First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

[jac0b]

I just recapped the above board and everything starts up fine, but now it freezes after about 2 minutes in memtest. Now I did take off the heatsink to reapply some thermal paste but when I put the heatsink back on I accidentally hit the CPU with the screwdriver and caused the below problem.

Now my question is can the chip in the CPU cause that problem or is there a problem with my recap job?

Chip in CPU

[Rainbow]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

The trace appears still continuous so it's probably not caused by that. To be sure, try the CPU with another board and also another CPU with this board.

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

I did notice when it does freeze that the lights on the keyboard(Num Lock, Caps Lock) and mouse start blinking. Yeah I might grab another CPU off ebay along with a better heatsink because the stock one does not sit flush on the CPU.

[kc8adu]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

check the usb sockets.for whatever reason i see a ton of these boards with busted usb .

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

Could a cap not soldered correctly cause this problem? I looked at the board and cleaned the solder points and nothing looks burned or messed up from the soldering job.

Also I got a 1Ghz Celeron for it. [Link]

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

Got the CPU, tested it on the mobo still freezes
Could it be one of my solder joints? Here are some pics of the solder job.
IMG_1765.JPG
IMG_1766.JPG
IMG_1767.JPG
IMG_1770.JPG
IMG_1771.JPG
IMG_1774.JPG

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

Nobody has any suggestions on what to do or check out?

[Tom41]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

If you suspect a single trace like that, it might be a good idea to carefully scrape off a tiny bit of the green coating and expose a small area of the trace on either side of the damage. Then, use a multimeter to check for continuity - if it passes, the chip should still work despite the damage.

The only thing I would be concerned about in that case is if something metal touches the exposed portions of the trace, and conducts electricity somewhere it's not supposed to go (like the earth wire, for example)

Also watch out for solder bridges, shorting two adjacent pins on the board together. Again, these are checked by using a multimeter - zero resistance means there is a solder bridge somewhere; a medium-high or total resistance value probably means there is no solder bridge - it's just measuring whatever component is attached, if any.

Edit: Just had a look at the pictures - the soldering is pretty good, although you may have left a little too much wire protruding on some of the joints. If those extra wires touch the metal case, even briefly, you'll get a short circuit just as if there was a solder bridge.

Those things that look like hairs on the solder joints - what are they? Are they conductive to electricity?

Also, if the keyboard LEDs blink when it freezes - do they blink in unison? Do they go on and off in a regular pattern? Or do they just flash haphazardly?
If they're all going on and off at the same time in a rhythm, it's probably some kind of alarm signal from your motherboard. Mine does that if the CPU overheats (freezes and blinks keyboard LEDs), but also sounds an alarm from the PC speaker at the same time.

[willawake]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

does it freeze only in memtest or in other software?

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

does it freeze only in memtest or in other software?

It freezes with anything I try memtest, Bart PE, Ubuntu Install

Edit: Just had a look at the pictures - the soldering is pretty good, although you may have left a little too much wire protruding on some of the joints. If those extra wires touch the metal case, even briefly, you'll get a short circuit just as if there was a solder bridge.

Those things that look like hairs on the solder joints - what are they? Are they conductive to electricity?

Also, if the keyboard LEDs blink when it freezes - do they blink in unison? Do they go on and off in a regular pattern? Or do they just flash haphazardly?
If they're all going on and off at the same time in a rhythm, it's probably some kind of alarm signal from your motherboard. Mine does that if the CPU overheats (freezes and blinks keyboard LEDs), but also sounds an alarm from the PC speaker at the same time.

I used regular wire snips to cut the excess (I know I got to get some miniature snips) but I have tested it inside the case and outside same thing happens.
I think that is part of the cotton pads I used to clean the area after soldering.
The keyboard LEDs do blink in unison with each other I don't know if there is a rhythm to it I will have to check that out also no alarm sounds.


Thanks for the help and quick reply

[Harvey]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

I'd be thinking failing MOSFETS - do you have a multimeter to check the VRM's output voltage?

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

I'd be thinking failing MOSFETS - do you have a multimeter to check the VRM's output voltage?

I am going to get one this weekend. How do I test a VRM and what setting should the multimeter be on?

[kc8adu]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

just measure acros vrm output cap near cpu.
see if the voltage 1.7-1.75 goes out of spec.
also make sure the heatsink is tight against the die.
those things are cheap and nasty.

[davmax]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

Multimeter set to 2 volts DC or nearest above this value.

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

just measure acros vrm output cap near cpu.
see if the voltage 1.7-1.75 goes out of spec.
also make sure the heatsink is tight against the die.
those things are cheap and nasty.

In the below picture is what I need to test with my multimeter right (this is not my mobo this is just a pic I found off google)?

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

How do I measure the voltage? Please help me out, I am just figuring out this stuff.
Also I got this multimeter, will it do what is needed?

[gonzo0815]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

Simply by choosing the DC voltage range at the multimeter, then put the plugs into the multimeter as shown in that pic at the shop.
Now you can put the black wire to any ground (e.g. some of the motherboard`s screws or the tinned area around them on the pcb) and measure the voltage at any point you wish with the red probe.

Edit: be careful to not make a short if you are measuring device which are running (this is obviously necessary).

Do not measure devices carrying high voltage, unles you are knowing what you are doing (e.g. PSU`s, a PC board`s vrm is not dangerous, at the least if we are considering the voltage. The high currents in PC systems can easily heat any metal parts up till it is brightly glowing).

[jac0b]

Re: First recap MSI MS-6312/Gateway Flex System w/ problems

I tested the board and got the voltages I found them to be around 1.57 on the below screenshot. Also I think I killed the board because I touched 2 points together on the FETs and now when I start it up nothing happens, so did I kill the board or can I just replace the FET to fix it?