Can this board be saved?
Posted by Hungry_Charge2857@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 16 comments
I acquired a Diamond Monster 3D II and I see that some of the chips have corrosion on the pins. I already rubbed 91% isopropyl alcohol on the board to clean off all the dust. Something else I should try or do I just scrub harder? Can this board even be saved or is it time to take it to the e-recycler?
TxM_2404@reddit
Probably a card for parts only. Looks like there was a barrel battery involved. Maybe its a case for the youtuber Bits und Bolts.
vincentplr@reddit
I was thinking of necroware, with his many revivals of battery-bombed 286, 386 and 486 motherboards. I do not remember seeing him tackle anything so corroded though.
TxM_2404@reddit
I thought about BuB because he has repaired a lot of Voodoo IIs and could possibly replace the chip.
Hungry_Charge2857@reddit (OP)
I guess I could sell it cheap on Marketplace for parts only. Maybe it could help someone else save their card. I'm no good with soldering.
vincentplr@reddit
If it was battery-bombed, you may try putting a bit of acid (white vinegar) on the crud. If it bubbles, there is base from the battery left around, and you can try adding more to stop the corrosion and clean what's already gone. This should give you a better view of the situation (broken ic pins, ...). But then you need to wash the acid off before it causes it's own share of corrosion.
fluffygryphon@reddit
I've repaired worse. It's bad, but it could still be salvageable under the corrosion.
Psy1@reddit
It looks like the battery acid has already eaten traces, maybe even the components too.
bjbNYC@reddit
Looks like some surface mount components fell off.
homerotl@reddit
F
50-50-bmg@reddit
Unless the result is worth $1000+, or you really enjoy a repair challenge, I'd salvage usable spare parts then recycle it.
Sentrinal@reddit
Anything can be fixed provided enough time, knowledge, and patience! That one looks like it would be a lot of all three though.
50-50-bmg@reddit
This would probably involve grinding off part of the qfp encapsulation, and literally handwiring it.
rpocc@reddit
Too hard and too long if even possible. I have restored many cards and motherboards, but this looks like at maximum, source for chips which were least corroded, and the backplane.
jihiggs123@reddit
extremely unlikely it ca be fixed.
Hungry_Charge2857@reddit (OP)
I was afraid of that. Well hopefully the other stuff it came with is all in working condition.
hrf3420@reddit
Damn. Corrosion on the QFP might be the nail in the coffin. New ram and pcb is no problem but that…