2 motherboards shot...?

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

ACER: Aspire M1641
Motherboard: MBSAK09007

Ok, this is a fun one!

Couple weeks ago, we replaced customers motherboard. Ran through few tests & we both agreed motherboard went bad.

When it came in first time, it would power on, display nothing. Neither onboard or expansion gfx card.
We don't have a spare CPU for this socket to test with.
Replaced RAM, nada. Removing both sticks of RAM, it wouldn't even beep.

Replaced board, let it run for a few hours. It was fine, I saw no issues. Gave them call & they picked it up.

Well, now it's back. Same as before, only difference I've observed now, is that it does beep when both sticks of ram are removed.

Amongst tests, strange thing I did notice was. Replace PSU in configuration, it won't even power on. Even though stock PSU is half what the test PSU's were.

I was thinking PSU was going bad & frying things out possibly, but other PSU's don't even work at all.

The caps are fine, both on original board, and replacement.

Ruling out further possibilities, the customers immediately go on the defensive & possibly denial.
Circuitry surges or improper temperatures & ventilation.
They were immediately claiming they have their surge protectors tested regularly.
We had a storm come through & fuck shit up last Friday, so made sure it didn't start doing this, if it were on & then electricity got knocked out. But they said it was off & they were gone at the time.
Ventilation sounds very possible though, as it's stored in one them desk cabinet things.
... However, they did mention it was outside for a time & possibly in the sun, so that may very well be the cause.

Can always replace motherboard AGAIN. Good thing they brought it back within the 30 days replacement warranty.
However it's still possible something else may kill another motherboard, & it'd be back here, AGAIN!

So. Ideas! ?

 

[therealjonnyd]

First board sounds like good old Nvidia chipset desoldering itself (to me, at least). The current board screams power surge to me. It's also possible that a surge could come through broadband devices, however, in this case it seems unlikely.

I'd say it was just a coincidence that it happened to this board, not an indicator of another part causing issues. There's really not much that I can think of that would hose 2 boards, plus the problems are different and the PSU went this time.