Is it possible to fix failed NIC chips?

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Glorfindel_1

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Jul 24, 2015
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I have a HP Pavilion a830n that no longer connects to the internet via the integrated ethernet port.
After searching for a while, I have a very strong suspicion that the NIC chip has failed. (I have determined this to be the cause as Windows 10, Lubuntu, Puppy Linux, and live boot distros all are unable to find the ethernet port. It is enabled in the BIOS.)

So now I would like to know, is there any way to fix it? I am reasonably comfortable with a soldering iron and would like to get it working again rather than getting a card.

System specs:
Pentium 4 w/ HT @3.20GHZ
1 GB ram
ASUS PTGD1-LA Motherboard

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
kanewolf
No. If you need wired network, buy a network card. You will need to find a PCI, not PCI-e card. You may be able to find a used one on E-Bay.
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Solandri

Solandri

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Jan 4, 2012
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As kanewolf said, it's a desktop. Just buy an ethernet card for it. The old Intel ones were pretty robust. However...


Have you considered just getting a new computer? The old Pentium 4 systems were notoriously power-hungry, often burning 100-150 Watts at idle. Depending on your electricity prices and how much you're using the computer, it could be costing you more than an extra $100/yr in electricity alone. If you pay the U.S. average of 11.5 cents/kWh, and you leave a device on 24/7, the cost of the electricity it burns in a year almost exactly equals its wattage.

For example, if your computer is always on and burns 125 Watts idle, it will use about $125 in electricity in a year. A new computer burning about 25 Watts idle will use about $25 in electricity, and thus will save you $100/yr. In a few years of running your old computer, you will have wasted more money paying for extra electricity than it would've cost to buy a newer more power-efficient computer. Especially if you live in a place like California or Hawaii where the electricity is considerably more expensive than 12 cents/kWh.
 
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Glorfindel_1

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Jul 24, 2015
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I am using the same cable right now on a different pc. So yeah, pretty sure ;)

I'm thinking maybe swapping it with one from a different motherboard that has bad capacitors. Is it likely to work do you think?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Will it work? Completely unknown.
Is it the chip, is it the traces leading to that chip, is the actual LAN circuitry inside the RJ-45 pod, or is it a whole other surface mount chip? Unknown.
 
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Glorfindel_1

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Jul 24, 2015
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@Solandri: I am planning on getting a new pc sometime, but I would like to get my stuff off this one first and until then I want internet.
I also would like to fix it before trying to sell it.
 
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McHenryB

McHenryB

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Jan 31, 2015
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TF-3239DL-Network-Interface-Card/dp/B000KHRBK0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1437775411&sr=8-8&keywords=pci+network+card

£4.99 (less than $10) for a new NIC or take a chance at ruining your computer. It's a no-brainer.

You'd have to be a lot more than "reasonably comfortable with a soldering iron" to remove a surface mount chip from one motherboard and successfully transfer it to a new one. I doubt that even an expert solderer would find that an easy task. These things are done with machines in the real world.
 
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sora

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Oct 30, 2013
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I imagine it would be quite hard to sell a laptop that old.
 
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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Given how inexpensive the cards are, there's really no good reason to be tinkering in this way unless you're a hobbyist with extremely impressive technical skills and want to try on a lark. For an actual goal, like getting the PC working again, getting the card is the only good option. Realistically, it won't change the resale value of your PC, which is basically limited to a few bucks here and there to people looking for very old working parts.
 
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