Dropped CPU on floor, chance that it is damaged?

[Leto Atreides II]

I accidentally dropped my brand new Intel CPU about 4 feet onto my hard wood floor. It was in partial packaging - basically I opened the box, turned it upside down and shook it until the contents fell out, but instead of falling onto the table, it bounced off and onto the floor. Since it's a real PITA to install, test, and remove a CPU so if there's a good chance it's damaged, I would rather just replace it now than install it in my motherboard and remove it later.


It was in a very thin plastic clamshell which was itself in a small bit of cardboard (I think) when it impacted on the floor, so it had some padding, but not much. How likely is it that the CPU was damaged?

[Omega]

The CPU will be fine, it's not fragile.

[_I_]

its fine

[Cloudy]

Pro tip: Don't handle PC parts like an ape.

[vadim]

Don't worry, Intel CPUs are resistant to shock damage. They even do not have pins to bend.

[GGPVL@PradzSquad]

All good all good!

[r.linder]

It'll be fine because Intel CPU pins are on the motherboard, which are the things to worry about if they get bent or broken off.

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

If by "replacing" you just mean return it if at no cost or very low cost to you and get a new one and if it had actually dropped onto the floor just the CPU and you were worried I'd had said to do it for peace of mind and not having to worry about it.

But now it seem like it was the actual BOX not CPU which fell down. Or maybe the cardboard wrap against the plastic wrap of it? Even if you had dropped the plastic case only with the CPU in it I would assume it would be fine.

If you dropped the CPU alone all by itself however you'd increase the odds of bending the board of it or maybe knocking away some capacitor(?) underneath it. As Intel don't use pins on their processors it would be safer than dropping a Ryzen or other pin equipped one since those would very likely have pins bent or damaged from dropping them. So the Intel CPU is safer but ..

I'd assume the actual die especially with TIM and heatspreader on top are pretty fine with the drop even if you dropped the CPU itself but .. It's of course not optimal and as said for peace of mind I would had replaced it if I had the option.

The whole box or the cardboard box around it with the plastic case inside that I don't think you have to worry about but do whatever you feel like. If you actually try to use it after that I assume it will run just fine.

Originally posted by Escorve:

It'll be fine because Intel CPU pins are on the motherboard, which are the things to worry about if they get bent or broken off.

Since coolers with too much mounting pressure can bend the board I'd assume dropping the CPU so it lands on the board edge can also bend it. Also there's those surface mounted things underneath it.

[ugafan]

Originally posted by Leto Atreides II:

I opened the box, turned it upside down and shook it until the contents fell out, but instead of falling onto the table, it bounced off and onto the floor.

Do you by any chance work at The Verge?

[r.linder]

Originally posted by ugafan:

Originally posted by Leto Atreides II:

I opened the box, turned it upside down and shook it until the contents fell out, but instead of falling onto the table, it bounced off and onto the floor.

Do you by any chance work at The Verge?

^

[OLDMAN🎅]

Originally posted by Leto Atreides II:

I accidentally dropped my brand new Intel CPU about 4 feet onto my hard wood floor. It was in partial packaging - basically I opened the box, turned it upside down and shook it until the contents fell out, but instead of falling onto the table, it bounced off and onto the floor. Since it's a real PITA to install, test, and remove a CPU so if there's a good chance it's damaged, I would rather just replace it now than install it in my motherboard and remove it later.


It was in a very thin plastic clamshell which was itself in a small bit of cardboard (I think) when it impacted on the floor, so it had some padding, but not much. How likely is it that the CPU was damaged?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOhLacD3BFs

[Leto Atreides II]

Thanks all. I'm pretty convinced that my CPU is OK. I somehow thought it was more fragile than it is, probably, because it's sophisticated technology engineered at the microscopic level. Also, about 23 years ago, I dropped a hard drive onto my driveway and that clearly damaged it (no external damage evident but huge numbers of bad sectors immediately upon use). But different piece of hardware and technological progress I guess.

Originally posted by ugafan:

Do you by any chance work at The Verge?

No. Why? Googled it and it says it's a tech news site.

Originally posted by Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism:

But now it seem like it was the actual BOX not CPU which fell down. Or maybe the cardboard wrap against the plastic wrap of it? Even if you had dropped the plastic case only with the CPU in it I would assume it would be fine.

It was a small plastic clamshell from inside the box, not the whole box. There is no apparent physical damage, just wasn't sure about what's going on at the microscopic level.

[r.linder]

Originally posted by Leto Atreides II:

Originally posted by ugafan:

Do you by any chance work at The Verge?

No. Why? Googled it and it says it's a tech news site.

The Verge released a video about how to build a gaming PC awhile back, which was ripe with misinformation and rookie mistakes, and cost them a lot of subscribers and reputation as a result. Their chosen employee in the video clearly didn't understand what he was talking about and doing, and it was probably his first or second build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vmQOO4WLI4

The Verge also filed a strike on Bitwit because of his reaction video earlier this year, funnily enough.

[Washell]

Originally posted by Leto Atreides II:

I dropped a hard drive onto my driveway and that clearly damaged it (no external damage evident but huge numbers of bad sectors immediately upon use). But different piece of hardware and technological progress I guess.

Nothing to do with progress. A HDD has moving parts that can bash into other parts. A CPU doesn't.

[_I_]

a cpu can break, but it takes more than just dropping it a few feet

a hdd can be damaged from a short drop like that onto something hard

[Washell]

Originally posted by _I_:

a cpu can break, but it takes more than just dropping it a few feet

Oh yeah, plenty of layers in there that can separate or crack.