Your motherboard is damaged. Need assistance?
Your motherboard is damaged. Need assistance?
Hi, I need to explain what happened with my setup. My PSU only had a 6-pin PCIe connector, but my GPU needed an 8-pin one. I tried modifying the existing cable to fit, checking YouTube tutorials, but something went wrong and I accidentally shorted the PCIe cable. When I powered on the PC, I heard a loud pop near the ATX connector on the motherboard and saw sparks. After that, the board wouldn’t turn on. During a closer look, I noticed a small hole in one of the ICs close to the 24-pin connector, which might indicate it’s burnt. Fortunately, everything else seems intact. I checked my spare B450 motherboard from AliExpress and MSI, and they all worked fine. My question is: can I fix this board? I own an MSI B450 Tomahawk Max, and I’m concerned about warranty since Aliexpress and MSI don’t offer global coverage in my country.
Read the end here “Hi, my PSU only had 6 pin PCIe connectors while my GPU needed an 8 pin one, so I tried converting my existing 6 pin cable to fit the 8 pin requirement.” That’s when I realized something might have gone wrong and possibly damaged the cable. Worse still, a melted PCIe cable would be unavoidable if you pushed too far. I noticed a small hole near the 24 pin connector suggesting it could be burnt out—definitely a possibility. “Could I actually fix this board?” That’s the question. How skilled are you with microsoldering? Do you have an oscilloscope? Even then, it might be a stretch. Right now, I’m replacing this board with a brand-new PSU that has the correct connectors. Given how risky and complex your attempt was—like performing some kind of physical surgery—I doubt they’d cover it even in a country that does. I think you spent around $150 to $250 on this mistake. There doesn’t seem to be any other way forward except swapping the components yourself.
I understand you're concerned about the issue. It seems the main components such as CPU, RAM, and GPU are functioning properly after the motherboard shorted. Does this suggest the problem is limited to a single IC? You mentioned it's a 5-volt voltage regulator IC. Also, during the continuity test on the ATX power connector, only the 5-volt line showed a short. What do you think this means?
I don’t think I’m qualified to reach that conclusion. The main question is whether the fiberglass base was permanently harmed. If a trace got damaged and there’s no way around using a bypass wire, it’s essentially lost. Surface-mounted components can be swapped out, though they’ll need inspection and there are many of them. One section is clearly faulty, but other spots might still be affected. I don’t have the schematic for that board. My guess is there will likely be burnt-out fuses to replace too. If you’re fortunate, it could be a tough situation—kind of a scenario where you wonder if it’s worth trying at all. The issue with PSU cables is they’re part of the power supply unit, so handling them requires extra care. Large capacitors are involved, which could pose serious risks. Even with the right tools and expertise, it might not be worth the effort. These are decisions made when a product is no longer supported. B450 boards are still relatively straightforward to replace.
I've got some questions about the PSU. I've been using a reliable 80 plus gold 850W Corsair RM850 power supply, which has a lot of built-in protection. Yet, when the PCIe 6 pin got shorted, I noticed sparks near the ATX connector on the motherboard. Shouldn't the SCP have activated first to prevent this? Also, the PSU itself didn't get any damage and is functioning properly elsewhere. I just don't see the point in having all that protection if it doesn't actually save hardware.
They decided not to save it this time. It’s better to try saving the remaining parts instead. I think the goal is to keep the other components safe if the power supply fails eventually. Shorting a PCIe pin isn’t something a PSU does.
Yes, that's correct. PSU models often lack short circuit protection specifically for GPUs with PCIe 6-pin connectors.
It could be a power pin, but it helps safeguard the PSU rather than the motherboard, which is where the pin connects. The PSU only shields the rest of the system from itself or internal components. Trying to extend its protection beyond that might be excessive. I’m unsure about pin #6, but it probably doesn’t affect things.
Consider a repair shop that offers comprehensive diagnostics. They'll inspect all key parts of the motherboard. Issues like shorts are important to address. Tip: invest in a power supply with solid protection and avoid doing DIY work with high-wattage transformer cables. XPG Co Reactor 850w could be a suitable modular PSU option https://www.e-katalog.ru/m1_compare.php?..._=5316ba62
I've submitted the motherboard to MSI for repair. They've accepted it as a non-warranty item and will bill me if repairs are needed. I'll keep you posted on the progress.