Troubleshooting a Troubling Motherboard Incident: Sparks After Repairs
After experiencing boot failure with my computer ā no POST and no USB power ā I decided to take it to a local repair shop for professional assessment. The technicians informed me that they had attempted to revive my motherboard and, at one point, it was operational. However, they disclosed that the issue re-emerged, leading them to recommend a motherboard replacement. Unsure of how to proceed, I left the shop with the intent to consider my options.
Upon returning home, I was curious whether the motherboard might briefly function, so I plugged it in. To my dismay, I witnessed sparks flying and detected a burning smell ā it appeared that a capacitor had potentially burned out. This was concerning, as I had never encountered such issues before.
Now, I find myself questioning whether the repair shop might have overlooked something critical or if this incident was simply a consequence of the prior attempts to fix it. Given the alarming situation, Iām contemplating whether visiting a different repair shop is advisable or if I should simply accept the likelihood of needing a new motherboard altogether.
My current setup features an Intel i7 6th generation processor paired with a Z170 K motherboard. While I recognize that replacing the motherboard might be a more straightforward solution, I am struggling to find a proper replacement that meets my overclocking needs. The only viable option I’ve encountered is the ASRock Q270 BTC, which is ATX, while other alternatives appear to be mATX and from less reliable brands.
The burning question remains: Should I invest time and resources into attempting to repair this motherboard, or is it too far gone? Is it even feasible to repair it at this point, or is it wiser to proceed with a replacement? Your insights would be greatly appreciated as I navigate this frustrating predicament.
For a visual reference, please see the attached image below:
