Tiny scratch on back of motherboard PCB.

[Sly Fox]

I just got a DFI LP LT X48 board in today and I was examining it for any problems and I saw that on the back of the PCB, right next to where one of the NB pin slots is, there is a tiny little "scratch." It's roughly on one of the little lines that are running all over the back of the PCB. It looks very light though, like a screwdriver just slightly jabbed it or something.

Could this cause any problems? I don't really know what all those... Things running all over every which way on the back of the PCB are, but I assume that motherboards aren't THAT delicate.

Thanks, I'm just rather paranoid, I don't want to put this all together only to find out the motherboard is going to have issues. Rather just RMA it right now and get it over with.

[s1nykuL]

Can u post a close up image of this please, then we would have a better idea of what we are dealing with. I presume all the tracks on back of mobo are covered with lacquer. If there is no copper showing then it should be OK. A photo would help to confirm.

[Polizei]

I've hastily screwed in motherboards and the screw driver has slipped before. I've pretty much stabbed it a couple times with the screw driver slipping off... even around all the stuff near the PCI slots. Everything still works fine.

As s1nykuL said, see if you can get a picture of the damage to see if it will affect the board's performance.

[Sly Fox]

I tried (even in the sunlight) to get a good pic, but with my phone... The camera just isn't good enough.

I looked at the scratch very closely though, and I can't notice any copper. The scratch appears white, no noticeable bronze/copper color.

**Edit**

I found the charger for my father's DSLR.

I'll take a nice pic with that in a few minutes.

[Polizei]

Sounds good. Eagerly waiting.

[SoulsCollective]

Even if it doesn't affect performance, I'd send it back ASAP to wherever you got it from. DFI has a nasty track record of trying on BS reasons for returning RMAs, and a scratch on the PCB would be just perfect for them to use to dodge responsibility should your board go bad in future.

[Sly Fox]

Even if it doesn't affect performance, I'd send it back ASAP to wherever you got it from. DFI has a nasty track record of trying on BS reasons for returning RMAs, and a scratch on the PCB would be just perfect for them to use to dodge responsibility should your board go bad in future.

True. I don't know if MotherBoardPro will take the board back for replacement if it works though. I'm a very paranoid guy, so when I see a tiny little scratch like that, I freak out. They may just tell me the board works, we won't take it back though, or am I mistaken?

Pics coming in a few, just letting the battery get a halfway decent charge.

[Sly Fox]

Alright, got the pics.

First, the specific scratch in question, close up. That "white thing" next to the circles is the NB cooler pin.



Next is a pic of the entire back.



Lastly, a pic of the top. Dunno, just playing with the camera.

[3lfk1ng]

I had a large scratch that crossed over a few traces on my old Asus A7N8X.

They were right next to the processor from trying to use a flat-head screwdriver to install the HSF. It still overclocked to from 1.83 to 2.4ghz just fine.

I honestly cannot say that it would be safe in every case, but I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Polizei]

That's a black PCB with a brownish laquer on it. The scratch is white, so I'm thinking it just knicked the laquer and not the PCB. Give it a try.

[Sly Fox]

I talked to a DFI technician and he told me that the scratch would be clearly copper colored if it were actually damaged. He agreed with Polizei that as the scratch looks white, it appears to be the lacquer that's scratched, not what's beneath it.

I'm still rather nervous... I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my gut. However, rationally, I'm sure it's not a problem.

[3lfk1ng]

Fire it up!

[Knight]

I talked to a DFI technician and he told me that the scratch would be clearly copper colored if it were actually damaged. He agreed with Polizei that as the scratch looks white, it appears to be the lacquer that's scratched, not what's beneath it.

I'm still rather nervous... I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my gut. However, rationally, I'm sure it's not a problem.

The board is fine. You can e-slap me if it doesn't boot up.

[cadaveca]

Looks like someone use a pair of pliers to remove heatsink, and slipped a bit. I 100% agree with the "no copper" side, slap a small piece of tape over the scrath, if truly concerned, fire it up, and make sure it works.

But really, if you don't like it, return it and get it replaced with another. This time get an un-opened box

[Sly Fox]

I can rest easy tonight knowing that my board likely isn't messed up, so thanks a lot guys.

I'll update this thread with results on Thursday when I get the rest of my parts, in case anyones curious.

Regards, kyle.

[Wompa164]

Yeah, your board should be fine. It would only be a problem if the copper traces were showing, and even then only if it scratched or damaged the trace badly enough to inhibit conduction