Gigabyte GA-7VA

[DrCherry]

I just went through the drill on a Gigabyte GA-7VA . Swapped out drives, memory, and a power supply before checking the caps. Believe it or not this thing was still running but would become unresponsive a couple of times a day.

[kc8adu]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

that usually what most gigabyte mobo's look like when they get here.
(looks at stack of ga-7zx waiting for recap)
welcome to badcaps!

[DrCherry]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

I've got another gigabyte mobo in production and I'll have to keep an eye on it. It's probably 5-6 years newer than that GA-7VA (don't recall the model offhand) but I don't know that I can trust any of em.

I got a new Tyan this year and spent some extra coin so I hope I don't end up here again! Yipee.

[starfury1]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

Hi Dr Cherry, welcome

Thats part of the problem, they do run for a while with badcaps but you never know when they are going to lock up reboot or do other strange things.

So if you don't know about the badcaps situation you tend to blame everything but the Hardware.

This forum has probably saved a few people from sore ears and going bald prematurely.

check the MB version by a search here but Gigabyte have used crappy caps so beware
there a good chance its got them.

Cheers

[Topcat]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

Be thankful those 2x 1200uF caps didn't incinerate themselves. When one shows up with those burnt beyond recognition, plan on replacing FET's too.

[starfury1]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

Hi all

TC a question if you don't mine, is it these two caps you are referring too?
(That are the 1200 uF)

I notice they are a different brand
cant recall what it is thought (green gold writing cover) I think they still fall in to the somewhat crap category if memory serves.

the others are marked choyo

Thanks

Cheers

[kc8adu]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

gsc or choyo
both junk.
i have seen those burn up the vrm when they launch off the board and leak out the bung.

[Topcat]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

Starfury, KC8 is correct. Replace them ASAP!

[starfury1]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

Thank you KC8 & TC

I was just after confirmation it was those 2 caps marked we were talking about.
(to be sure)

I have recapped the Gigabyte MB
Had blown GSC crap on it and replaced with (as willawake did) Panasonic FM, dont look pritty but works well
(GA-7ZXE)

Cheers

[tazwegion]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

My Gigabyte GA-7ZM still has Choyo & the other I can't remember, but it's running AOK in a well ventiled case powering a 1.1Ghz T'bird off a HEC 200w PSU

I do keep an eye on them, but after more than 12 months there's still no sign of damage nor symptoms, not bad considering it was a second hand board before I got it

[triplelatte]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

I have a GA-7VAXP that had those GSC crap caps on it and they were very crusty on top. I ended up replacing every cap on the board with some nichicon's about six months ago and it has rock solid every since, now my ps2 ports stopped working but the caps look OK.

[linuxguru]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

It probably blew a polyfuse that's on the rail that supplies power to the keyboard and mouse. BTW, PS2 keyboards and mice are *not* designed to be hot-pluggable, though people do that all the time.

[kc8adu]

Re: Gigabyte GA-7VA

i have seen tiny inductors open near ps/2 and mouse.
mostly on pcchips but sometimes on others.
probably due to someone plugging something wrong/bad into it.
look for fuses,polyswitches,fusable resistors, near the ports too.
do the lights blink on the kb on powerup?
does an optical mouse light?