14 replies to this topic

[frostz]

i had a guy at bestbuy say that my motherboard was damage so they refused to change out my video cards for me, but if it were damaged how would my computer even turn on right?

can a motherboard still be damaged yet still function?

[choco25]

umm I don't think so....
It might be work.. but chances are it won't work well...

[frostz]

umm I don't think so....
It might be work.. but chances are it won't work well...

i was pretty sure i was having a video card problem due to artifacts appearing on my screen, so i was kinda skeptic when they said my motherboard broke

[Faintingcow]

It could be a motherboard issue, but most of the time artifacting is the video card.
A broken mother board can turn on, but most likely won't boot, because it is broken...

[frostz]

It could be a motherboard issue, but most of the time artifacting is the video card.
A broken mother board can turn on, but most likely won't boot, because it is broken...

well thats just the thing it does boot.

[Faintingcow]

Sounds like a video card replacement is due

[frostz]

yea but they wont replace the videocard for me , They told me something about the tips of some "capacitators" looking puffed out or something hence broken motherboard.

[Faintingcow]

That should be easy enough to look at yourself, capacitors are easy enough to recognize and if they are broken or "puffed up", then it could be not supplying your video card with "clean" power, this making it artifact, as it could be overvolting it or undervolting it. But if they aren't puffed up like he says, then it is most likely your video card.

[frostz]

yea i took a look at the capacitators and several of them seemed to be "puffed" up at the top, while others were flat. Can these capacitators be easily replaced or would it be better to simply get a new computer.

Edited by frostz, 18 May 2011 - 01:40 PM.

[Darkthrone]

Capacitors aren't difficult to replace if your handy with a soldering iron but for the sake of it I'm assuming your not, your best bet is to try and RMA the Mobo or take it back to the store and make them replace it if your still under warranty (they have to). If worse comes to worse you could always make up something to tell your insurance company and claim it on that.

[Pyro699]

Long answer short.

Yes a motherboard can be damaged and still 'run', but not in the way you would hope it to. Power can still be sent to areas such as the graphics card and hard drives... but that doesnt mean the data signals can travel properly.

[weaboo]

One of my laptops motherboards got all crap and it cost almost another laptop to replace it lol, Not worth it unless it's like a mac or something *_*

[frostz]

Capacitors aren't difficult to replace if your handy with a soldering iron but for the sake of it I'm assuming your not, your best bet is to try and RMA the Mobo or take it back to the store and make them replace it if your still under warranty (they have to). If worse comes to worse you could always make up something to tell your insurance company and claim it on that.

well my computer is over 6 years old and is definitely no longer under warranty. I dont actually know how to replace the capacitors and am afraid to try, cause the computer might be "completely" broken after my attempt.

One of my laptops motherboards got all crap and it cost almost another laptop to replace it lol, Not worth it unless it's like a mac or something *_*

I guess it would probably be more cost effective to not pay for a new motherboard +service cost , and buying a new pc instead. even if im spending a few hundred dollars more. cause all the parts are pretty old anyway.i mean best buy tried to charge me like 50 $ to replace each piece of ram i think

Edited by frostz, 19 May 2011 - 01:22 PM.

[Faintingcow]

Yeah you can get a computer probably 5x as good as your's for the price it would cost to replace it and the service, lol.

[frostz]

Yeah you can get a computer probably 5x as good as your's for the price it would cost to replace it and the service, lol.

prolly right, any computer that costs the hundreds of dollars to fix and replace would be better than something that i bought 5-6 years ago..