Working on a vintage high-end system is challenging.
Working on a vintage high-end system is challenging.
I purchased an EVGA 4x Sli for $20, though it’s broken—it won’t power on when I press the power button or short it on the header. I took it apart and submerged it in water; hopefully it will work since some boards can recover if they’re old and dusty. The chips look fine except for the northbridge and two PCIe slots, which I assume are damaged. I’m not sure if this will fix it, but I’d like to know what other components often fail on similar boards. I’m considering waiting until I can set up a rework station if needed.
Start with capacitors as a preliminary check. Use a multimeter to verify each electrolytic component meets specifications within a 10% range. This is likely a wise step before submerging them.
It would be better to choose an ultrasonic cleaner rather than ... a bucket of water
No, it isn't possible to create a product for less than $125 if Vevor charges that price.
it still doesn't power up, so i'm planning to bring it to a repair shop. the trick only works on boards that are broken because they're dirty, which is why i've fixed and sold boards like this before.
Isopropyl alcohol might offer advantages over water. It effectively breaks down oils and grime, dries quickly to reach hard-to-reach areas, and doesn’t cause damage. Plus, it’s affordable.
in my case they act quite alike, so if the water doesn’t help, isopropyl will likely do too.