OMG help! Just blew something/Sparks Fireworks...

L

lowteckh

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
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Shit I am so fucking mad at myself. Tapped the metal tips of the fan connectors (sleeving them so they're naked) onto the mobo fan header and then sparks came from this chip with the word "NIKOS" on it, system started automagically and burning smell lifted from the board and it's stained on my hand. I saw the mobo post I think as it was restarting but I turned it right back off for fear of Godzilla raping the rest of my components. What the hell did I just do? Freakin' freakin' out :eek::(
gigabyte_ma78gm_pci_3b7a8.Large.jpg


Update: Okay, I took the risk and tiny balls to turn the system on sans 2 hard drive just in case... and it seems fine? I tried plugging a fan in but it wouldn't spin so I'm guessing this is a fan fuse thing? Probably more damage if my luck has it but I don't know yet - just booted it and sitting on desktop.
Update2: Oh fck, I swapped the black and yellows around (possibly why it sparked? I erno). Fan works now so I don't know what the spark, pop and subsequent crater on the NIKOS chip means...
 
Had the same thing happen on a GA-MA78GM-S2H - although much more spectacularly than yours - mine completely exploded. Looks like even the same chip. Mine was, however, probably caused by a short after transporting the board with a Thermalright HR 05 northbridge cooler installed.

This was outside the US, so had to buy a new board. Gigabyte RMA'd the dead one, though. Unfortunately I don't know what to do with this board now.
 
Thanks, the system is still running after idling it on desktop overnight so I'm a bit less worried, though this does mean my excuse to get a new mobo, go back to intel and crossfire my setup is now void.

Rabid Badger said:
I'm going to take a guess and say it might be a fan speed control chip.
Click to expand...

That could be just it! Plugged in a fan and Speedfan doesn't detect fan speed anymore. Anymore guesses if this will affect anything else? I was planning on sticking a manual fan controller on it anyways.

Update: Ok, now I'm not sure again. Plugged in 2 other fans and those fans reported adjusting variable speeds........ =.=
 
If it is damaged do you feel confident to remove it?

It isn't good to leave it there as is, I had a damaged motherboard with similar part that blew when I connected a bad fan, I found the system was not stable and the voltages were off. I removed it and everything was normal again minus a bad fan connector.
 
I've been plugging and unplugging fans in the connector that I initially blew whatever I blew in and there seems to be no problem. Played Gears of War for 10 minutes before it crashed (game issue) and haven't noticed anything.. Really confused because there was definitely the smell of burning stuff and a nice spark and pop that came with the screw up. Yet I'm getting no indication what exactly has been affected other than not being able to read the rpm of the fan I blew it up with (other fans display rpm fine).

Add: Close up of the sparkly chip (In the Full Size 2 pic you can see the bubbly/crater of the pop..)
Full size 1
SANY0183_a3cec.Large.jpg

Full size 2
SANY0186_c29cd.Large.jpg
 
The chip is probably used for monitoring and controlling a PWM (4-wire) fan, hence the 4-pin SYS_FAN connector. Odds are if you connect a normal 3-pin DC fan it will work fine, but if you ever want to use a PWN fan you'll be shit outta luck now that you've popped that IC.
 
Thanks bob + blue. So nothing majorly major to worry over *crossfingersknockonwood*? Like some other short circuit or hidden whatnot <.< toasting the rest of the stuff?
 
So nothing majorly major to worry over *crossfingersknockonwood*?
Click to expand...

Well, if its working now...It'll probably work tomorrow. I think if you destroyed anything big you'd already know about it. I'd be looking for another board meself, but to each his own.
 
PS: Be carefull rubbing ur mobo on the carpet. It might cause some issues if its electrically charges.
 
Granted defects can manifest themselves in semiconductors, I would RMA the board. Lets just hope that was a faulty transistor and not anything due to sure currents or shorts. Happy to see nothing else was taken down with the faulty transistor.
 
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