G4 Processor Damage

6 posts / 0 new
Last post
Hawaii Cruiser's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: Jan 20 2005 - 16:03
Posts: 1433
G4 Processor Damage

I've got an Apple OEM dual 1Ghz processor card for a Quicksilver G4 that does not work at all. Looking very closely at the card, I see no signs of damage--no scratches, burns, etc.--except at the spots where the heatsink clips attach to the card (see photo). Copper foil is exposed, and on the worst one, it looks like corrosion has worn all the way through to the fiberglass, possibly breaking the line. There's obvious moisture damage with rust and blue copper corrosion. I assume the line that is broken--which runs all the way around the card--is a ground line (?). Could this possibly be the cause of the card malfunction? If so, how would I repair it? thanks!

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: Jan 20 2005 - 16:03
Posts: 1433
Photo

IMAGE(http://www.applefritter.com/images/processorcardcorrosion-22795_640x480.jpg)

alk
alk's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 369
Marker

Isn't there a marker doodad that lays down silver conductive ink? I could swear I've heard of people using these things to repair traces on PCBs just like what you're talking about. Of course, in your case, the problem is pretty severe, and putting the heatsink clips back on might scrape any fix away.

You could try a white-wire fix. Find where the ground is exposed elsewhere and solder in a bridge of narrow gauge wire bridging the gap but routed away from the heatsink clips. In fact, this might be a more prudent and longer lasting solution than the marker approach...

Peace,
Drew

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 1 day ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
I'd second the white-wire fix

I'd second the white-wire fix.
I took a look at a QS 733 processor I've got and it does look like that path is needed for proper grounding.

themike's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 4 months ago
Joined: Jul 21 2004 - 19:33
Posts: 455
Try it with a paperclip or so

Try it with a paperclip or some alligator-style clips first. Easier than soldering on some maybe-otherwise-dead-anyway hardware.

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 1 day ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
I disagree. There's more than

I disagree. There's more than one trace gone, so that'd be quite a juggling act.
Even alligator clips mounted in the tight space between the CPU card and the logic board in a powered up system seems like it'd be less risky to do the job properly, and lessen the risk of adding the logic board to the list of broken components. In fact, at the rear of the processor card, I don't think there'd be room for clips when it's installed.
If it were just one trace, and more easily accessible, I'd agree.

Trust me...scraping the traces and soldering 4 bridges around the clip mounts will take little time, and if the processor still doesn't work, you've at least eliminated the clip pads as a cause.

Log in or register to post comments