPU.  I've also attached a picture "Closed Difference.png" that shows this lip more clearly.

 

I've tried taking the CPU out and putting it back in upwards of 15 times now, each time trying to gently push the plastic socket in different directions with my finger, thinking the issue is the CPU pins aren't making contact with the pads under the socket cover.  Each time I get the same issue, where it doesn't POST and the red CPU (sometimes VGA when an HDMI is plugged in) light turns on the board.  I've also left the PC powered on for up to 10 minutes with the heatsink on it, then quickly powered down and removed the heatsink.  It's basically stone cold, as if the CPU wasn't kicking out any heat at all because it's not powered.

 

I'm hoping someone else who has an AM4 board can lend their insight here and let me know if they have the same experience with this socket, or if after all these hours of troubleshooting I'm just going crazy and seeing problems where there are none and my issue actually lies somewhere else.  For the sake of following the posting rules, I'll post the specs and troubleshooting steps I've followed below.  Any input at all would be appreciated.  

 

Thank you!

 

SPECS:

CPU: Ryzen 7 3800X

RAM: 32GB GSkill Ripjaws V DDR4 3200MHz

Mobo: MSI MPG AM4 x570 GAMING PLUS

PSU: Corsair RM750x

GPU: None (yet)

 

Troubleshooting:

- Unplugged / replugged all power cables from both motherboard and PSU side

- Tried swapping to a spare PSU, and obviously used the proper cables for the different PSU

- Tried spare RAM (1 stick DDR4) and also tried ALL sticks in ALL DIMM slots

- Plugged in discrete GPU to bypass any potential onboard graphics issues.  Same result.

- Removed everything from the case, and unplugged anything unnecessary to reach POST.  Only thing plugged in was motherboard, CPU, 1 stick RAM, 24PIN ATX and the CPU power cables. Same result, no POST.

- Checked CPU for bent / broken pins

- Used flashlight to check socket pads for damage, I can see gold in each hole.

- Checked board for signs of damage (leaking / expanded caps, residue, etc) looks clean and new.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Skiiwee29]

3800x does NOT have a GPU, so you won't have any type of post. You need a dedicated GPU to get any type of output/post. 

[tompinai]

This thread needs to be revised. I recently had this similar problem. I had a 1500X and an Asrock X370 Killer SLI motherboard. From what I have gathered so far, I learned that AMD always had flimsy locking mechanism for its sockets including AM2/AM3/FM2/AM4 sockets. I believe the 'pop' sound you heard was the locking mechanism broke off and separated from the main socket where your CPU is locked on. And I also think that you forcing the lever was the reason it broke off like I did mine. I tried pushing the grid myself (while the lever is unlatched of course) but to no avail. I'm even considering using paste and the CPU cooler to rip it off (cleanly hopefully) out of the socket. 

 

I attached a picture of my CPU being stuck in the socket. Notice the top side (the one that has 'SOCKET AM4' written on it broke off and couldn't pull the socket to an unlocked state.