Question Motherboard doesn’t work scratched

[Skarfi]

Well hello guys
I’ve got aproblem with my motherboard i wanted to replace my dell optiplex case 7010 with a new one but my motherboard was stuck in it so i used some tools to unstuck it but i scratched it and now it doesn’t work? i scratched those circuit traces

Photo of it:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/673710425488945565/

View: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/673710425488945565/

 

[drea.drechsler]

Well hello guys
I’ve got aproblem with my motherboard i wanted to replace my dell optiplex case 7010 with a new one but my motherboard was stuck in it so i used some tools to unstuck it but i scratched it and now it doesn’t work? i scratched those circuit traces

Photo of it:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/673710425488945565/

View: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/673710425488945565/

Do you have a question? Are you asking if a trace is broken? I can't really see a broken trace, but assuming there is one it's highly unlikely it could be repaired since they look like traces to memory.

Have you tried turning on the system to see if it works? All you can really do is put it together and see for yourself since it's a binary result... it either will work, or it won't.

 

[AllanGH]

Yeah...the left end of that scratch looks like it trashed two traces....can't tell about the right-hand traces, but you're looking at making some fine-detail repairs, or a new motherboard.

 

[Skarfi]

Do you have a question? Are you asking if a trace is broken? I can't really see a broken trace, but assuming there is one it's highly unlikely it could be repaired since they look like traces to memory.

Have you tried turning on the system to see if it works? All you can really do is put it together and see for yourself since it's a binary result... it either will work, or it won't.

I am asking if they are broken. I tried to run the system and the fans did light up for 5 minutes or less and then they turned off and never turned on again when i tried to put everything together again it didn’t work so i think i might broke one of the traces

 

[Skarfi]

Yeah...the left end of that scratch looks like it trashed two traces....can't tell about the right-hand traces, but you're looking at making some fine-detail repairs, or a new motherboard.

How can i repair them then?

 

[AllanGH]

I hate to sound this way about it, but....

Honestly, if you had done repairs like this before, you would be doing the repairs right now, instead of asking how to do it. If you have to ask how to do it, you're better-off having it done professionally (with the risk that it won't be successful), or replacing the MB (a sure thing).

Personally-speaking, it's a good excuse for a system upgrade, I suppose.

(The far-left trace is the easy one. The second from the left trace looks like it's cut right through a delay line. That one needs to be done quite correctly--with the use of a microscope, micro-soldering iron tips, and experience--or don't bother trying.)

 

[drea.drechsler]

How can i repair them then?

You'd have to find the broken trace first. Then very carefully bridge the break with solder using an ultra-fine soldering iron tip. Be very careful not to also bridge to adjacent trace.

Even then it probably won't work, or if it does it will need to run at reduced memory speed. Reason is that trace path length and dimension is a critical electrical parameter affecting function in modern boards. For instance... note all those traces with squiggles. Those were added to ensure data arrive at precisely the same time as data on other traces and/or to assure proper impedance matching.

EDIT ADD: if you're pretty sure you don't want to change system you could probably find another board on eBay. Dell's are as common as sand and parts are always popping up there. You just have to make sure to find the exact model and part number of your board, but that should be easy using Dell service data.

 

[Skarfi]

You'd have to find the broken trace first. Then very carefully bridge the break with solder using an ultra-fine soldering iron tip. Be very careful not to also bridge to adjacent trace.

Even then it probably won't work, or if it does it will need to run at reduced memory speed. Reason is that trace path length and dimension is a critical electrical parameter affecting function in modern boards. For instance... note all those traces with squiggles. Those were added to ensure data arrive at precisely the same time as data on other traces and/or to assure proper impedance matching.

EDIT ADD: if you're pretty sure you don't want to change system you could probably find another board on eBay. Dell's are as common as sand and parts are always popping up there. You just have to make sure to find the exact model and part number of your board, but that should be easy using Dell service data.

Well i guess the best way then is to buy a new motherboard thank you guys for the help!

 

[AllanGH]

Sorry that it worked-out that way.