No, this does not indicate a damaged CPU.
No, this does not indicate a damaged CPU.
Lately my computer has been experiencing random freezing after I decided to remount the cpu cooler for better thermals. It happens with the computer just stopped responding to any input, the rgb on my keyboard reverts to the factory setting, my mouse can't move, all keys are disabled and the monitor only displayed the last frame before the system "hang", no BSOD, it permanently stuck on the last thing the computer tried to do. is it possible I damaged the cpu when I remount the cpu cooler, I am using NH-D15, and I didn't remove the cpu from the socket, although I do put a bit of a pressure when I try to scrub the thermal paste away from the IHS? Can someone help me?
I'm adjusting the CPU cooler a bit more loosely now, hoping it will function properly.
It's still unclear what's causing the crashes. They seem to happen randomly, usually during creative sessions with many open tabs, a reference app on another screen, and background music. It's a specific moment when the PC fails. I've experienced crashes in games like Valheim and older titles such as COD2. I'll keep you posted if it happens again or not. I also chose to perform a clean Windows install just in case there are faulty drivers or other issues. Thanks for your assistance!
In case of crashes in programs, there might be insufficient voltage on the CPU. Have you performed any undervolting or overclocking?
I previously experimented with PBO2 curve undervolting but eventually returned to the default settings, except for XMP. I also discovered an unusual visual anomaly while watching a video—there was a strange glitch in Chrome, Firefox, and not Edge. Does this indicate something? I haven’t noticed similar issues elsewhere yet. I also reinstalled Windows yesterday just to verify everything was okay.
I managed to figure something out after a fresh Windows setup. It's been three days with no crashes so far—it looks like the installation went smoothly, just a rough start. Maybe some drivers got mixed up, but I'm being careful now with drivers and updates (I've reinstalled Windows countless times because I work in IT, mostly handling software). I don't want to give it a bad name, but this seems resolved. Regarding the pressure comment, I meant the force you apply when rubbing something off a surface, just a bit more firmly because I was careless with the CPU. I cleaned it with hand sanitizer first due to the pandemic, not because of anything else. I didn't take the CPU out of its socket, so it wasn't my mistake. My hands were shaking during installation because I'm handling high-end parts. Thanks for the advice! I really hope this isn't the last time I face something odd like this, as it interrupted my work. Cheers!