Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

[Tesla]

This board started having trouble turning on ... gradually getting worse, until finally not at all. The processor and PS are good.

A couple of years ago, I was only looking for exploded caps. Now that I've been repairing SMPS and putting together a order to do my first MB, I thought I would take another look at it (now that I know what to look for).

Sure enough, it has KZG 1800uf 6.3v (brown with white) and it looks like some right around the processor ... the gasket is coming out of the bottom (making them tip over a bit). In the other thread, I've been advised that KZG is a problem.

Questions:
1. Does KZG 1800uf 6.3v cross to Nichicon HZ ?

2. Do I have to replace all the 470uf KZG (and over) caps, or just the ones near the processor?

3. What about 1000uf 16v. Brand symbol is a M in a box. Black with green and purple. Quite a few of those near the CPU with the KZGs. They look ok.

[c_hegge]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

1. No, KZG = Nichicon HM, byt the HZs will probably work

2. replace ALL KZGs. they are known for failing with no visible signs whatsoever.

3. M in a square = Matsushita = Panny = reliable (I'm assumming they also have T-shaped vent stamps on top). They can stay

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

1. So lower impendence and lower ESR isn't always better?

2. Really? ALL as in every single one ... even the small ones scattered around?

3. Yes, T-shaped vent stamps.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

You can skip the small ones, but don't blame us if it fails again somewhere down the track. A switchmode power supply is usually designed around the specs of the parts that go in it, this includes the ESR of the capacitors. If you change ESR without redoing the compensation of the control loop (a tricky affair involving some SMD resistors and caps, since it's a mobo), the VRM may not like it, causing the computer to crash randomly.

In a constant-power device like a monitor this is less of an issue. However a CPU is a wildly varying load, and it's best to keep the VRM in manufacturers' specs.

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

1. No, KZG = Nichicon HM, byt the HZs will probably work

Replacing KZG ...

If I'm following the series grade ladder properly ... if Nichicon HM are not available, wouldn't Nichicon HN be my next choice?

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

So, the plan for this board ...

Replace (6) KZG 1800uf 6.3v - Right next to the processor
- These above are the only questionable looking ones
- Plus, this seems to be a right failure location.
- Plus, plus ... well, they are KZG
Keep all the Panny 1000uf 16v and 1500uf 6.3v

The next set of candidates are (11) KZG 820uf 6.3v scattered around the board. They seem to be installed ... one next to each external port or slot.

Whats strange about them is that they are only half the vertical size of the bad Nichicon HN on the other board (also 820uf 6.3v ... same rating).

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

Well, my supplier didn't have Nichicon HM or HN in stock, so I ordered 6 HZ (glad you said they might work). So, for $5 and some time I'll give it a shot.

A new (inexpensive one ... like this one) AM2 socket board is less than $50, so if this doesn't work, that would be my next option. I don't even have parts to build this board up to a whole system ( I don't even have DDR2 RAM or a CPU cooler for it). But, the new or used parts will come later (they always seem to) ... but it would be cool to fix it for $5 ... it's that whole "hobby challenge" thing.

[c_hegge]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

The HZs will *probably* be OK for the VRM.

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

Well, I replaced the caps (back in 2011) but the Asus (HP OEM) board still doesn't power-up.

I'm guessing it was one of the smaller caps I missed, or there is something else wrong with the board. It's NOT the AMD CPU because it tests good i another machine.

When I went to repair this board, it was just a bad board in parts box. I had previously replaced it with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128379

... years before. BTW, the Gigabyte MA78 board still works fine now (2013) and I'm getting ready to gift the machine to my little sister. That turned out to be $75 well spent (to save a dual-core machine). All other parts transfered over.

[y_not]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

If you're still interested in taking a crack at fixing that board. Post some photos of it, as well as close-ups of your solder work and we (the "other" experts here) can help guide you in the right direction.

That is, if you're up to the challenge.... maybe not one at all. But at least possessing the desire to conquer the beast, fix it & win!!

You already put some time & money into it, kind of a shame to stop now when there's more to at least be explored. At least that's how my brain rolls.

PS. High res photos are gooooodddd. Just upload them to the Badcaps server here, as attachments to your post. That way they're mothballed and preserved for everyone, for all of computer eternity!! :P

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

That is, if you're up to the challenge.... maybe not one at all. But at least possessing the desire to conquer the beast, fix it & win!!

I posted again because I was contacted by private message, so I wrapped it up publicly. Yes, we think alike.

What's funny is I also have a spare Athlon64-x2 Dual for it. But no, I don't think so because I only repair quads these days. Also, so many other things to do or fix (and only so much time).

Coolest repair I'm most proud of recently ... replaced leaking cap on the motherboard of my 1994 Honda Accord main ECU computer. That one little cap was keeping the whole car from running. Works fine now (I did that repair about a year ago).
http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/foru...a-48279/page2/

I usually document my adventures at ElectronicsPoint and AVScience.

[y_not]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

I posted again because I was contacted by private message, so I wrapped it up publicly. Yes, we think alike.

Probably most of us here do, when it comes to this stuff anyway.

Coolest repair I'm most proud of recently ... replaced leaking cap on the motherboard of my 1994 Honda Accord main ECU computer.

LOL, a bad cap in an ECU/ECM?? WOW!!
I kinda figured those were mostly exempt from it, being they're super high heat tolerant and have zero cooling on most cars.

Can you post the pics here?
I really have no desire to sign up for a Honda forum, just to view the pics. Being that I'm a GM guy & a Saturn freak at that. 550k mile @ 45mpg FTW!!!! Maybe if it were a Stanley Steamer, or Renault forum..... then I could see the point.

What made you crack open the ECU? I'm assuming your testing resulted in uncovering a quad-4 failure of sorts, pointing to the ECU. So you probably just figured, "well... if it's bad, why not rip it apart". Am I right? *devil horns*

I usually document my adventures at ElectronicsPoint and AVScience

AVScience, like the AVS forum? Or no?

[Tesla]

Re: Asus ABMZN-LA from HP (AMD X2)

1. What made you crack open the ECU? I'm assuming your testing resulted in uncovering a quad-4 failure of sorts, pointing to the ECU.

2. So you probably just figured, "well... if it's bad, why not rip it apart". Am I right? *devil horns*

3. AVScience, like the AVS forum? Or no?

1. Well, in addition to what is in that thread, Service Manual troubleshooting said it was various things, or a bad wire between TCU and ECU, or a bad ECU. The wire checked good, so it had to be a bad ECU.

2. Ya, pretty much. I like to think I'm pretty good at board level repair (even better when I have a schematic).

3. Right, avsforum.com . I'm not sure of a better place. Although, a user just introduced me to http://www.hifiengine.com/library/onkyo/tx-sr607.shtml . Seems a lot of people are posting board-level stuff over there ... to bad it's only a blog format.