CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

Just wondering, from all the real techs who frequent here, if a motherboard with a small "dig" out of the back can be repaired ?

Its a very good motherboard, but somehow(likely when previous owner was installing an aftermarket cooler) the back received two small "digs". I can see when I look under a magnifying glass that there appears to be at least a couple of traces broken by the dig.

Can this be repaired ECONOMICALLY ?

If so, where should I look for someone willing to do it for less than the GNP of Scotland ?

CIR Engineering · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:21 am Post subject:

The only way to do it economically would be to do it yourself.

If this is a multi layer board you are almost certainly SOL. It is also almost certainly a multi layer board...

If you can see each trace and where they are broken than you have a shot, but you have to trace back with a DMM exactly where they are broken from and where they go to. There won't be any schematics available.

Post a photo.

craigr

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

Here's a picture of the spot, the actual dig is a little over exposed, but you can still see some of the damage to the traces that ARE visible.

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

Slightly better pic

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

And thanks for the response, btw, even though it is pretty much the "worst case scenario"....haha...

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

That looks more like crap on the board. First clean the board with a tooth brush and some denatured alcohol.

Then see where or if a trace is cut.

Nashou

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

Yes, the pictures do make it look like what's pictured projects OUT from the board, but under my big magnifier, its clearly an indentation cut INTO the surface...unfortunately....

This was a P6T WS Professional LGA1366 motherboard too....wimper, wimper...

CIR Engineering · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:41 am Post subject:

Well, it doesn't look too bad actually. It may have jut damaged the top layer and nothing deeper. There is also a chance that since it's so close to the CPU that there aren't multi layers in that part of the board.

Clean it up like Tom says first and then make sure which traces are bad. Then all you need do is scrape some of the coating off the traces and jumper them back together. You can't use much heat and you need a delicate hand. Too much heat will burn those traces right up.

On the surface it actually seems totally repairable.

Are you sure it doesn't work as-is?

craigr

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416