Needed ITX motherboard...
Needed ITX motherboard...
A customer arrived with a malfunctioning PC. The setup included a Gigabyte GA-H170n-WiFi, a core i5-5600, and 16GB DDR4 2133 RAM (drives and GPU were irrelevant). During inspection, it was discovered someone had spilled soda near the CPU and RAM areas. The motherboard appears to be in decent shape—it would boot occasionally but often shows hardware errors. The client is on a tight budget, so I need recommendations for an ITX motherboard compatible with 6th/7th generation CPUs. A used unit from eBay or AliExpress is acceptable.
It’s a deal that saves around fifteen dollars on a low-quality board.
Confirming the reference matches the i5 6500. Search local listings carefully—sometimes deals appear, especially for models like the Maximus VIII Impact at lower prices. You might find better options by focusing on LGA 1151 ITX listings sorted by lowest price.
I've polished the RAM modules and tried them on a different board, so they look good. Yes, I'm not able to type right now.
If it isn’t urgent, remove the heatsinks and CMOS battery from the board. Wipe away the CMOS chip, press the power button for two minutes, then rinse under running water. You can either submerge it or place it in a dishwasher (though that hasn’t been tested). No detergent is needed. It should take about a day or two to dry, after which the board will be clean and functioning properly again.
You should note this, as I saw a video about the procedure's impact. It’s no longer available, so I’m not sure I can cause further harm.
I've likely saved around 20 boards now, which works well for hardware that's dirty or damaged. Technical issues like shorts—unless caused by grime—can't be fixed with just cleaning. I've seen boards that have no clock signal (possibly dead clock sources) and won't turn on at all even when a short isn't visible, making simple fixes ineffective.