Something FRIED... ( picture attached )

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
What kinda of Ground would it be? one of the connectors I should unplug and see what works?

I am thinking the Processor is fried too.
 
This type of damage is caused by an arc, low voltage-high current, like an electric welder. I suspect the connector was not pushed home, the electrical connection was weak and began carbonizing thus developing an arc, it overheated an burned. Maybe the connector was disturbed while cleaning. The damage should be confined to just the connectors, but an arc causes high static voltage which could indeed damage other components.
 
...... i HAD THE SAME EXACT FCKING THING HAPPENED

when i bought the 6800GS AGP, i unlocked 16/6 + over clocking with coolbits to like 405/1100

i played like 3 days of GREAT GAMING until MASSIVE VERTEX LINES, aka artifacts, i thought it was unlocking the artifacts, it turned out i had a perfectly fine 6800GS unlockable, too bad i RMA'd it just to find out the mother board had the same exact BURN. it took me 3 weeks to figure out everything else was working fine and it was just the MB that was fried..

it was sad i was very frustrated when i thought it was my whole computer because every video card i plugged in, it didnt work or had massive artifacts

better buy a new MOBO =o
 
Ack, that sucks.

Just goes to show you though, that a lot of problems arent what they seem. What could be dismissed as a program crashing could very well be a fault in memory or a power issue. You just never know until you have a look at everything.

If in doubt, do a thorough check on the mobo. Check caps, resistors, plugs and sockets, and even the IC's for signs of damage. If its brownish, chances are its overheating badly, and itsnt going to last much longer.

Even if its fine, an inspection of the mobo will usually reveal dust and cack in places you dont want em, so take the time to clean it out.

A clean PC is a happy PC.
(Mine is currently a depressed wreck based on this rule...)
 
I replaced my board. Now it is powering up. But I think that the Processor or memory are gone also. My next bet is to replace the Processor. Luckily they are pretty cheap with Socket A.
 
Replaced the Processor and BINGO!!!!! Did not replace the Power Supply.

I plan to replace the machine and build a new one in the near future (once I get the $$$)
 
Bloody hell... from what I can make out, those are the 5v lines you've fried... something has gone horribly wrong there.

Personally, test all the components with another rig, but leave the mobo out. That will most certainly have been damaged by the current surge though that. It takes a fair bit to melt the connectors like that, I'm surprised it wasnt on fire.

Either a short, or a fault component could have caused this. Excessive current draw usually only occours when a short is present, or the beginnings of one. If the system was overclocked, then that could certainly have been one cause, but other than that, it could have been anything.

This guy has it here.
To the guy who was talking about arcing, NO WAY. There is not enough voltage for the PSU to arc from the inside of the connector. And even if it did, how would it jump from one pin to another accross the connector?
You have yet to mention that you have OC'ed it, so that does not seem to be it. Even then, that color on the plastic would sujest something else is amiss.
I do not think it is the PSU that is bad (it is now though!). If it were a short in the PSU, the damage would most likely be to the PSU itself, as electrons take the path of least resistance (FYI, a short is like crossing 2 wires causeing MAXIMUM current (the sutff that causes heat, not voltage) to flow). I would guess maybe the voltage regulator on your mobo. I think a new mobo and PSU and you should be set. Spend a bit on a good PSU too. A low grade PSU may be what caused the issue in the first place. And from what others are saying, try something other than EPox.

To CableTwitch, you must be a computer technitian or should be. Good post.
 
Are your Hdds spinning? Your not getting any Post what so ever? If not then the board you got is bad I would try reseating the board in the case or take it out and do a test without it in the case being carefull to not ground it out. It could be somethng simple like that or it could be you just got a bad board. Try clearing the CMOS o nthe board also.
 
The processor lasted almost 5 years. past couple months I was getting sudden restarts. I knew something was going.

When the arc happened, I had just taken the system apart and gave it a complete Compressed air cleaning. Took the mobo out, fan off the processor. The processor was running a bit hot so I figured the heatsink and the fan needed a really good blow.

I put it all back together. something I did must have caused the arc.

I replaced the mobo: ASRock K7VM3

When that did not work I replaced the processor:
AMD Sempron 2600+ Thoroughbred 1.833GHz

I do not have the $$$ to build a kickin system, but this does pretty well for me. It was only $100 for the parts above.

HDDs are spinning everything is fine. They only thing I need to do now is upgrade the Memory because it is holding back the system. It is a OCZ DDRAM 512M64X64 PC-2700. The procsssor & mobo can go up to 333 so I need the memory to match. That should only take another $50. if i only go with 512.

I'll save up so that in Jan I'll get a new complete system together. Prices will be down and Vista and Directx 10 (I believe) will be out.