hardware failure - SMD transistor on motherboard is blown after a big spark; case fan no longer works

05
2014-04
  • Daniil

    So I installed a new fan and upon turning on the computer there was a huge spark with loud bang. Everything stopped working until I unplugged power from motherboard. Now upon boot, computer says one of the fans has failed. Works otherwise. Upon close inspection I see a broken transistor (not sure proper terminology). I mean it cracked open.

    The computer is working OK, but I keep worrying about sparks and hence a fire problem. It may not happen immediately. Can someone, with deeper knowledge in hardware, advise whether motherboard change should be done or I shouldn't worry about this or what are the concerns with this situation?

    I've included the photo of the damage below, its right next to the fan connector (which now stays unplugged). The model of this seems to be PA102FDG.

    PA102FDG

    • Answers
  • BowlesCR

    IF that fan isn't necessary for proper cooling, you can probably run the motherboard just fine without it. At the low currents available to a fan you're not likely to see a fire hazard.

    That said, if its an older setup as you've mentioned, you might just be better off replacing/upgrading it.

    I don't recommend attempting to replace the SMD transistor yourself. SMD (de)soldering is quite a bit more difficult than through-hole.


    • Related Question

    motherboard - Installing a case fan: What to do when there's no spare 3-pin and no Molexes at all?
  • user402749

    My fan came with a 3-pin connector and a little extension cord to piggyback on a Molex if necessary. It seems that the only kind of power connector my PSU has is the ATX 1.3 (i.e. SATA), and there's only one 3-pin on the mobo which is being used by the CPU heatsink fan.

    How can I supply power to my fan?

    [Edit] Thank you to @Moab! To summarize my use of their solution below: I'm plugging one of my PSU's SATA connectors into this SATA-to-Molex adapter, which plugs into my fan's included 3-pin-to-Molex-tee extension cord, which plugs into this Molex-to-SATA adapter, which plugs into the device that was originally supplied directly by the above-mentioned SATA connector. (The PSU had no spare SATA connectors, either.)


    • Related Answers
  • Moab

    use a molex splitter

    http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Molex-Power-Supply-Splitter/dp/B001PI9AAC

    or a Sata to molex adapter if you have No molex connectors. http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20580