[SOLVED] Something broken off mobo, what is it?

[anderton46]

Hi all,

I shipped a pc to someone and they said it is up and running however a small piece of the mobo has fallen off (as seen in the picture). Anyone know what that does exactly and is it now ruined?

Thanks in advance.

https://ibb.co/2Ms7YFb

 

[cdrkf]

Hi all,

I shipped a pc to someone and they said it is up and running however a small piece of the mobo has fallen off (as seen in the picture). Anyone know what that does exactly and is it now ruined?

Thanks in advance.

https://ibb.co/2Ms7YFb

That component is a capacitor - they are a passive component used as part of many different circuits so it's difficult to know what it does without a bit more info (ideally a photo of where it came off the motherboard)... The fact that the board is still working suggests it's probably a 'smoothing' capacitor - these are used to filter out electrical noise on the motherboard and make sure voltages to other components are clean. Depending on where it was the board might be less stable as a result, or it could cause issues such as reduced quality audio output (if it was used as part of the on board sound circuit). It would be an easy enough part to replace though as it's a large 'through hole' style capacitor so anyone with a little experience with a soldering iron should be able to clear out the holes for it on the motherboard and install a new one.

 

[mattcintosh]

Its a surface mount capacitor. (its probably not through the board, otherwise it wouldn't have broken off. They board may run, but may crash randomly. Its a cheap part, and with some skill, can be soldered back on, or replaced with another

 

[anderton46]

That component is a capacitor - they are a passive component used as part of many different circuits so it's difficult to know what it does without a bit more info (ideally a photo of where it came off the motherboard)... The fact that the board is still working suggests it's probably a 'smoothing' capacitor - these are used to filter out electrical noise on the motherboard and make sure voltages to other components are clean. Depending on where it was the board might be less stable as a result, or it could cause issues such as reduced quality audio output (if it was used as part of the on board sound circuit). It would be an easy enough part to replace though as it's a large 'through hole' style capacitor so anyone with a little experience with a soldering iron should be able to clear out the holes for it on the motherboard and install a new one.

Thanks for getting back to me. It is the one next to the PCIE slot I believe. As highlighted in yellow here

https://ibb.co/g3YtdCZ

 

[drea.drechsler]

It IS a capacitor...a 16V electrolytic. That's a type that's used in for the VRM and it could be fairly important for stable operation as it assures a clean, stable voltage is delivered to the device. It's unclear whether it's surface mount, but the usual ones I've seen are through-hole. Pictures of the motherboard in the area of the CPU VRM would be helpful, but it could be most anywhere...even memory VRM's.

 

[mattcintosh]

Thanks for getting back to me. It is the one next to the PCIE slot I believe. As highlighted in yellow here

https://ibb.co/g3YtdCZ

Yeah, thats through the board. Getting snapped off pins removed can be rather tricky. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143203285372

 

[drea.drechsler]

Thanks for getting back to me. It is the one next to the PCIE slot I believe. As highlighted in yellow here

https://ibb.co/g3YtdCZ

It appears to provide filtering for the +12V input to PCIe cards. You might can get by without it.

 

[anderton46]

Yeah, thats through the board. Getting snapped off pins removed can be rather tricky. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143203285372

To update, apparently both the large and small capacitors next to the PCIE have come off.

https://ibb.co/g3YtdCZ

It appears to provide filtering for the +12V input for the PCIe cards.

To update, apparently both the large and small capacitors next to the PCIE have come off.

https://ibb.co/g3YtdCZ

Is this going to damage his card if he turns the PC on? What is the best advice I can provide to the person I have sent it to? Would a pc repair shop do that sort of intricate work?

 

[drea.drechsler]

...

Is this going to damage his card if he turns the PC on? What is the best advice I can provide to the person I have sent it to? Would a pc repair shop do that sort of intricate work?

I'm not certain it would damage it but if it could leave the GPU unstable. But thing is: it's really an elementary repair if through-hole. The only issue is getting back-side access and that requires disassembly of the system if it's in one.

 

[Fatalzo]

Hi all,

I shipped a pc to someone and they said it is up and running however a small piece of the mobo has fallen off (as seen in the picture). Anyone know what that does exactly and is it now ruined?

Thanks in advance.

https://ibb.co/2Ms7YFb

That's definitely a capacitor. Without it, the PC won't be nearly as stable and it could fry itself without warning. Stay safe.

 

[norcalsc]

so both of the "fell off" since it was delivered? sounds like the buyer is a bit clumsy,

 

[drea.drechsler]

so both of the "fell off" since it was delivered? sounds like the buyer is a bit clumsy,

I tend to agree. Those things don't just 'fall off' even in shipping.

Seeing where they're mounted, right next to the GPU PCIe slot, the most likely failure mode is inserting the GPU with it slightly to the side and jamming it between the capacitors and the slot.