tried to install CPU upside down, now system won't even post LGA 1366, Xeon x5680

[rbtree]

It wouldn't fit, of course. Flipped it around, put it in. Now, system powers on, but won't post at all. Checked for bent socket pins, didn't find any issues, reinstalled. Even put the old cpu, an i7 930, back in. Same, nothing.

Power was off, of course. But could I have bricked the socket or the cpu by doing this extremely dumb thing?

[AlHill · Accepted solution]

"But could I have bricked the socket or the cpu by doing this extremely dumb thing?"

Absolutely.  Take the motherboard to a landfill or recycle station.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Maybe Windows 12 will be better]

[rbtree]

mb is a Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R.

I didn't do a complete troubleshoot. I just checked all the connections, and removed 4 of the 6 memory sticks, leaving 1 each in channel 1 and 2. Reset CMOS.

Board turns on, with some leds lit, but no signals are sent to either the keyboard or monitor. When I put the i7 930 cpu back in, I turned the power on with no cooler in place, to check to see if the cpu started to warm. It did, as expected, but still no post so I shut it down before the heat got excessive. Reinstalled the x5680 and cooler, still no post--to bios or Windows.

I built a different system back in 2010 and switched to a Xeon cpu a few years ago, so I know it's compatible.

[AlHill]

Since you have already verified that TWO PROCESSORS do not work, the problem is not Intel's.  Take your discussion to Gigabyte for assistance.

And, regarding processor support, verify with Gigabyte that their bios supports whatever processor you use (in the future).

You are neglecting to consider that "upside-down" caused some short(s) somewhere.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Maybe Windows 12 will be better]

[rbtree]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, both cpu's are fine. My lame action bent some pins and likely fried the motherboard.

I tried to straighten the pins. Board still won't post, even with the 930.  

Landfill it is. I might offer it to the enthusiasts on the Gigabyte forum on overclock.net for that 1366 series of boards. VRM's  probably were fried.

Good thing that system is a dinosaur. I have 2 Ryzen 9 5000 series cpu's, and one 3000 between two builds..... with the third build in progress.