PC Building

[Ujjval]

Hello! Everyone I hope you all are doing well. As you have already read the subject I am literally feeling dead now. My CPU is running a little hot lately so I decided to replace thermal paste as it's been more than a year since I have last applied. On 17th Sep 2024, I decided to replace thermal paste after completing my work.

I carefully removed the water cooling and I don't feel any trouble by removing the cpu water block because thermal paste is mostly evaporated. Then I took off the cpu from socket to clean it and remove all the dust then install it again, applied the thermal paste and heatsink and every other thing. I have also removed Rams to clean the dust and install them again. Then I boot my system and boom I see a Q-Code error "3E" for the first time. So I searched it and it was something "Post Initialization" so I searched for some tips and found out then it can be solved by few steps like changing ram in different slots so I did but no luck. Then I cleared CMOS but still the same error, even after flashing BIOS using BIOS Flashback button I am getting the same error and had no luck to boot it. So after trying these steps again and I thought to reinstall the CPU because I thought something might gone wrong. I carefully uninstall it and re-install it again. I turned on the power switch on electric board and then standby button on motherboard and immediately after a sec it turned off. Here I thought "OMG, What's wrong? What happened?"

I turned off the power button and after few mins and turned it on again and then click on standby button on motherboard but this time I got "00" error code so I looked for it and it was "CPU NOT DETECTED" and it's done now. It's just done. No matter what I tried but it's just not boot no cpu detected. Cpu was not even getting hot. Searching for tutorials, help in forums but no luck. I asked AMD for help and they said that your product is out of warranty as it's been almost 4 years since I bought this Processor. 

I don't know what to do. My cpu is just become a expensive paper weight. I took a loan for this Processor to buy as I am a 3D Artist and need it for rendering and simulation stuff. I can't afford to take another loan to buy a new one.

I have never ever expected that changing just the thermal paste will cause this. I thought if I could have never decided to change it in first place and anyway I have to in near future. I don't know what to do now. 

 

[elstaci]

Sounds like it could also be a defective Motherboard.

To eliminate either the CPU or Motherboard see if you can install another CPU on the Motherboard and see if it boots up. If it does then you definitely know it is the CPU.

Or install you CPU on another PC and see if it does the same thing.

Replacing the Thermal paste shouldn't have damaged the CPU unless if you removed the CPU from the motherboard and you might have bent or broken a CPU pin while replacing it or some thermal paste got inside the Motherboard's socket  preventing a good contact with the CPU.

[Ujjval]

I have checked for the bent CPU Pin several times but I don't see any. I am not sure about the broken pin. For the thermal paste thing I am 100% positive that it doesn't got inside motherboard's socket neither on the back side of cpu. 

I can't either install another cpu because I don't have one as these are expensive ones and nor I have another mobo. Both of them are expensive.

As far as I think CPU might got dead because motherboard seems to be working fine and showing "00" Q-Code. I really don't know what to do. Both of them are out of warranty. It looks like a dead end 😞

[BigAl01]

Flashing the BIOS is something I am always reluctant to perform on a system that isn't booting.  But moving forward, I would recommend you pull the power cord from the PSU, you remove the CMOS battery and let it sit for at least five minutes.  This is to ensure you are clearing the CMOS.  After five minutes, put in a new CMOS battery and connect the power cord again before hitting that power button on your case.  Let us know if you still get error codes.

[Ujjval]

I tried that yesterday but still no luck 😞

Thank you for the advise. 

[BigAl01]

If there is a computer repair shop nearby, maybe they have an older Threadripper that's compatible with the sTRX4 socket.  They might be willing to look at your computer and attempt to get it running again.  That CPU is quite expensive, as you noted.  Newegg has a refurbished one for around $2400 USD.  I certainly would keep looking for the cause of the error codes before spending too much.  It could be the motherboard has failed, and that would be much cheaper to replace.

[FunkZ]

When I trace the thermal paste imprint with a circle (red) it appears the cold plate overhangs a raised section of the retention bracket potentially resulting in uneven contact with the IHS. Also the globs of thermal paste (yellow) appear to have had little or no contact with the cold plate, which would again point to an uneven mounting issue.

What AIO cooler did you use and is it on the AMD compatibility list for Threadripper?

https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/ecosystem/threadripper-cooling-solutions.html

[Ujjval]

Those uneven thermal paste is due to removal of the heatsink but it was even for the first time. Also I am using Corsair HydroX Custom Water Cooling. I think it's XC5 for CPU water block and XD5 for the Pump/Reservoir. I am using this solution for 4 years now and didn't have any problems with the cooling. 

[mengelag]

You can also try re-seating your CPU. Pulling off the AIO could have shifted it slightly because of the suction from the thermal paste and the AIO.

[Ujjval]

Hello! Everyone Thank you so much for the responses. I gave my board to a computer repair shop and they told me that your board is faulty but didn't confirm that if Processor is fine or not. He don't have any spare mobo to check my processor. And he told me the repair cost would be $240. I am not feeling to spend that much for repair instead I would like to purchase a new for $480 just like I purchased this one. But that doesn't seems to be possible as TRX40 mobo seems to be discontinued. 

Can you guys give me some advice what to do in this situation? Also if it's possible to buy a mobo from some other country so that I can have that 3 years of Warranty? 

[BigAl01]

I recommend you go forward with the computer repair shop asking for $240 - if that includes a possibly used motherboard.  I look at warranty's as just how confident a manufacturer is with his product.  Getting a motherboard shipped back to the manufacturer for a replacement is costly to you and I bet going outside your country is even a bigger pain.  I think I've only used a warranty claim once and it took forever to get a replacement (it was a PSU).  Technology moves so fast that there is a good possibility that a defective product that you are trying to return will be out of stock and unavailable anyway.  Overall then, I recommend you don't worry about getting a warranty with a new motherboard and just try to get your system working again, even with a used motherboard or one with no warranty.

[elstaci]

How did the repair shop know it was a defective Motherboard without installing a different CPU on it?

Also the $240.00 is it for a different repaired Motherboard or to actually repair your old Motherboard?

What happens if they repair the old Motherboard and it still doesn't boot up with your CPU installed?

[Ujjval]

They might have done some test on my mobo as I can see some distortion on thermal paste on cpu which was clearly not before I gave them. So they told me that your mobo is defective. Still they didn't have installed another CPU on it to check it. 

So $240 is for the repair and not for a different repaired/refurbished motherboard. So the main reason I am not going forward with the repair is because they aren't telling what is actually defective and what parts they are going to replace and how much it costs and how they are actually charging for the labor and service. I think they are just charging too much for a simple fix which I don't know about. I think the price should be reasonable for the skills, knowledge and experience they have but I actually don't feel $240 is fair for their experience for probably a simple fix. I might don't have any issues if they have told me what's the problem and which part needs to replaced. 

Now, I am going to buy a refurbished one from ebay but before that I was looking if I can buy a original product from some other country where I can get a 3-year of Manufacture Warranty. Obviously I don't want to actually travel outside my country to just get a mobo because it will cost me double. My idea was to arrange a logistic service so that I can import it to my country which will be way cheaper. 

[BigAl01]

I hope you find a low cost solution.

[Ujjval]

So I am watching so many videos on YouTube on motherboard and strangely I am liking them. They are not that boring as I have expected. Now I even bought a cheap multimeter from local market and learn some basics of it. I found out that there is no voltage in BIOS Chip. It's Winbond 25X05CLNIG 1949. Now that I know that this is 100% defective I can ask for a quote from local repair shop for replacing and programming this chip for me because I cannot really do it myself. 

I have still bought a Asus Rog Zenith II Extreme ( Non-Alpha version) in "Open Box" condition from ebay for $490 (including shipping cost). I was not feeling to buy from Chinese sellers even thought they have more than 99% positive rating. Literally 99% sellers are from China or Hong Kong. So I found this one seller from USA and he have this mobo in new condition.

I am getting a little excited now to replace the bios chip myself but I am a little afraid if I accidently fry my cpu. But if I'll be able to do this for the first time I will be the happiest person in the world for few mins. 🙂

[Ujjval]

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well. I would like to share an update of the situation. I have actually bought a second motherboard (Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme) from eBay and finally after a month I received it. 
I have carefully installed the CPU, only one stick of RAM, 24-Pin Power Cable and two 8-Pin cable for CPU. Turn on the power supply and power on the motherboard and guess what happens?? 

I got the same f*****g MEMORY CODE: 00 error so I think it's clear now my CPU is dead as what I was expecting before. This is the worst case that can ever happen. A $5000 CPU dead just because of changing a f*****g thermal paste, moreover I have already spent $600 on this mobo from ebay. 

Just wondering if there's any way that I can check this CPU if it's really dead or not. Or if I can get a second CPU to see if that's working on my mobo.

[Ujjval]

Hello! Did anyone know if it's possible to repair CPU? Well it's not like some simple fix like broken or bent pins since this CPU doesn't have any pins at all. Also from visual inspection it's not like some capacitor, resistor or mosfet or whatever is missing from the CPU. It's more likely something  might have got shorted or fried.

If anyone have repaired CPU before with similar issues and know some good shops then please let me know.

[elstaci]

Repairing the actual CPU chips is No it cant be repaired.

If it involves the pins or surface area possibly.

The CPU uses Nanotechnology and everything is done through a printing like process at the manufacturing company.

There are no replaceable parts in the actual CPU chips.

[gonipco2]

Though haven't seen many use cases that justify the 3990x over the 64 core Epyc or 24 and 32 core Threadrippers. If it's a server or render station workload, Epyc is often better, with far larger RAM capacity. If it's an interactive workstation workload, the 3970x or 3960x are often better, as all three chips have the same 280 watt TDP, so the lower-core parts are able to run their cores at higher frequencies - preferable for the many applications that cannot take advantage of even 24 cores.

[Ujjval]

Yes I understand what you are saying. So when it comes to freelancing I have to deliver the video as soon as possible. That's why I benefited from 64 Cores which are all being used in pure CPU rendering. It might not give double performance than 32 cores but still it saves huge amount of time. I still don't get advantage of 64 cores while Fx Simulations because application can't take advantage but it isn't slower than 32 Cores. 

So it's just perfect for both use case unlike newer models like 5000 or 7000 series.

AMD actually gone mad, discontinuing socket? Just like that they discontinued. Now it's actually stupid to buy 7000 or 5000 and I think the warranty is also reduced to 1 year from 3 years. It's probably better to build 3-4 i9 builds since 7000 series is literally too expensive.

[Ujjval]

Hello! I know this post is dead now and it doesn't make any sense to continue. But is it possible that CPU is dead because of bad Memory Controller on the CPU? Is it possible to get it repaired? 

[elstaci · Accepted solution]

CPUs aren't repairable. If the internal Nano electronics on the CPU Chips goes bad it automatically becomes a paperweight.

[BigAl01]

But a nice looking paperweight.  

[Ujjval]

Yeah! It will definitely look nice paperweight.