A sudden power spike damaged the mainboard.
A sudden power spike damaged the mainboard.
To clarify, I wasn't affected by a power surge destroying my components. This is mainly a theoretical or practical question. A power surge can harm a motherboard, GPU, or other parts by causing voltage spikes that damage solder joints or internal circuits. In some cases, it might be possible to repair the damage—like the video shows—but it often requires specialized tools and expertise. Whether it's easy to fix depends on the severity of the damage and the resources available.
Well a power surge doesnt cause solder joints to crack. Tbf a power surge outside of the system will vary on resulting damage. It might fry some machines or do absolutely nothing at all. Theres no set in stone damage results from power surges
Like most situations, the harm caused varies each time. It can ruin power delivery parts, leave traces on the board, or affect other components depending on how the electricity enters. Whether it's a direct surge or a router being hit is key, as it changes what gets damaged and whether the whole board fails or just a specific section like the LAN port.
It’s pretty much unpredictable which parts get affected. Recently, a lightning strike hit an external drive, damaging the enclosure but not the main unit. The control board inside suffered badly, and the surge likely caused it to overheat slightly, breaking the connection at that spot. I think it was like a tiny welding rod heating up just enough to ruin the joint. You know how electricity can behave strangely? For baking, it’s possible the zap touched a solder point, which might have fixed the connection temporarily—but there’s no certainty it would stay stable afterward since everything else was impacted too.
It's also important to recognize that electrical issues often lead to widespread damage. In my imagined situation where power delivery is compromised, it's unlikely to be limited to just one area. It might transmit wrong voltages to other parts, damaging them as well. Trying to fix just one affected component is essentially a wish. A minor short or spike at one spot can create chaos. Also remember, the entire board could overheat, introducing additional complications.
Absolutely clear on this. From fixing boards and GPUs, I've learned the ins and outs—never tried baking a board myself, always relied on my soldering station. Also, I've cleaned them in the dishwasher after Ln2 sessions to remove dielectric grease, then dried them in the oven at the lowest safe setting (170°F / 76.6°C) for about 90 minutes to two hours. After cooling, they came out perfectly dry and spotless.