Anyone ever tried pin repair on a CPU?

[Rob_B]

I took a punt on a Ryzen chip with a broken pin (I think it's USB_HSD1P) and wondered if anyone had ever tried a repair? I'm fairly certain the CPU won't work as-is so I'm going in to this with eyes wide open, I've got an A320 mobo to test anything with before putting in my main rig.

There are 2 options I've seen:
- Drop a loose pin in the socket and put the CPU on top
- Solder a pin from another CPU

Since my soldering skills don't really exist the first option seems simple but I imagine pretty risky. Can I do the 2nd option with a heat gun maybe?

Wish me luck!

[[GSV]Trig]

I'd be tempted to try the chip without the pin to start with, I had a guy buy a motherboard & CPU off me a while back, he brought it back and said that the iGPU didn't work, took his heatsink off and could see that what looked like a couple of bent pins on the socket, straightened them out and all was well, but other than the iGPU not working everything else tested fine so you might find that things work even without that single pin..

However, if it is a USB one you might find some pretty important stuff doesn't work...

[Rob_B]

.... However, if it is a USB one you might find some pretty important stuff doesn't work...

Any ideas on what that pin could do? I've tried to find out but can't find anything online

[AGTDenton]

Any ideas on what that pin could do? I've tried to find out but can't find anything online

Purely based on this diagram linked, it connects to "USB to I2C"
https://www.xwfix.com/wp-content/upl...ire_E5_722.pdf

Then this is the best I could find as to what I2C does

The I2C-USB bridge is connected to the PC in the same way as an HID device and requires no additional driver when connected to a PC installed with Windows®. This I2C-USB bridge works as a master in the I2C bus and is controlled by a PC program via the USB.

https://www.infineon.com/dgdl/Infine...7d0eee3d4a7cea

To me seems fundemental but I could be down completely the wrong rabbit hole

[Rob_B]

I'm not going to pretend to understand those diagrams

Looks like I might be learning how to do micro soldering!

[[GSV]Trig]

Can you photograph the chip, or at least confirm it’s number.
Issue with soldering something that small, if you overheat you’ll fraggle the whole chip..

Have you tried to run the chip yet?

[Rob_B]

I've not got it yet, but will do

[DanceswithUnix]

Purely based on this diagram linked, it connects to "USB to I2C"
https://www.xwfix.com/wp-content/upl...ire_E5_722.pdf

If that block diagram is to believed, then that pin is for interfacing to a touch pad.
I2C is used in all sorts of places like reading dram configuration from the dimms and configuring network PHYs, but I would give it a try and see what the PC can't find and hope you don't get a "no memory detected" beep.

[Agent]

Micro-soldering isn't too bad once you get used to it, assuming you have a steady hand. The main issue is the equipment. You really need the correct tools for the job.

[Rob_B]

So, with 0 skill,0 experience and a bog standard soldering iron it seems like this is going to go swimmingly!

[Agent]

So, with 0 skill,0 experience and a bog standard soldering iron it seems like this is going to go swimmingly!

Please post the results

I personally wouldn't be trying with a soldering iron (you need hot air), but as long as you're happy to write it off, have fun and learn!

[Rob_B]

I've got a heat gun, wasn't sure if that'd be enough but I can experiment!

[Rob_B]

Well, got it this morning and after straightening a few surrounding pins I popped it into my rig and.... Drumroll please....!

It seems totally fine!

It boots to Windows fine, nothing seems to be broken (yet)
Setting up RAM etc in the BIOS now and will check all the USB ports due to the naming of that pin, if OK then it looks like I snagged a 5600x for £65, I'm due some good luck finally!

[[GSV]Trig]

Told ya
Can you see stuff not working in device manager?

[Rob_B]

Nah, all looks good. Running cinebench now, boost clocks with PBO seem pretty good, temps are ok considering the cooling, I'm pleasnatly surprised as I'm pretty confident it wasnt just a ground pin

10min run of R23...
70C max
Cores boosting to 4.5/4.6 (one is 4550 and the other five are 4650)

[dannyboy75]

Wow, that's a hell of a saving. Looking on ebay, used ones (without missing pins!) are going for north of £150. For £65 it was worth a punt, glad it seems to have paid off for you