Blown IC? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: SuperGiachi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2018, 07:05:37 pm
content: Hi, i just opened up a laptop with a motherboard problem. I noticed that the super I-O/EC chip has a little brown spot and a "scratch" in its package. I also noticed that the motherboard is heating up in a spot(I'll get the multimeter and the soldering station next week, so i'll try to figure out what's causing this). Do you think that the IC is blown? I can post a photo if you need.

author: zvonex66x
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2018, 10:45:51 pm
content: Post the photo

author: SuperGiachi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 12:04:07 am
content: Here is the photohttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_r8p2JWpx1DZzhtWFpNT29iNFJWbzZDSnVCWnZDVEx6a3pR

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 12:56:50 am
content: 'little brown spot' LOL! I've actually seen that in a chip - a barely perceptable tiny hole - but you have a massive crater in that one

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 01:39:45 am
content: Soak cotton into IPA and clean the dirt away.Otherwise it's a bomb blast.

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 01:59:24 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 21, 2018, 01:45:15 amDownload, enlarge and judge again.

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 02:20:22 am
content: So where is the cooked blast pit now?

author: SMdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 03:41:32 am
content: Err, right between the T&E.Something bad has happened... The magic smoke has escaped.

author: cowasaki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 06:36:20 pm
content: What was the laptop?

author: SuperGiachi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2018, 10:22:07 pm
content: It is an ASUS BU201LA. I'll go ahead and order the replacement chip. I'll need to fix the (probably) shorted power rail before replacing the chip.

author: cowasaki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 01:17:25 am
content: Quote from: SuperGiachi on January 21, 2018, 10:22:07 pmThat was going to be my supplemental question...... It's always fun replacing those ICs :-)

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 03:41:01 am
content: Quote from: SuperGiachi on January 20, 2018, 07:05:37 pmYes.

author: cowasaki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 11:02:43 am
content: It's not going to be pennies for that IC and the question is then "WHY did it blow like that?" . That is a pretty catastrophic failure so I would be very careful with checking for the reason. I have had a £50 IC blow instantly when replaced before only to find it was a 3p capacitor's fault.

author: SuperGiachi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 03:20:29 pm
content: Quote from: cowasaki on January 22, 2018, 11:02:43 am50£ IC? What kind of IC was it? That's so expensive!I already spotted a warm spot with the PSU plugged in(everything disconnected), i'll wait for the meter and then check. Do you suggest hot air for that IC? I'll try with the iron and see if i can get away without hot air.

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 03:26:57 pm
content: I hope those guys will guide you to finish.Remember their names so that you can appreciate them.Cheers;

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 04:24:17 pm
content: Quote from: drussell on January 22, 2018, 03:41:01 amWell i would kind of have to agree BLOWN!

author: Bashstreet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 04:26:13 pm
content: Quote from: SuperGiachi on January 22, 2018, 03:20:29 pm50$ can be cheap for some chips especially some rare retro ones.. Although generally 50$ is pretty expensive chip indeed.

author: cowasaki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2018, 05:57:41 pm
content: It was an ARM2 back in 1992/3 ish in an Acorn A3000. To be honest the value is an educated guess which might be too low. It could well be more than that.

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2018, 06:38:34 am
content: Getting the IC is one thing, it is another if it needs to be programed. Most EC/keyboard controler IC's do have code in them and will need to be ordered pre-programed or you can buy a ~$150 programmer for the chip and then you still need to find the file to program the chip with (the EC firmware). Good luck with the repair, I would recommend hot air and flux for removing and replacing the chip as the pins are close together and there are usually 100 pins plus on those packages.

author: SuperGiachi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2018, 08:42:36 pm
content: Isn't the firmware stored in a separate chip(similar to the bios chip)? I've seen a similar chip being replaced without programming.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2018, 02:02:50 am
content: Quote from: SuperGiachi on January 22, 2018, 03:20:29 pmIf you think that's expensive, look at some of the high end FPGAs on the market. I just checked and currently the most expensive one DigiKey carries is $76,571.19, for *one* IC. You could buy a brand new luxury car for less than that. I'd hate to be the guy who cratered one of those chips by shorting with a test lead or something.

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2018, 03:35:21 am
content: If you are lucky the bios will reprogram the chip (source:https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=61318) but you may be not as lucky and it wont. So be prepared for that. The chip is around $5 on ebay so it does not hurt to try.