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I should give up on pc building, because I'm way too good at destroying components. If you recall that MSI mobo I just bought in May this year...well, I've already managed to all but destroy that with my clumsiness. I was messing around trying to use it in another build, and I had it installed in a case, and I had the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector and USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors both connected to the case. I was installing the RAM sticks, and they were fully and properly seated, but me being the dumbass I am, I decided to pull them out and reseat them to be sure. In the process of pushing one of them down, it went sideways instead of down. In one fell swoop I snapped the latch off of one end of the RAM slot I was trying to put it in, but also ripped the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector clean off the board. Why are those USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connectors vertically mounted anyway? I just bought that mobo brand new back in May. It most likely will still work on the other RAM slots, and of course the rear mounted USB Type-C connectors could be used, but I'm honestly just afraid to even mess with it. I haven't tried the RAM stick in another system yet to see if I killed that too. This is not the first time I've ruined some expensive hardware through my sheer clumsiness. FML.

A couple of years ago I built a AMD mini-ITX system which needed a low profile CPU cooler. I bought one and installed it, only I used the incorrect bracket or spacers or something (I don't know exactly), and when I installed the cooler it bowed the motherboard badly, something I didn't notice until later when I took apart the build because it was acting so wonky. That was also a brand new AM4 mobo I'd bought just a month prior. I had an AMD Ryzen 7 5700G in it. I tried that board outside of the case, but it was dead. I also killed the Ryzen 7 5700G in the process. FML.

About a year prior to that, I was removing an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X from a mobo, and the CPU slipped out of my grasp, and fell on the floor. It landed on edge, and badly bent most of the pins in one row where it hit. I have terrible vision, my hands aren't steady, and I don't have any proper tools or experience trying to work on stuff like that, so I had no choice but to throw it out. FML.

Many years ago I had bought a brand new Abit motherboard, and was installing that type of CPU cooler that had the clips that you had to press into place with a screwdriver. Remember those? The screwdriver slipped, and it flew across the mobo, taking out at least one or two traces on the board. FML.

I'm a real life Dennis The Menace!

Ehh... you won't be the first person to destroy a motherboard. It's easy to push RAM sticks and have them go sideways. I've done it (but luckily didn't damage anything, though it certainly didn't do any good)

I've also raked screwdrivers across circuit traces (and got away with it... possibly something unused anyway)

I haven't destroyed a motherboard, but I destroyed an AMD CPU once trying to transplant it on a new board. They didn't have ZIF socket levers back then, and the heat sink was stuck to the CPU and it ripped it right out of the socket, and I bent pins. I sprang for a new CPU and ended up mostly breaking even on that job.

Don't get discouraged, just be more careful next time. It's only money.

Thanks Grogan. That's true, it's only money.

I've had AMD AM4 CPUS get ripped out of the socket when removing the cooler, but never had one get trashed that way, surprisingly. Thermal paste can really hang on tight sometimes! I'm glad the AM5 platform doesn't have that issue.

We all have our moments like that, but they're learning experiences I've ripped out more than a few AMD AM4 processors while removing the HS, until I learned how to do it correctly - power it up briefly (if possible) to soften the the paste, then after the fasteners have been loosened twist the HS back and forth several times to break the suction. Never had it happen again after that.