【Updated daily①】The CPU is a rather stubborn piece of hardware – what should you do if there’s a problem?
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1. Frequent crashes This type of malfunction is quite common; the main causes are usually poor performance of the cooling system, poor contact between the CPU and its socket, or incorrect settings related to CPU temperature alerts in the BIOS. The measures taken mainly focus on CPU cooling, the reliability of connectors, and checking BIOS settings. For example: check whether the fan is operating properly (and replace it with a fan of higher airflow if necessary), verify that the heat sinks are in good contact with the CPU, ensure that the thermal paste is applied evenly, remove the CPU to check whether the pins make solid contact with the sockets, and enter the BIOS settings to adjust the temperature protection thresholds. 2. The operating frequency displayed during the power-on self-test is abnormal. Specifically, the CPU’s operating frequency decreases after the system is turned on, and the message “Defaults CMOS Setup Loaded” appears on the screen. After resetting the CPU parameters in the CMOS, the system resumes normal operation, but the issue reoccurs. This situation is related to the CMOS battery or the corresponding circuits on the motherboard. In the event of this fault, follow the principle of addressing simpler issues first; start by measuring the voltage of the motherboard battery. If the voltage is below 3 volts, it is necessary to consider replacing the CMOS battery. If the problem reoccurs shortly after replacing the battery, it indicates that there is a leakage in the components of the motherboard’s CMOS power supply circuit; in such cases, the motherboard needs to be sent for repair. 3. Inability to boot due to excessive overclocking After overclocking, the computer might start up with the cooling fans rotating normally, but the hard drive light may turn on for just a moment before stopping, and the monitor remains in standby mode. Since it is no longer possible to access the BIOS setup options at this point, it is also impossible to lower the CPU’s clock speed. There are two ways to deal with this situation: (1) Open the computer case and locate the jumper on the motherboard that is used to discharge the CMOS (it is usually located near the button cell); set it to the “CMOS discharge” position, or remove the battery. Wait for a few minutes, then reset the jumper or battery and restart the computer. (2) Most newer motherboards now come equipped with dedicated recovery measures for failed overclocking attempts. For example: you can hold down the Insert key at startup; once the system starts up, it will automatically enter the BIOS setup options, after which frequency reduction can be performed. In some more advanced motherboards, it is also possible to automatically \"return\" the CPU to its default operating frequency after an overclocking attempt fails. Therefore, for ordinary readers who are enthusiastic about overclocking but lack practical experience, choosing a motherboard with user-friendly features such as \"megabyte-by-megabyte overclocking\" and \"automatic recovery in case of overclocking failure\" can make it extremely simple and easy to overclock a CPU.
4. The system does not respond when powered on. Generally, in case of such a fault, the “replacement method” can be used to determine the exact location of the problem. If the possibility of faults caused by the motherboard or power supply is ruled out, it can be determined that the issue lies with the CPU, often due to damage to its internal circuits. If that’s the case, the only solution is to replace the CPU. 5. CPU pins The CPU is a very delicate computer component; its pins can be broken due to improper handling during transportation and maintenance, or as a result of DIYers accidentally breaking them while overclocking the CPU. Even though its internal circuits are intact, should it be condemned to a \"death sentence\" just because it can’t be used? It’s not that serious; through practical experience, the author has identified two methods and would like to share them with everyone. First, everyone needs to prepare a 20W soldering iron, and sharpen the tip of the iron tip for easier soldering. Make sure the soldering iron is properly grounded; if it isn’t grounded, welding can only be done by using the residual heat after unplugging the iron, otherwise there is a risk of the CPU being damaged by induced electricity. Method 1: Pin soldering method 1. Scrub the surface at the CPU pin clean, then quickly apply solder and rosin to it so that the solder adheres evenly to the cross-section. 2. Clean the CPU pins (if lost, they can be replaced with paper clips or the leads of electronic components), and apply solder to them using the same method. 3. Use double-sided tape to fix the CPU on the table. With the left hand, hold the broken pin with pliers so that the tin-coated end touches the broken part of the CPU, then use a soldering iron with the right hand to weld the two together quickly. You can use a bit more rosin to ensure that the solder joint is small and smooth. 4. Carefully insert the CPU into the CPU socket; if it won’t fit, use a blade to gently trim the soldered area, and then turn on the device for testing. Method 2: Direct connection method 1. Take enameled wire that is 5 to 15 centimeters long (the length depends on the situation; if the CPU is connected via an adapter card, it’s better to use a shorter wire – the shorter, the better!) with a diameter of around 0.2 millimeters (it can be obtained from a broken transformer). Use the same method as before to solder one end of this wire to the broken pin of the CPU, making sure the solder joint is flat and small. 2. Insert the CPU into the CPU socket (or adapter card), allowing the enameled wire to emerge from the gap between them. 3. Examine carefully the back side of the motherboard’s CPU socket (or adapter card); you will find many small solder joints arranged in rows and columns, corresponding to those on the CPU. Locate the solder joint that matches the broken pin, and then carefully solder the other end of the enameled wire to it. 4. After confirming that the welding is correct, install it and turn on the power; the screen shows that the CPU has been detected, indicating a successful repair!
Well, there are quite a lot of things to know about computers
If the CPU is damaged, it has to be replaced; however, modern computers have relatively high specifications, so such situations generally do not occur.