Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
news:nospam-1004050415030001@192.168.1.178...
> In article <a826e.3270$%c1.270@fed1read05>, "Roadhair"
> <roadhair@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Not what I wanted to hear. I added new FrontX USB connectors, 2 front &
2
> > rear to the motherboard headers. They use seperate 5-pin connectors for
> > each port but the header is only 9-pin and I don't think the 9th pin is
even
> > connected to ground. The manual lists it as "NC". So far I haven't had
any
> > problem hot plugging thumb drives but the scanner is powered and that
may
> > have been the culprit. Such an ingenious design to have a feature you
can't
> > use. Would this work if I pull the shield grounds from the MB
connectors
> > and ground them directly to the chassis?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > RH
>
> One FrontX part is the "Dual USB Type A Internal"
>
>
http://www.frontx.com/cpx108_2.html
>
> The pinout is:
>
> VCC X X VCC
> D- X X D-
> D+ X X D+
> GND X X GND
> X S-GND
>
> When that mates to the Asus header, the Asus "NC" no-connector
> is connected to the S-GND shield ground. That means the plastic
> FrontX assembly has no DC path to ground, and the shield metal
> on the FrontX metal shield is floating. It is waiting to be
> zapped by static electricity, killing the Southbridge. At
> least, that is what I'm assuming has happened here.
>
> I'm surprised that the reset button worked, after the
> computer froze. And that the Southbridge was usable for a few
> moments, to allow the flash BIOS chip to be read via LPC.
> Have a look at the Southbridge and see if there is any
> sign of heat damage. Latchup does not have to produce a visible
> result, to destroy a part, but other posters have been observing
> the "meltdown" flavor of latchup.
>
> Once you get the motherboard repaired under warranty (RMA), if
> you want to connect the FrontX connector again, connect
> the S-GND to a ground somewhere. Since you plan on using the
> two 2x5 USB headers, that means there aren't any spare ground
> pins around. Perhaps you can get a crimpable lug from the hardware
> store, some wire, and fasten the lug to a PCI faceplate screw.
> The other end of the wire has to go to the S-GND on each
> FrontX assembly. If you buy 1/4 watt or 1/8 watt resistors at
> Radio Shack, the ends of one of them might fit into the opening
> on the FrontX wire. (The FrontX wire will have to be released
> from its housing to do this.) Or, you could just cut the end off
> the FrontX assembly and splice the end of the wire to your
> home made ground connection.
>
> The third prong on a North American ATX power supply, provides a
> safety ground to the computer. For it to function properly, your
> wall outlet should have a matching safety ground. Safety ground
> should be connected to the chassis of the power supply, and when
> the power supply makes contact with the computer case, the metal
> chassis of the computer should be grounded too. Running a wire
> to the chassis, as a means of finding a safety ground, will work
> as long as you verify that there is ground continuity back to the
> ground on the wall socket. If won't help to set up a gimmick ground
> like this, if the chassis or PSU metal are in fact floating. At
> least one European poster to this group got a shock from his
> computer, and safety ground was the missing item.
>
> Really, once you have suffered a "latchup meltdown", you should be
> shopping for a cheap USB2 PCI card, and making the connections
> to that instead. You could still destroy the PCI card with static
> electricity, but it will be easier to replace that card, than
> to RMA the motherboard again. One would hope the PCI USB2 card
> is a bit more robust than the Intel Southbridge.
>
> There are a lot of ALI chipset USB cards on Newegg, and this
> one is pretty cheap - cheap enough to chuck if it doesn't work
> well -
>
>
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=15-201-206&DEPA=0
>
> If Asus is reading this, it is time to change that "NC" pin
> into a "GND" on the 2x5 USB header. Or, another option, would be
> to solder some single GND stake pins to the motherboard, for
> grounding things. The single stake pins could be kept close to
> the header, but far enough away that a 2x5 assembly will not
> bump into them. Some spare grounds are occasionally needed for
> front panel audio, so some GND stake pins near FP_AUDIO would
> help too.
>
> Paul
I see no physical damage to the southbridge nor does it smell cooked at all.
I was also surprised that it rebooted long enough to post an error message
especially one claiming the system was over-clocked. It was not. I'm just
pissed I went to all the trouble installing the front USB connectors in a
case that had no original provision for it. I also installed a firewire
port as well but I hadn't used it yet. Naturally I'm also pissed that my PC
is dead and I'm making due with my old P3 550 running win98. Well, I guess
I got some time to figure it all out while I wait for a replacement.
Speaking of which, anyone have some tips on the fastest way to request an
RMA. I already submitted a help/RMA request to the ASUS online tech
support. And can an end user do an advance RMA?
Again, thanks for all the support
RH
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram