HELP, I think I broke my motherboard(one more question).

[rmd2001]

Hi everybody.
I'll be short. I agreed on the trade with a member here(MB + CPU + SuperOrb...).
While removing SuperOrb from MB I pushed it against capacitor(it's very close to heatsink). Now capacitor is really loose, it's freely moving from side to side.
Now I'm afraid to put it back and test(don't want to burn CPU or something).
Question is what capacitor does and is it safe to power up???

I don't want to ship damaged(is it?) motherboard.

Thanks all. :Q

 

[MichaelD]

Peek underneath the capacitor. Are both wires still firmly "up inside" the body of cap? If the wires are disconnected, then you broke it. If it's just loose, you may be ok. Darn useless orbs!

The caps act as filters to smooth the current going to the CPU. If a cap is damaged or missing it would be very unwise to test it out. You will most prolly damage or ruin the CPU. It's relatively easy to solder a cap on. You could get a replacement cap and just solder the leads of the new one onto the "snipped off" leads of the old one. It wouldn't look pretty, but it would work.

Honestly, if you are selling/trading the mobo to someone else, I would graciously back out of the deal. If someone sold/traded me a damaged and repaired product w/o my knowledge and consent first, I'd be angry. Good luck to you.

 

[rmd2001]

Thanks MichaelD.
I hate this SuperOrb. No, I'm not gonna trade it in this condition. Looks like those two wires are loose inside capacitor itself, not where they go into MB(it means capacitor itself is damaged). Where I can get this capasitor? At RadioShack?

Thanks.

 

[MichaelD]

Yes, you should be able to get it there or at an electronics supply store. Make sure you get one w/exactly the same rating. Dont fudge. Snip off the old cap as far up under the cap itself as you can go. This gives you longer leads to play with.

Pick up some minature alligator clips to physically clip and hold the wires together while you solder them together. Easy fix, but requires a steady hand. No drinking while doing this either! Good luck.

 

[rmd2001]

Thanks a lot, now I feel a little better even though I probably lost my trade.

 

[rmd2001]

If I boot without CPU, how do I know if motherboard working?

Thanks.