I initially posted this as a thread on Linus Tech Tips. I got some feedback, but not really to a level that gives me confidence in my next steps. Then I remembered about this forum that I'd used as a great reference for recapping an amp so I figured I'd reach out here. My question below is a combination of my original question as well as all of my findings in the other forum:
I just received a used Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac board that I purchased on eBay. According to the seller the board works. During unboxing I noticed that one of the Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (I think it is an MLCC but someone also suggested it might be a fuse) on the back of the board behind the VRM is missing. I checked and it wasn't bouncing around inside the package -- that would be too easy.
(see attached board picture)
I've done a bit of board recapping - but only for electrolytic capacitors where reading the values off of the label is really easy. I have 0 experience with MLCCs.
I put a sacrificial CPU into the board (an i3-4150T FWIW) and the board seems to work. I was able to successfully install a clean copy of Windows and do some cursory stability testing.
Even though the board works, I'd still like to replace the cap, but I don't know the voltage, capacitance, ESR, etc of the existing caps that are there. Is my best bet to just pull one of the remaining caps off and check it? I have a multimeter that has a capacitance mode, but this is only going to get me one of the measurements I need.
Also, whether it is a cap or a fuse, its absence would seem to indicate that one of the voltage planes of the board has been decoupled from the CPU socket... or at the very least isn't being filtered properly(?).
My google-foo isn't good enough to find a board circuit diagram for this motherboard, though someone was able to find a repository of many OTHER boards here: Link. Honestly, if I just knew what kind of MLCC to buy I could easily get this done... If any of you are familiar with the YouTube creator "buildzoid" this seems like something he would know offhand.
I apologize if my explanations are lacking. Electronics are not my forte, but I'm eager to expand my knowledge. If you have a question or suggestion, I'm happy to try to help you help me!! I have an inexpensive but moderately capable multimeter and am happy to take some readings and report back if it will help.
Thanks!
Edit:
It is my plan to try to go through the diagrams of the other boards that are provided at the link to try to see if the specified cap is listed and if they all seem to use one of a similar rating. If so I might be able to infer what cap I should be using despite none of the Z97 boards seeming to use exactly the same VRM layout.
I just received a used Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac board that I purchased on eBay. According to the seller the board works. During unboxing I noticed that one of the Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (I think it is an MLCC but someone also suggested it might be a fuse) on the back of the board behind the VRM is missing. I checked and it wasn't bouncing around inside the package -- that would be too easy.
(see attached board picture)
I've done a bit of board recapping - but only for electrolytic capacitors where reading the values off of the label is really easy. I have 0 experience with MLCCs.
I put a sacrificial CPU into the board (an i3-4150T FWIW) and the board seems to work. I was able to successfully install a clean copy of Windows and do some cursory stability testing.
Even though the board works, I'd still like to replace the cap, but I don't know the voltage, capacitance, ESR, etc of the existing caps that are there. Is my best bet to just pull one of the remaining caps off and check it? I have a multimeter that has a capacitance mode, but this is only going to get me one of the measurements I need.
Also, whether it is a cap or a fuse, its absence would seem to indicate that one of the voltage planes of the board has been decoupled from the CPU socket... or at the very least isn't being filtered properly(?).
My google-foo isn't good enough to find a board circuit diagram for this motherboard, though someone was able to find a repository of many OTHER boards here: Link. Honestly, if I just knew what kind of MLCC to buy I could easily get this done... If any of you are familiar with the YouTube creator "buildzoid" this seems like something he would know offhand.
I apologize if my explanations are lacking. Electronics are not my forte, but I'm eager to expand my knowledge. If you have a question or suggestion, I'm happy to try to help you help me!! I have an inexpensive but moderately capable multimeter and am happy to take some readings and report back if it will help.
Thanks!
Edit:
It is my plan to try to go through the diagrams of the other boards that are provided at the link to try to see if the specified cap is listed and if they all seem to use one of a similar rating. If so I might be able to infer what cap I should be using despite none of the Z97 boards seeming to use exactly the same VRM layout.
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