Looking for someone/some business to repair a motherboard

[job]

Apologies if this is not appropriate for the board but i'm kinda stuck so i turned here in hope.

I'm looking to have my laptop's motherboard repaired. I've written to a bunch of places that i found online and they either don't perform repairs on this model or they simply replace rather than fix, which isn't worth it (maybe i just fail at searching appropriately...).

Does anyone do this? Or know anyone/any business that does? I don't know exactly what's wrong with it, i've just been told that the motherboard is broken, so it will need to be diagnosed also.

Cheers.

[Agharta]

I'd get this moved to the Windows or Apple forum maybe!

Repairing laptop motherboards is difficult work and usually expensive and parts can be hard to come by so often not financially viable.
Have you tried the manufacturer? Probably a very expensive option though.
What is the make, model and age?
Laptop motherboards tend to be hard to get hold of and pricey if you decide to replace it and they can takes ages to swap out which adds to the cost.
So unless the laptop has particular value to you be it financial or otherwise it might be more advisable to sell it for spares.

[CS70]

a bunch of places that i found online and they either don't perform repairs on this model or they simply replace rather than fix, which isn't worth it

They usually do because replacing is often less expensive than attempting a fix.

Something you can try yourself is to open the machine and spray some cleaner gas on the motherboard to clean up dust and anything which may create shorts. Maks sure the air flow intakes are clean. Check if the fans move at all.

If the laptop just appears to start and then stops, take away the battery, detach the power cord and push the "on" button for a few secs - this will discharge the capacitors, then re-plug and try again.

If none of that helps, there's a gazillion things that can go wrong, alas - you're likely better of with a new pc.

[job]

Yeah, i understand it's often cheaper to replace than repair which is why it's often done but the thing is is that both the cpu and gpu are soldered to the board so i have to buy all 3 components rather than just the board.

I was hoping for an upper limit of about 400 quid to repair, but it's 1100 just for the part, so include the service and postage and i think i'm looking at around 1300, which makes me a sad panda. I was actually hoping that maybe the cpu and gpu could be desoldered allowing me to just buy the board, then put them back on. But the manufacturer is having none of that, whether it can't be done or they just don't do it i couldn't say.

I'm tempted to ask that guy on youtube (forget his name), even though he's US, but you never know.

[CS70]

Yeah, i understand it's often cheaper to replace than repair which is why it's often done but the thing is is that both the cpu and gpu are soldered to the board so i have to buy all 3 components rather than just the board.

I was hoping for an upper limit of about 400 quid to repair, but it's 1100 just for the part, so include the service and postage and i think i'm looking at around 1300, which makes me a sad panda. I was actually hoping that maybe the cpu and gpu could be desoldered allowing me to just buy the board, then put them back on. But the manufacturer is having none of that, whether it can't be done or they just don't do it i couldn't say.

I'm tempted to ask that guy on youtube (forget his name), even though he's US, but you never know.

Insofar I know, if it's a ball grid array,it's doable but requires some serious skills, especially if you don't have the appropriate gear. It's normally done by computer-controlled machines.

[Folderol]

It is virtually impossible to remove a soldered CPU without seriously damaging it. Besides, how do you know it's the motherboard that's faulty, and not the CPU itself?

[Agharta]

What is the presenting problem and how reliable is the diagnosis you received?
I'd consider getting it diagnosed by the manufacturer if that isn't too expensive although they may just do a basic test and then suggest swapping out the motherboard.
From much experience with Dell they do swap out the mainboards a lot but I've also had them swap out the ancillary boards which can house the power connector, USB ports etc.

Knowing the make and model might be helpful.

Yeah, i understand it's often cheaper to replace than repair which is why it's often done but the thing is is that both the cpu and gpu are soldered to the board so i have to buy all 3 components rather than just the board.

I was hoping for an upper limit of about 400 quid to repair, but it's 1100 just for the part, so include the service and postage and i think i'm looking at around 1300, which makes me a sad panda. I was actually hoping that maybe the cpu and gpu could be desoldered allowing me to just buy the board, then put them back on. But the manufacturer is having none of that, whether it can't be done or they just don't do it i couldn't say.

This is the reason I highly recommend an extend warranty on expensive laptops.
It's worse now as you have found out due to all the major components being potentially soldered on.

[jamedia.uk]

Insofar I know, if it's a ball grid array,it's doable but requires some serious skills, especially if you don't have the appropriate gear. It's normally done by computer-controlled machines.

BGA's are NOT replaceable without some serious and very expensive equipment. It may not be replaceable in any case without first removing a whole load of other components that would not survive the machine to remove the BGA CPU & GPU. To heat the pads on a BGA will stress the PCB and require enough heat to melt a the joints on all the smaller components. Re-wroking BGA's is notoriously difficult.

Most other components will be SMT and these are normally fitted by a pick and place machine. Very difficult to do by hand. In any case the components come in reels of x 100's you don't buy them individually. Few places are going to have all the reels of SMT parts in stock. Never mind the very expensive tools to fit them. This is without the cost of time and equipment to find the actual fault in the first place. No point in just replacing a dead part of the new one is going to get killed.

Practically speaking, most of the time, it costs a lot less to replace a laptop mother board than fix it. You might be very lucky and the failure is a single easy to replace part whose failure has not caused any other damage but without (expensive) faultfinding and testing, probably costing as much as a new Mother board you won't know.

Even so replacing the part may cause [heat] damage removing or fitting the now part(s) . These PCB's are designed to go thorough flow solder or reflow systems not hand soldering and the tracks are very time.

For laptops it is basically "replace" for motherboards. Desktop PC's are some times easier but even so they tend to cost less anyway brining the "replace" bar a lot lower.

That's modern electronics for you.

[job]

Oh, it's all bad news!

It was the manufacturer that tested it and said the board needs replacing. Their exact words were that the mainboard is broken and needs to be replaced.

It's an XMG p505. The release date on the cpu is Q1, '15, and i bought it as soon as it came out so i guess it's just over 2 years old.

I'm guessing to the bin it will go. So annoying!

[Agharta]

It seems to be a Clevo based laptop so you might be able to get a motherboard from Clevo!
This review gives a bit of detail about Clevo so if you can find out exactly which base model is being used that would help you see if they can help.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Schenker- ... 393.0.html

What is the presenting problem?

Failing that try selling it for spares on eBay maybe!

[job]

Clevo! I never actually thought about that. The board is Foxconn i know that much. I will give it a go!

[Hugh Robjohns]

Getting the motherboard repaired is going to be a huge challenge just to find someone capable of doing it, and if you cross that hurdle its going to be a very expensive job -- I wouldnt be at all surprised if it would cost as much as buying a brand new machine. And since it's two years old anyway can a repair really be justified? I wouldn't have thought so. I'd bin it and buy new... I've always considered laptops to become obsolete after a few years, partly because the technology marches on, but also because upgrades are usually impossible, the batteries lose capacity and repairs are prohibitive.

H

[Macguy]

It's perfectly possible to make component level repairs to modern motherboards and there is a thriving market for this service. I suggest you start with Louis Rossmann's videos on YouTube (I think an earlier poster indirectly referenced the series), link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSmFC3lu4KY

Reballing chips is not for the faint hearted but there are plenty of people making good money from it. This main constraint is schematic diagram availability.

Louis's videos are actually more tutorial videos; he's not afraid to discuss exactly what he's doing, how and the specific tools he's using.

Maybe ask Louis about your board, he may have a UK contact.

BR
MacGuy

[CS70]

Insofar I know, if it's a ball grid array,it's doable but requires some serious skills, especially if you don't have the appropriate gear. It's normally done by computer-controlled machines.

BGA's are NOT replaceable without some serious and very expensive equipment.

Never say never: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=desoldering+bga

Not something I'd attempt myself for sure tough.

[jamedia.uk]

Insofar I know, if it's a ball grid array,it's doable but requires some serious skills, especially if you don't have the appropriate gear. It's normally done by computer-controlled machines.

BGA's are NOT replaceable without some serious and very expensive equipment.

Never say never: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=desoldering+bga

Not something I'd attempt myself for sure tough.

Ok so apart from all the expensive equipment and a hell of a lot of skill required it is still not always successful. Dry joints on BGA's and thermal shock to other components and lifted tracks are a problem. The success rate on replacing BGS's is not high.

Usually it is cheaper to replace the PCB. Also the repairs are not likely to toast as long as a new PCB. (thermal shock, dry jots, weakened tracks etc

[CS70]

Ok so apart from all the expensive equipment and a hell of a lot of skill required it is still not always successful. Dry joints on BGA's and thermal shock to other components and lifted tracks are a problem. The success rate on replacing BGS's is not high.

Usually it is cheaper to replace the PCB. Also the repairs are not likely to toast as long as a new PCB. (thermal shock, dry jots, weakened tracks etc

Yes, pretty much what I'd said.