jmarsh wrote on 2026-02-20, 20:30:

Adding a backplate for a heatsink isn't going to straighten the board. The damage is done by that point (typically by a stock intel heatsink with the push pins). And bending it back is likely just to make things work - flexing metal one way is bad, but flexing it back in the opposite direction is so much worse...

Yup, that I know...
At least it still boots, ready for it's new CPU and case.

Just... This isn't how I pictured my first thread about the Windows 7 RetroRig, 🤣.

If it still works fine don't worry about it. Generally, there are no SMT chips in the corner where the bend is the worst to break a solder joint. The keyboard and USB connectors should be ok.

You probably can bent it back a bit if there are no BGA components.

Unknown_K wrote on 2026-02-20, 23:02:

If it still works fine don't worry about it. Generally, there are no SMT chips in the corner where the bend is the worst to break a solder joint. The keyboard and USB connectors should be ok.

Yeah, the USB ports are all fine. The DVI connector feels kinda loose (it moves sligthly when connecting), but it's not like I'm gonna use the iGPU in the long run.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2026-02-20, 23:06:

You probably can bent it back a bit if there are no BGA components.

Honestly? Maybe it could be done. Maybe, by applying a low but constant pressure to it, like putting some stuffing between the MOBO and the case. I alredy managed to straighten up an HD4850 that was bending downwards by using a GPU support and pushing it a little bit more up than normal. After a few months of use in that state, it came back almost straight, even fixing some artifacts it had when left loose.

But... That was a cheapo HD4850 I got bundled with my first XP Rig. This is a MOBO that's usually quite expensive on eBay, and alredy put me down 50€.

Is it really worth the risk if "it just works"?

Beerfloat wrote on 2026-02-18, 15:51:

TBH I've seen a bunch of bent boards over time. It feels a little wrong but it's never been a strong indicator for functionality on the board being broken.

My experience as well.

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-02-18, 14:33:

With used boards, especially Intel ones where the stock style push-pin or aftermarket push-pin coolers are used, you can get a h […]
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With used boards, especially Intel ones where the stock style push-pin or aftermarket push-pin coolers are used, you can get a huge bulge in the board after a certain amount of time.

And yet, Intel insists on continuing to use them.

Some boards are also thinner than what I would calla acceptable and warping is way more likely to happen.

Warping like what your board is, does seem sort of weird though, bit I guess an especially heavy cooler could cause that.

Not just Intel, even AMD, and even with a backplate under the socket, it doesn't avoid a bend when the stock cooler is used and the backplate is plastic.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2026-02-20, 23:06:

You probably can bent it back a bit if there are no BGA components.

I wouldn't forcefully bend it - Technique I sometimes used

Find a nice sunny spot in your hours (where kids/pets won't disturb - I have my old office over the garage) - lay it flat and put some slightly heavy things like books on the corners, don't worrk about pressing the corners down - toss a towel on it so it will be reasonable warm in the sun without getting direct UV - if you can leave it for a few weeks it can really help.

DaveDDS wrote on 2026-02-22, 16:40:

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2026-02-20, 23:06:

You probably can bent it back a bit if there are no BGA components.

I wouldn't forcefully bend it - Technique I sometimes used

Find a nice sunny spot in your hours (where kids/pets won't disturb - I have my old office over the garage) - lay it flat and put some slightly heavy things like books on the corners, don't worrk about pressing the corners down - toss a towel on it so it will be reasonable warm in the sun without getting direct UV - if you can leave it for a few weeks it can really help.

Yeah, I've had some success by applying small but constant pressures to GPU PCBs and get them back straight without breaking them.

Not so sure about "normal", but I've seen and used many bent boards over the years. Never tried to straighten them, and all of them worked fine. Like others have said, it goes against logic as your expecting lifted/broken traces and broken solder joints, but I've never never seen it happen. BGA would be the most susceptible, but I've just never seen it happen over the past 35+ years of working on and building systems. I also believe it started to happen more as we moved to PCB mounted coolers, the coolers got larger, the supports were not robust enough to handle the stress, and some PCBs got thinner.

Seen plenty of P4 boards without backplated heatsinks bent a lot worse than that around the CPU from the spring tension. How they worked was beyond me....but they did.