AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU + AM5 socket burned out, both physically damaged during installation

AMD's new Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor is down and out, with one user showing pictures of a toasted 9800X3D and AM5 socket that looks to be from installation error by the user.

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In a new post on Reddit, a user posted pictures of his new AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor teamed with an MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk motherboard with both the CPU and AM5 socket burned and damaged. The user reported that he was getting "00" postcodes, with a user on the MSI forums saying they had the same errors, but we don't know if the other user had a "burning" issue.

There were some Redditors (of which I agree with) that pointed out the pinks look bent and that there is visible damage on the AM5 socket of the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk motherboard, which is most likely from the user stuffing up the installation of his new 9800X3D processor. This shouldn't have happened, and is most likely user error during installation, and not some nasty fault of AMD's new Ryzen 7 9800X3D chip.

• Read more: 9800X3D tested against 7800X3D, 9700X, 7700X: all locked at 4.8GHz
• Read more: AMD Ryzen 9000X3D series CPUs have FULL OC support, new 3D V-Cache features
• Read more: 9800X3D chip teardown: new 3D V-Cache stack teased under Zen 5 CCD hood
• Read more: 9800X3D overclocked to 6.9GHz: 1000FPS in CS2, 2000FPS in Valorant at 100W power

Some of the comments on Reddit pointed out: "I'm wondering if there was a defect in the socket here that made it so the CPU didn't seat 100% correctly and caused it to be slightly angled which caused those pins to short because it wasn't making good contact, that's my best guess".

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While another comment explained: "Judging by the chipped plastic of the socket, you either chipped this corner with the processor and then put the processor on it, or there was already a chip and you just didn't notice it, pinning it down with the processor. Hence, the processor was skewed, there was no normal clamping and the contacts were short-circuited".