Asus Maximus Hero XI bent pins, worth trying to fix?

[tpuabc]

Hey, first post, here. I got kinda scammed on good old ebay, bought an Asus Maximus Hero XI "untested", I did asked for pics of the socket, it was flawless. I received it, looked it over and it was fine (had the cpu socket cover on).

Now, like a month and a half prepared to start building, I take the socket cover to discover a terrifying view of several pins bent on different areas, I will attach pics, I was wondering if anyone has a layout of this socket to see what those pins do and if you think it's worth it to try and repair it and see if it boots.

What frightens me is that I only have an i7 8700K at hand to test, and I don't want this motherboard to fry my good working cpu.

I've been seeing youtube videos but they all have one or two pins in just one area, not several like my board.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'd have a go, what have you to lose. it's either a total loss or a win. get a propelling pencil, fit the tube on the end for the lead over the pins and gently bend them back. Some of them don't look so bad.

 

[Space Lynx]

Hey, first post, here. I got kinda scammed on good old ebay, bought an Asus Maximus Hero XI "untested", I did asked for pics of the socket, it was flawless. I received it, looked it over and it was fine (had the cpu socket cover on).

Now, like a month and a half prepared to start building, I take the socket cover to discover a terrifying view of several pins bent on different areas, I will attach pics, I was wondering if anyone has a layout of this socket to see what those pins do and if you think it's worth it to try and repair it and see if it boots.

What frightens me is that I only have an i7 8700K at hand to test, and I don't want this motherboard to fry my good working cpu.

I've been seeing youtube videos but they all have one or two pins in just one area, not several like my board.

View attachment 170751

you could always try to contact Asus and ask them for an estimate how much it would cost to get it repaired, they probably would give a good offer or even do it for free. I really don't know, but it is worth a shot. I have contacted a few PC companies in the past for issues I had out of warranty, and they were surprisingly accommodating. they might say no, but it is worth a shot!

 

[JustAnEngineer]

This was easier when the pins were larger, but it's still quite feasible to straighten pins today. As Tigger said, you'll want a fine mechanical pencil with a metal barrel (0.5 mm works better than 0.7 mm), and possibly a magnifying glass (or use your phone as a magnifier). Finally, the last thing that you'll need is patience. Take your time and don't rush.

 

[silentbogo]

That doesn't look too bad either. Just few pins bent out of alignment - totally doable. If you have steady hands and good pair of tweezers, you should try and lightly nudge them back to where they supposed to go. I've fixed much worse ones, even where pins were folded in half or outright broken.

As Tigger said, you'll want a fine mechanical pencil with a metal barrel

Mechanical pencil used to be fine for LGA1155 and 1150 with a little sturdier pins. 1151 upwards - they are soft and the curved tips may catch onto the inside of the pencil and get more damage.
I'm doing everything with a dentist pick or fine-tipped tweezers.

you could always try to contact Asus and ask them for an estimate how much it would cost to get it repaired

ASUS would definitely tell him to bugger off. Only thrid-party shops do socket replacements (costs around $30-$50 in my area depending on the board/socket).

 

[xtreemchaos]

i think thats fixable, good set of tweezers and take your time, it dont have to be perfect just need the pins to make contact. i have a camera microscope what i use for smd work but ive also had good results using a camera on a tablet propped up or a phone will also work also if you have 2 pairs of glasses normal and reading when warn at the same time can give good mag. goodluck.

 

[Bones]

Believe it or not I've fixed worse before and that board is in use now.

Took my time with it and it worked out.

 

[delshay]

I'd have a go, what have you to lose.

CPU as OP has already pointed out.

Memory module(s).

& possible PSU if there is a strange load & it's not caught in time.


First thing first. I would check none of the pins are touching other pins. I would not bother to try & straighten them just yet as you need to know if the VRM is not fried. There's no point in straightening the pins if the MOSFETS are blown.

First thing I would do is try turning on the motherboard with no CPU, memory. If all ok proceed to the next stage & straighten out the pins.

 

[Bones]

I have to say DO NOT attempt to power up the system until you know all the pins are back in alignment and none are touching each other.
Work on the pins first, get those right, visually inspect the board for any other issues and then you'd pop a chip in to test it with.

 

[Robert B]

Use a fine tip tweezer, straighten the pins and only then power up the empty board.

When you'll straighten the pins you'll see that in fact there isn't a lot of straightening as is it a case of a very gentle pulling, pushing or just sideways movement.

Don't grab too hard on the pins with the tweezer as you might bend them worse. You just keep them gently inside the tips of the tweezer.

Take care when you work around the socket to not rest your fingers on other pins and bend even more pins. Be calm and have a steady hand. You'll see that the pins are like leaves in the wind and they don't need a lot of force to move. The pins have a little bit of elasticity but not much. Sometimes it takes several tries to put them in line. Your objective is not to make them perfect if you can't do that, as to put them in a position where they can make a good contact with the pad on the CPU.

After you straighten them try to mount and unmount the CPU several times and check if the pins hold their position.

After straightening check at an angle all the pins to see any "raised heads" or "dipped heads".

Sometimes you can use a a tool with a very fine point like a dentist pick as mentioned above but you will see that there isn't a lot of space between the pins. In the past I used a longer needle that was very rigid like a sewing machine needle.

Your board is fixable if in the first place it is not dead already. I repeat do not power the board without straightening the pins or at least check to see of there is a contact between any of the pins. A short is possible and you might kill the board or blow a SMD fuse.

Try on a dead board if you have one available even if it is a board with stronger pins / older. You will be surprised as how easily you can bend the pins.

Good luck!

 

[Bones]

I did spot what looks like a broken/missing pin or two BUT that doesn't mean the board is dead. The one I fixed had at least one gone but it still works fine.
Most of the pins in the pic just look to be shoved to the side, that's an easy fix and TBH a commonly seen problem period, those pins do like to move around a bit.

It's when they get twisted and deformed is when it's a challenge to do.

EDIT:
I do strongly suggest picking up a magnifying visor with a light made into it, makes seeing the pins SOOOO much easier for this kind of work.

 

[Robert B]

I have a X58 board that had some bent pins and even a missing one. The owner said that it was flawless. In the end the board worked well after treatment even with a missing pin. It also had a blown SMD fuse. For sure the owner powered it up with pins making contact.

Intel Coffee Lake CPUs Have Different Pin Configuration than Previous Generation

Intel is set to release its newest generation of processors, known as code name Coffee Lake in just a few days. Recent controversy has focused around the inability of newer processors to be used with motherboards supporting the previous generation CPUs. Intel has released data sheets for Coffee...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Deleted member 24505]

CPU as OP has already pointed out.

Memory module(s).

& possible PSU if there is a strange load & it's not caught in time.


First thing first. I would check none of the pins are touching other pins. I would not bother to try & straighten them just yet as you need to know if the VRM is not fried. There's no point in straightening the pins if the MOSFETS are blown.

First thing I would do is try turning on the motherboard with no CPU, memory. If all ok proceed to the next stage & straighten out the pins.

Well maybe you would use a expensive chip to test it, but i would buy the cheapest 1151 from cex myself.
CPU as OP has already pointed out.

Memory module(s).

& possible PSU if there is a strange load & it's not caught in time.

so i guess you would drop it in the bin then, or just sarcasm?

 

[Robert B]

I saw in the picture around 14 pins from which two are bent over their head circled in red. Those pins are the most problematic. The rest look like an easy fix.

To clean the socket from the lint and some fibers that are visible you can use IPA 99% sprayed on from and empty window cleaner container or other means. Do not touch the pins with any sort of rag, cotton stick or other stuff.

 

[delshay]

Well maybe you would use a expensive chip to test it, but i would buy the cheapest 1151 from cex myself.
CPU as OP has already pointed out.

Memory module(s).

& possible PSU if there is a strange load & it's not caught in time.

so i guess you would drop it in the bin then, or just sarcasm?

Yes, I always recommend using cheap parts for testing purpose only. All the way down to a cheap single slot GFX card.
The easiest way to check VRM maybe ok is to stick a meter down the 12v EPS socket. Reading should be in the Kilo ,mega ohms range. If it reads anywhere near 0 ohms, don't even bother to turn it on.

I never throw things in the bin. There are useful parts on an motherboard. Chipsets, capacitors, resistors, connectors, even the MOSFETS themselves.

 

[silentbogo]

The easiest way to check VRM maybe ok is to stick a meter down the CPU socket. Reading should be in the Kilo ,mega ohms range. If it reads anywhere near 0 ohms, don't even bother to turn it on.

Wrong. Just check each phase on a corresponding choke, no need to poke the socket for no reason.
Resistance without CPU could be as low as 500 Ohms (seen it on AsRock H81/B85 boards,which couple of times threw me off scent of the actual fault). You will only see MOhm readings on a 12V side(e.g. on EPS connector).

 

[delshay]

Wrong. Just check each phase on a corresponding choke, no need to poke the socket for no reason.
Resistance without CPU could be as low as 500 Ohms (seen it on AsRock H81/B85 boards,which couple of times threw me off scent of the actual fault). You will only see MOhm readings on a 12V side(e.g. on EPS connector).

That's what I meant, 12v EPS connector. Should have worded it better than saying CPU socket. I should have said CPU power socket to make it more clear, but 12v EPS connector is the correct name.

Edited my posting to make it more clear.

 

[Caring1]

"untested" generally means you accept the risk when you buy, that there may be faults.
No scamming was done.

 

[5150Joker]

Hey, first post, here. I got kinda scammed on good old ebay, bought an Asus Maximus Hero XI "untested", I did asked for pics of the socket, it was flawless. I received it, looked it over and it was fine (had the cpu socket cover on).

Now, like a month and a half prepared to start building, I take the socket cover to discover a terrifying view of several pins bent on different areas, I will attach pics, I was wondering if anyone has a layout of this socket to see what those pins do and if you think it's worth it to try and repair it and see if it boots.

What frightens me is that I only have an i7 8700K at hand to test, and I don't want this motherboard to fry my good working cpu.

I've been seeing youtube videos but they all have one or two pins in just one area, not several like my board.

View attachment 170751

That's a very easy fix, just get a magnifying glass + some tweezers.

 

[tpuabc]

Guys thank you for all your suggestions. Notification got to my junk mail and I thought no one had replied, lol.

So, I outfitted a desk lamp with a 12w led bulb for illumination. I will try a regular magnifying, my girlfriend will actually do the unbending since she has more patience and steadier hands than I do. So I can hold the glass or the light for her, will definitely try the phone's camera. Also have the mechanical pencil and some weird pen like pointy thing that was used for arts and craft when I was little, will see what works best.

As for testing I only have an i7 8700 and an i7 8700K, I think depending on how it looks visually I will risk it. Also have a new 990K, lol

I saw in the picture around 14 pins from which two are bent over their head circled in red. Those pins are the most problematic. The rest look like an easy fix.

To clean the socket from the lint and some fibers that are visible you can use IPA 99% sprayed on from and empty window cleaner container or other means. Do not touch the pins with any sort of rag, cotton stick or other stuff.

Thank you so much for taking the trouble, I was thinking of using an Xpower blower on low speed from afar.

And as for being scammed, untested, right is untested. But you can visually see if there are bent pins or not and he sent me a picture with a flawless socket, that's deceiving. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he bent them putting the cpu socket cover incorrectly although I doubt it since the picture he sent me didn't even lifted the lever thing.

I will also turn it on without a chip once the unbending is done.

Which pins on the eps 12v should I test with the multimeter?

 

[tpuabc]

I also don't see any missing pins but that's why I wanted the layout to verify.

Other components look good visually, I think the board was new, it even has the plastics on the heatsinks. Have all the accessories sealed, the rog decals everything.

 

[silentbogo]

And as for being scammed, untested, right is untested.

At least it's just a socket issue. We have local scammers that will sell you some garbage with dead PCH if you are not careful enough, or worse - replace all the valuable parts on a dead board with some random garbage(Intel NICs, SuperI/O, VRM parts etc), cause a non-trained person would not notice or even look that way. That's the reason one of my old suppliers stopped selling broken RMA'd components - had too many cases where some douchebag would buy 100+ boards and re-sell them as a "working, still on warranty" (and most boards/cards came with original box/accessories an old warranty sheet for warehousing). Used to be an excellent source of parts for me and my partner, but those times are long-gone thanks to greedy dishonest fucks.

 

[tpuabc]

This is my setup haha, and my progress thus far, its looking good.

From certain angles and light you can see something is not right, I'm trying to make it as close to perfect. It's really easy to see if they're bent backwards, to the left or right, but very tricky to see if they're lower or higher than the others.

Nothing seems to be touching each other

 

[Jetster]

Live an learn. Just get a cheap chip to test it after your attempt to fix it. Big magnifying glass

 

[tpuabc]

So, after a few hours with the little magnifying glass from the swiss army knife, and the pointy pen thing, I'm up and running Windows 10, I think we did it, it recognizes both dual channel dimm slots.

I took a risk and put the i7 8700 in with the intel stock cooler haha. Weird thing when booting up it said something about the bios updating.

The ethernet port is not working, my mouse (I have a mouse combo and keyboard wireless which uses one usb port for the wireless receiver) is not working, the keyboard is working fine.

I will install drivers try to get internet running, although I don't think any of those issues is related to the bent pins.