Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

[tazwegion]

Soltek Qbic Mini PC EQ-2000M
powered by
SL-B8A-F (Intel chipset)

I recently recieved a Soltek SL-B8A-F SFF motherboard to (partially) recap out of a Qbic EQ-2000M barebones PC, now you're thinking partially recapping a motherboard is kinda' bad or unusual practice eh? well not in this case, as the title of this post indicates Soltek almost got it right with this motherboard (and SFF PC in general).

As you will be able to see (from the pic's below) this mini motherboard is almost entirely populated with Sanyo WG series capacitors, 11 x 6.3 3300uF & 1 x 6.3v 1000uF to be precise... somewhere during the construction process 3 x 6.3v 1000uF & 1 x 6.3v 1500uF GSC's were introduced (sadly to the detrement of this product)

Replacement components? that's easy, I'll be using GC series SamXon 6.3v 1000/1500uF pieces, however I'll be flying a little blind on this job as I don't have a s478 processor to 'test' the motherboard before returning it

FYI the PSU is an Enhance unit model designation ENP-2320 which is populated with Teapo & OST and thankfully no GSC!

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Well I must say that was a quick job, hopefully the graphics & stability issues the board was plagued with prior to the refit will now be resolved, I guess I'll have to wait till the owner tries it out & gets back to me (with feedback) then I'll update this thread

In the mean time here's the completed refurbishment pictures (below) for your persual & entertainment

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Replacement components? that's easy, I'll be using GC series SamXon 6.3v 1000/1500uF pieces

Hello tazwegion,

Did you get your SamXon GC series caps here locally or did you buy them here on the website?? I'm currently in a bad situation in sourcing caps within Australia for my Achieva Australia V845SX motherboard (PC Partner OEM).

Thanks.

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

G'day stevo'... I (have in the past) purchased my capacitors locally from davmax & internationally from bigpope, both of these forums, additional to that which I could source here in Central Victoria (namely EXR Hitanos)

What exactly do you require?

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

I tried to recap my Achieva Australia V845SX motherboard with Hitano EXR series the other day and they were 12.5mm instead of 10mm. The original caps were 3300uf 6.3V now i'm using 3300uf 10V.... getting 10 of them to fit in was a really hard task. Now my board looks like crap so i'm going to have to pull everything off and start again with new caps.

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

It may look ugly... but how does it work?

If you're not in any great hurry, I could add your requirements to my next order, but davmax would more than likely already have suitable Samxon's in stock thus making that avenue a faster option

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

It looks ugly.... but it works. But the caps touch the heatsink and the heatsink gets quite hot, which isn't too good for the caps themselves. Also, because the caps have to be positioned high and low.... they are also blocking the CPU heatsink airflow so therefore i'm thinking of taking every cap around the CPU out and starting again with new caps that come in a 10mm package instead. Now I have to go through the process of taking 10 caps out and using 10 proper caps for the replacement process.

Unfortunately 10mm caps with the 3300uf capacitance and a 6.3V rating are like looking for arrowheads in the desert if you live in Sydney. My only hope now is online. At the moment I have the patience for the cap replacement process.... luckily this project can wait for a few weeks.

Thanks.

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

I've PM'ed you

[silentread]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

hey,

I have the same problem with a SL-B8A-F. can I use these caps?

- ELKO LOW ESR 1500uF 6,3V 10X19 RM5
- ELKO LOW ESR 1000uF 6,3V 10X19 RM5

thanks!

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

hey,

I have the same problem with a SL-B8A-F. can I use these caps?

- ELKO LOW ESR 1500uF 6,3V 10X19 RM5
- ELKO LOW ESR 1000uF 6,3V 10X19 RM5

thanks!

Well since they are Low-ESR then yes, you can use them.
I currently use Hitano branded Low ESR caps in an IBM Netvista PC and everything seems fine.

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

In short yes... though their service life will be determined directly by the quality of the capacitor and rating... FWIW I noted the EU stockists declined to list the ESR rating, that in itself doesn't inspire confidence thus I'd definitely recommend you go for a Rubycon, Panasonic, Sanyo, SamXon or similarly listed 'good capacitors' which can be found HERE

[starfury1]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

yeah as Taz said for max life use known quality brands, claiming low ESR I suppose is a step in the right direction for them
I am not familiar with the brand.

Hitano dont have a great rep in the past
I dont know what the present lines are like
not the worse but not the best either from what I understand of Hitano

[silentread]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

THANK YOU ALL!!

I dunno if the caps I picked out are ok or not, cause I am a really NOOB on that. The other problem is, that I'm from germany (hey, that is not yet the problem ... fg) and I know only one shop, which deals with this stuff. I think/hope the quality is fair or at least equivalent.

If it is interesting for you guys, here are the information about my caps I found here in .DE ...

manufacture:      YAGEO 
RoHS conform
Abm.:        	(Ø x H) 10 mm x 19 mm
Elektr. Kapazität: 	1500 uF
Kap.-Tol.: 	    20 %
Lebensdauer: 	    5000 h (only 5000 hours!?)
Nennspannung: 	    6.3 V
RM: 	        5 mm
Temperaturbereich: 	+150 °C

Low ESR - Miniature condensers - Serie SX (low ESR & low impedance). 
for highfrequently applications, radiale version. for: power supply, 
medical technics, Hifi and many more.

source: here and here

perhaps you know them ... perhaps not, but then you know them now.


with kind regards

[Newbie2]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

manufacture:      YAGEO 
RoHS conform
Abm.:        	(Ø x H) 10 mm x 19 mm
Elektr. Kapazität: 	1500 uF
Kap.-Tol.: 	    20 %
[B]Lebensdauer: 	    5000 h (only 5000 hours!?)[/B]
Nennspannung: 	    6.3 V
RM: 	        5 mm
Temperaturbereich: 	+150 °C

Low ESR - Miniature condensers - Serie SX (low ESR & low impedance). 
for highfrequently applications, radiale version. for: power supply, 
medical technics, Hifi and many more.

5000 hours is decent for an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, most Taiwanese caps are 2000-3000 hours at 105 degrees, and Japanese caps are usually at 5000 hours or more at 105 degrees.

5000 hours at 150 degrees for your selected cap will last just like forever, since I don't think your motherboard will always be at 150 degrees Celsius.

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Hitano dont have a great rep in the past
I dont know what the present lines are like
not the worse but not the best either from what I understand of Hitano

I have a house alarm system running 24/7/365 for the past 11 years (since 1996) and its filled with Hitano caps. Haven't seen one bulge yet.... even though the alarm unit is sealed shut and always warm.
I don't know about the new EXR series though.... I currently use EXR caps in my motherboards with no problems.... though I am keeping a very close eye on them....

[tazwegion]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

I have a house alarm system running 24/7/365 for the past 11 years (since 1996) and its filled with Hitano caps. Haven't seen one bulge yet.... even though the alarm unit is sealed shut and always warm.
I don't know about the new EXR series though.... I currently use EXR caps in my motherboards with no problems.... though I am keeping a very close eye on them....

FWIW I recapped an Epox 8KHA+ using Hitano EXR (though not exclusively) over 12 months ago, and as yet no sign of deformity or stability issues after 24/7 full load usage

Project details HERE

[stevo1210]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

I actually recapped a whole IBM Netvista motherboard with Hitano caps last year. Today, I took out an old Asus/HP SPAX AMD K6-II motherboard to salvage some Rubycon YXG caps to replace to 10mm Hitano 1000uf 10V caps. Original Chhsi caps in the IBM were 1000uf 6.3V 8mm, just like the Rubycon YXG.
The Hitano caps after being in a toasty hot SFF PC running 24/7 didn't bulge whatsoever. I'm going to try and use those 1000uf 10V Hitano EXR caps in a Deer PSU recap.
I also used Hiatno caps in the VRM of that SFF IBM Netvista and none have bulged either and I use that Netvista to run the security camera with 100% load all the time due to the hard disk video recording....

[davmax]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Good to see that the EXR are lasting well. These are a conservatively rated caps with ESR about x6 that of the lowest ESR devices with a correspondingly lower max ripple current rating. As long as equipment works and lasts you cannot ask for better.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Uh.. Yeago many RF techs here are using Yageo for cheap repair on TV sets etc.
But i am not very impressed by them, the cheap parts are laking endurance and the low ESR ones i have never seen every where in use.

The quoted data is misleading, as the SX series endurance is between 2000h to 5000h.
I dunno, which diameter belongs to the appropriate endurance.
Furthermore, the qoted 150°c is a typo, it is realy 105°c
Last but not least this cap is selling for about 0,17€, which for me excludes any high quality.
It`s simple, you can`t get a decent low esr cap in Germany at low quantity for this price.
I think those are Taiwan or China made ones, which belongs to the name of this forum.
So i think Yageo is not something, you want to put in a mainboard.

@silentread
Lucky you, i am from Germany too, and there are several locations to by well branded, quality low Esr caps.
My favorite is www.rsonline.de, thy carry Panasonic FM and FC which i would recommend for this application, but they have a minimum order of 20€ AFAIR.
If you only need a few cap, maybe you can source it from http://shop.zeg-shop.de/shop/index.a...sid=2743007838
If you only need a few for this board, then drop me a pm.
May be i have the right ones in my box.
At ebay i think you could get some Rubycon or similar caps too, just search for "low EsR".

[Wulnoth]

Re: Soltek - almost got it right! (SL-B8A-F)

Interesting - I've got one of these but lost the drivers for it.

As Soltek aren't offering support (are no more), is there anybody out there who has the drivers or can point me in the right direction ?

Drivers not available on the usual drivers sites either (driversguide.com etc.).