MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

[HamaZ]

Hi to every reader.

This is my first post on this site, so I think I first need to say something about it before going to the matter.
This is an excellent specialized site which completely covers it's thematic. The general sad fact is that there are many of such excellent specialized sites on the Net, but they are hard do find. When you "google" for some thing you ussualy get those sites "Buy, sell, compare prices, read reviews, opinions....". Man I am really getin f***in' sick of them. I heard of this site in some off-topic conversation on one forum.


Now, the matter. My friend gave me his MSI K7T Turbo motherboard, with, you guess it, exhaled condensators. He also gave me Athlon Thunderbird B 900MHz with it. He is 99% sure that CPU is OK (he has never turned the system on after the motherboard failrue). Now this gear is mine.
After inspecting the board, I have found FIVE 1000yF 6,3V possibly exhaled condensators and TWO 2700yF 6,3V surely exhaled condensators. So I went to the electronic shop, the best one in town. They of course had 1000yF ones, but they don't have the 2700yF ones and after checking some huge catalogue and calling some suppliers, they told me that these condensators CAN NOT be purchased by normal means (for mortal humans). I must be some company and I must specially order at least one thousand of those (because they are manafactured only at order). Etc. They had 3300yF 20V ones but I consider those as last resort.

So I went home and begun the solder work. I am not very much experienced with it nor do I have the pro equipment for microsoldering and multiPCB soldering. Anyway, I have managed to replace all five 1000yF ones without much trouble. The only problem is that I couldn't properly fill the holes of new condensators with solder. Well, I think it didn't pour into holes but it only constipated them. Is this good enough?

I also have to find two replacement 2700yF ones, where? I thought to find some another broken board and to unsolder them from there, but what if I run onto the same crappy condensators? I don't want to solder this board again in two months. Could the 3300yF ones to the job?


And, if I finish this work, could I start the motherboard without any risk for the CPU if something goes wrong? My real estimation is that this repair has only 20% chances to be succesfull, so I am afraid for the CPU. I don't care about the board, but I want this CPU because it costs at least 20EUR at used market in my country.

[willawake]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

hello my friend, where are you from?

the soldering is good if you close the hole, not necessary to fill the hole completely. most important to gently remove the old capacitors and not force the new ones in.

be careful that you are indeed using low esr capacitors and not normal ones.

we will tell you where to buy the 2700 if you tell us your location.

[HamaZ]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

I am from Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Balkan peninsula. My country was member of former, badly broken, Yugoslavia federation.

What do you mean by "esr" capacitors? I bought those regular radial, low profile 1000yF 10V ones. They seem identical to the old ones (except for different color).

Are you sure I don't have to fill the hole with solder, just to "close" its top with it?

[HamaZ]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

P.S.: I din't see at first that you are from Greece. Hello neigbour

[willawake]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

get caps

http://www.primotronic.ba/
they are distributor for RS components
here is bosnia specific page of RS http://www.rsbosnia.com

i buy Panasonic FC caps from RS. they are perfect for motherboards. you have to buy 5 pieces of each cap though.

here is codes
315-0243 (Panasonic FC 6.3V 1000uf)
315-0265 (Panasonic FC 6.3V 2700uf)

if they dont have 2700uf you can use without problem :
449-0873 (Panasonic FC 6.3V 3300uf)

low esr

low esr is a characteristic of certain series of capacitors. it is necessary for good operation of the motherboard.

soldering

it is only necessary to close the hole and not fill the whole inside of the hole with solder. this is because there is a foil cylinder which joins the solder pad on both sides of the board and makes the connection to the board traces. it is called the lead port. as long as the lead port is intact, there is no need to fill the hole with solder.

just heat both the capacitor lead and the solder pad at the same time then when you touch solder to the pad and make a motion to try to fill the hole with a little solder, the connection is made very quickly. everything is fine. it is not difficult.

[HamaZ]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

Thank you for the links.

Now I am thinking something, those 1000yF caps I bought costed only 10 eurocents each, so maybe I should replace them with these Panasonic?

Is it advisable to solder the same things once again?
And, should I change all the capacitors on the board or just the ones I have found to be faulty?

And is it safe for the CPU when I turn on this board after I repair it?

[Chris1992]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

€0.10 per cap? sounds cheap. I would recommend replacing them with the panasonic FC. Just as long as you do it right the board can withstand resoldering. I would also recommend replacing all the caps as MSI were known to use caps that fail internally without showing outward signs. If you do the repair right, the motherboard will be better than new and the CPU will work. I recommend obtaining a cheap Duron and testing that out first as your Thunderbird is worth €20 as you say. What are the markings on those caps you bought and the blown ones?

[HamaZ]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

I've checked availability and prices of those Panaconic capacitors with RS's distributor in my country. 1000yF ones cost about 0.45EUR per piece, and 2700yF ones cost 1,5EUR per piece.

If I replace only five 1000yF and two 2700yF that means I will spend 9,55EUR for capacitors. And if I decide to replace all capacitors on board, I also have to replace four 4700yF ones and some more 1000yF and also some 470yF. In that case I can buy similiar, completely fine second hand motherboard for the price of all those capacitors.


This thing doesn't pay off.

[kc8adu]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

and the secondhand board will likely have the same crap caps.
if you recap yours at least you wont have to worry about that.

[yanz]

Re: MSI K7T Turbo Ver3 - almost done

the same with what i was thinking..
it's funny because it's not funny to have your motheroard fail again...

and the secondhand board will likely have the same crap caps.