Q&A for How to Fix Bent Pins on a CPU

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Question

How can I tell if I've actually straightened the pin?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

It's very difficult to to do it with the naked eye. I've personally never been able to figure out if I've actually done it correctly without a magnifying glass. You've really got to have a careful eye and a steady hand to pull this off.

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Question

Can I just use regular tweezers for this?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

No, you need to use electrical tweezers with nonstatic protection. They've also got to be exceptionally small. It's just really hard to do it with standard tweezers.

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Question

Why do CPU pins bend so easily?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

The metal they use to produce CPUs is just super flexible. Touching the pins the wrong way can bend them really easily.

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Question

How to fix broken off pins? When I removed the CPU 5 pins broke off in the socket.

Community Answer

If it is still under warranty you can get it replaced. If not then will probably have to buy a new one.

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Question

What if it is a really old processor?

Community Answer

Using a credit card, be very careful to not touch the pins with your hand. Use the card to slightly bend the pins so they will fit into the socket again.

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Question

Does this work on Ryzen CPUs?

Community Answer

The credit card method may not work, but all of the other methods should work.

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