http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1861/img20110701153119.jpg is an image of some bent prongs(that patch in the lower left), I have no idea how I did it. Do I have to send this back and wait another week for a new one or can I bend them back?

I have never raged more in my life . :banghead: :banghead: :flame: :swear: :flamethrower: :brokencomputer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130582&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_- is the mobo if it matters.

You didn't try to assert force putting in the CPU did you? If it was like that before you attempted get a new one to be safe.

No, I took the placeholder out, put in the CPU, started lowering the latch, I hit a tiny bit a pressure and figured I'd double check, I know for a fact it was in correctly. I guess it was either from taking out the placeholder or the tiny bit of pressure from the latch.

When putting in a CPU, the latch will generally be quite tight. Both of the desktops I built recently required a bit of force to push the latch down. You are positive that you had the CPU in the right direction when you put it in the socket? It should just drop right in without any resistance. I'd return it and hope for the best, that's quite a bummer.

Positive. It dropped right in and followed the directions. It isn't possible to bend the pins back? There are some stories of that working on google.

edit: also, the CPU still fits and the latch comes down with no damage. Should I keep going or stop for the sake of the CPU?

I can't say I've ever if had to deal with a cpu with bent pins. It may very well be possible to bend them back, depending how bent they are. I'd personally just return it for a new one, to avoid any further problems.

I've bent them back before. I'd say it works 4 out of 5 times, that fifth time the pins usually break off. If you can send it back I'd do that, otherwise go very slowly and deliberately.

I can't return it . I ordered another mobo but can return it if I somehow get this working. How close do I need the pins to be to original? Also, if I continued, could I mess up the CPU as well? It still fits like I said.

I'd say the best thing to do here is wait for that ordered mobo to come in and use that one instead since you already ordered it. RMA the one with the damaged pins. It's hard to say what would happen should those bent pins on the socket not make the right contact with your processor....electrical layout is needed here to figure out exactly what those pin locations do for the chip. You can try bending them back, but this smells of risk all over it.

I have bent back pins for a CPU before to make the pins straight again with no issues, but never have done that on a socket.