X399 Taichi: CPU protective cover missing?

If the pins on the board are exposed then there is a cover missing. This would be a newegg issue, generally this cover is required for warranty purposes (at least it is here in Bulgaria). I would contact newegg and inquire.

Thanks for the clarification ssateneth. I have not had my hands on ASRock's X399 boards yet so wasn't sure what the socket cover looked like, hence my comment about exposed pins. So long as there is a cover over them (regardless of design or color) and it doesn't look like a home made cover, it is likely from the factory. 

So I guess the bottom line is:

* Foxconn connectors only have the clear plastic top cover; they don't have the protective cover over the LGA pins.  Foxconn probably saved US $0.01 per motherboard.

* Lotes connectors have the clear plastic top cover AND a second protective cover over the LGA pins.

Can confirm that my December ASRock x399 Foxconn (F*x-cons) didn't come with a grey protector AND it was the most difficult/frustrating thing in the world to get those 3 screws tightened.  The amount of force needed was extremely unexpected, and I had to disregard the instructions to make it work because of their stupid screws.  The board works fine -- but the F*x-cons need to do their job better.  It really makes me wonder who the h*ll is the quality control manager.

I recommend everyone look for LOTES boards & buy local, instead of on Newegg.

[ASRock, you really need to discipline your suppliers!  I shouldn't have to nearly damage my board to tighten a couple screws!]

Edited by Firebrand - 03 Jan 2018 at 5:34am

SoniC wrote: Firebrand wrote: Can confirm that my December ASRock x399 Foxconn (F*x-cons) didn't come with a grey protector AND it was the most difficult/frustrating thing in the world to get those 3 screws tightened.  The amount of force needed was extremely unexpected, and I had to disregard the instructions to make it work because of their stupid screws.  The board works fine -- but the F*x-cons need to do their job better.  It really makes me wonder who the h*ll is the quality control manager. I recommend everyone look for LOTES boards & buy local, instead of on Newegg. [ASRock, you really need to discipline your suppliers!  I shouldn't have to nearly damage my board to tighten a couple screws!] There is no need to put such force... you just need to fasten the screws in a different way. Doing as I describe here requires less force and actually prevents any damage to the cpu/board/socket. You still follow the routine (1->2->3) BUT don't torque the 1 way down to the end -- it creates an extra gap (thus extra pressure was required from your side for 2 and 3). Just torque it down till it holds, do this with 2 and 3 (till they hold) and then torque 1 with the tool down. do this to 2 and 3 too. It has been explained by Kyle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUOZE0N5WE8 Start from >3Minutes.

You might be right in some cases -- but not all.  I already knew about ALL of the tricks people were using before I installed my Processor (luckily).  However, mine still required tremendous force.  And I actually had to thread the 2nd & 3rd screw first halfway, just to force the 1st screw to thread a little bit, then UNSCREW the 2nd & 3rd screw partially (so maybe only 25% threaded now) to release pressure to allow the 1st screw to JUST ATTACH, and then I screwed the 1st screw half-way, then 2nd and 3rd halfway, and then TIGHTENED all of them in the proper order.

My method worked for my F*xconns board.  NO OTHER METHOD WORKED.

Your mileage my vary -- I highly recommend staying away from F*xconn trash until they fix this.