Can anyone tell me what the highlighted component is please? The little black thing soldered with 2 legs to the motherboard.
Voltage regulator. Couldn't tell you *what* voltage regulator without a look at the markings on it, mind.
Thanks, it doesn't have anything to do with the memory does it? The markings are obscured by a puddle of melted stuff so I'll try to find a good image. This mobo won't recognise a memory channel and despite looking closely before this is the first time I've spotted it.
Without seeing a schematic for the board, I have absolutely no idea. It's near the memory slots, so it's possible - although it's also near the power connector, so it's also possible that it's nothing to do with the memory at all. Well, that doesn't sound promising. I'd say it's the source of your problems for sure - melted bits are never a good sign!
I'm deciding whether to try and solder another one in although it might be easier to try and find another mobo.
It could be one of several device types, including the voltage regulator as suggested. It could also be a MOSFET which you might find near a fan connector to PWM speed control the fan? Its actually got three pins, the two soldered ones which you see. The middle stubby one is a pin and is usually connected to a metal block at the rear of the plastic case as well as the small tab at the very top of the device. The metal block at the back of the package serves a dual role as a small heatsink and is soldered to the PCB.
One of the fan connectors near to it is a 4 pin one but I think it's voltage controlled rather than PWM. Both of the connectors near to the regulator work so maybe it just overheated badly.
I don't know why, but I thought this was going to be similar to the 'Guess the Film' thread in General... :/
