thecomputerguy
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 1,326
A client contacted me because her 15 year old son attempted to upgrade his computer and he couldn't get it back together so she asked me if I would be willing to patch it up for him. Normally I wouldn't, but she's an exceptional client and one of my largest business clients.
By patching the computer up I figured he tried to install a new video card and his PSU wouldn't support it or he couldn't figure out cabling or something.
NOPE. I WAS WRONG.
I drive 35 minutes to her house and walk in an immediately see computer parts and pieces EVERYWHERE. I grab the computer and put it on the biggest table I could find. He's attempting to do a motherboard, cpu, ram transplant while using the existing case, optical, psu and HD.
I take one look at it and immediately think, "I'm going to be here for the next 3 hours". I look inside and some cables are plugged in, some are not. The CPU (8700k) is mounted but not locked. He's attempting to use an aftermarket cooler but can't get it mounted to the back plate.
I unplug everything and start unscrewing the 3 screws holding the motherboard into the 3 stand-off's hes using. I pull the motherboard out and his back plate for the aftermarket cooler is held onto the chassis with duct tape. I pull the unlocked CPU out and take a look at it and the underside is covered in thermal paste, how? No idea.
I start taking a look at how to mount the cooler onto the motherboard and BAM! there it is. A 35 minute drive and 5 minutes into looking at this scrap heap, I find out he's somehow managed to bend the socket pins in four different spots which blows my mind considering the 8700k is a ZIF cpu.
I tell him there is no chance any of this is working and head out. I call his Mom, give her the bad news, tell her to return everything he bought, if she can, and that I could spec out a computer and spend an afternoon with him teaching him how to build one if she wants me to.
Who knows, maybe she's willing to pay $1000 over cost for me to teach her son how to build a computer.
Felt so bad for the kid. All he wants to do is VR, he's not even a fortnite nerd.
By patching the computer up I figured he tried to install a new video card and his PSU wouldn't support it or he couldn't figure out cabling or something.
NOPE. I WAS WRONG.
I drive 35 minutes to her house and walk in an immediately see computer parts and pieces EVERYWHERE. I grab the computer and put it on the biggest table I could find. He's attempting to do a motherboard, cpu, ram transplant while using the existing case, optical, psu and HD.
I take one look at it and immediately think, "I'm going to be here for the next 3 hours". I look inside and some cables are plugged in, some are not. The CPU (8700k) is mounted but not locked. He's attempting to use an aftermarket cooler but can't get it mounted to the back plate.
I unplug everything and start unscrewing the 3 screws holding the motherboard into the 3 stand-off's hes using. I pull the motherboard out and his back plate for the aftermarket cooler is held onto the chassis with duct tape. I pull the unlocked CPU out and take a look at it and the underside is covered in thermal paste, how? No idea.
I start taking a look at how to mount the cooler onto the motherboard and BAM! there it is. A 35 minute drive and 5 minutes into looking at this scrap heap, I find out he's somehow managed to bend the socket pins in four different spots which blows my mind considering the 8700k is a ZIF cpu.
I tell him there is no chance any of this is working and head out. I call his Mom, give her the bad news, tell her to return everything he bought, if she can, and that I could spec out a computer and spend an afternoon with him teaching him how to build one if she wants me to.
Who knows, maybe she's willing to pay $1000 over cost for me to teach her son how to build a computer.
Felt so bad for the kid. All he wants to do is VR, he's not even a fortnite nerd.
