i-Buddie 4 Desknote Review
- Thread starter Ian
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
A928 cable melting fix
Hi,
This problem you have has been found by many other people, and it is a design fault by ECS (although they won't recognise it).
You are in North America and can afford it, I would suggest you to send your unit to David in Canada (you'll find the person who's been fixing this problem for everyone in the PCreview thread).
If you are not (like me), and you have some skill on disassembling electronic things and doing proper hot-soldering, you can fix the problem yourself. Basically, the problem is that the female plug in the A928 was not really designed to put up with the high current going through it. With time, the plug starts to melt (particularly in hot days or when the ventilator vents become dirty), and run (by gravity) away from the pin. This increases resistance, which increases the generation of heat, leading to the eventual melting of the plug (or the pin coming out of the female plug). Replacing the power supply is not good, since the heat generated in the female plug will melt the new one very quickly.
The solution is to disassemble the unit (a LONG proccess, which includes taking out HD, memory, keyboard and LCD screen, and some 50 screws of different sizes - I recomend you to see the threads at PCreview for instructions on how to do that) and to resolder the plug. This is not ordinary soldering. You need first to remove all debris and oxidation from the pin (when you disassemble the unit you will see what I mean), and then use a good (min 80W, earthed) soldering iron to heat the metal exterior of the plug and put a lot of solder from the metal exterior (which is the conection from the third pin to the motherboard) to the third pin, at the same time avoinding producing a short with the other two pins (you should verify it first with a magnifying less, and then with a multimeter - the resistance between the bottom and the two top pins (which are conected to each other, by the way), should be above 40 ohms).
The whole procedure took me about 4 hours, but now my unit is running cool and I'm happy again with it.
One important thing: do NOT try to run the computer the way it is now. It will become each time worse, and eventually one of the ICs in the motherboard will be ruined, which will cost you much more money to fix.
I have also added another connection to the third pin (a parallel bypass) to one female plug (one of those banana jacks, capable of coping with over 6 Amperes) which I inserted just beside the power plug in the A928. I soldered an extra lead to the shielding of the cable that comes from the power supply to the desknote, and I can, now, connect the power supply to the computer using the regular lead AND the banana pin (so as to reduce the amount of power runing through the third pin). This plug is conected to the metal casing of the original one. But this is not really necessary, and it doesn't look as nice as the original one. Nevertheless, I decided to add it just to to be sure I won't be having this kind of heating problems again!
I hope this will help some of you living too far away or in countries with unreliable postal systems or complicated customs proceedures, but who are stuck with this A928 problem. I still find it amazing that ECS could get away with this design problem! I won't ever buy things from them again.
cheers,
Antonio
Hi,
This problem you have has been found by many other people, and it is a design fault by ECS (although they won't recognise it).
You are in North America and can afford it, I would suggest you to send your unit to David in Canada (you'll find the person who's been fixing this problem for everyone in the PCreview thread).
If you are not (like me), and you have some skill on disassembling electronic things and doing proper hot-soldering, you can fix the problem yourself. Basically, the problem is that the female plug in the A928 was not really designed to put up with the high current going through it. With time, the plug starts to melt (particularly in hot days or when the ventilator vents become dirty), and run (by gravity) away from the pin. This increases resistance, which increases the generation of heat, leading to the eventual melting of the plug (or the pin coming out of the female plug). Replacing the power supply is not good, since the heat generated in the female plug will melt the new one very quickly.
The solution is to disassemble the unit (a LONG proccess, which includes taking out HD, memory, keyboard and LCD screen, and some 50 screws of different sizes - I recomend you to see the threads at PCreview for instructions on how to do that) and to resolder the plug. This is not ordinary soldering. You need first to remove all debris and oxidation from the pin (when you disassemble the unit you will see what I mean), and then use a good (min 80W, earthed) soldering iron to heat the metal exterior of the plug and put a lot of solder from the metal exterior (which is the conection from the third pin to the motherboard) to the third pin, at the same time avoinding producing a short with the other two pins (you should verify it first with a magnifying less, and then with a multimeter - the resistance between the bottom and the two top pins (which are conected to each other, by the way), should be above 40 ohms).
The whole procedure took me about 4 hours, but now my unit is running cool and I'm happy again with it.
One important thing: do NOT try to run the computer the way it is now. It will become each time worse, and eventually one of the ICs in the motherboard will be ruined, which will cost you much more money to fix.
I have also added another connection to the third pin (a parallel bypass) to one female plug (one of those banana jacks, capable of coping with over 6 Amperes) which I inserted just beside the power plug in the A928. I soldered an extra lead to the shielding of the cable that comes from the power supply to the desknote, and I can, now, connect the power supply to the computer using the regular lead AND the banana pin (so as to reduce the amount of power runing through the third pin). This plug is conected to the metal casing of the original one. But this is not really necessary, and it doesn't look as nice as the original one. Nevertheless, I decided to add it just to to be sure I won't be having this kind of heating problems again!
I hope this will help some of you living too far away or in countries with unreliable postal systems or complicated customs proceedures, but who are stuck with this A928 problem. I still find it amazing that ECS could get away with this design problem! I won't ever buy things from them again.
cheers,
Antonio
Thank God for Google, PC Review and David Cai
Thank God for Google, PC Review and David Cai
Indeed. I was going to throw my laptop in the garbage. I haven't used it for 6 months (got another one). Then for fun I started to surf the web and found this site and more importantly David Cai from toronto. I only live an hour from Toronto and was pleasantly surprise.
He is very skillful and quite professionnal and did an amazing job on the Laptop. I now use my A928 as a server. I am quite happy.
Sylvain
Thank God for Google, PC Review and David Cai
Indeed. I was going to throw my laptop in the garbage. I haven't used it for 6 months (got another one). Then for fun I started to surf the web and found this site and more importantly David Cai from toronto. I only live an hour from Toronto and was pleasantly surprise.
He is very skillful and quite professionnal and did an amazing job on the Laptop. I now use my A928 as a server. I am quite happy.
Sylvain
A928 i-Buddie 4 Repairs by David Cai
I thought I was the only one with the power supply problem until I checked PCreview! Here I found David Cai's name and email address. In a matter of days, my laptop was sent, repaired, and returned. It's working great! Thanks David Cai, thanks PCreview!
I thought I was the only one with the power supply problem until I checked PCreview! Here I found David Cai's name and email address. In a matter of days, my laptop was sent, repaired, and returned. It's working great! Thanks David Cai, thanks PCreview!
Overheating iBuddie
Hi folks, my machine has worked almost flawlessly for 3 years. I have used all four USB ports on the hub with only minor problems early on. However, the DC connector to the machine just melted inside the socket, so I have a dead machine!! Hopefully I can find some kind of connector that works, but for now it is dead!! Shame it was a really good machine.
Hi folks, my machine has worked almost flawlessly for 3 years. I have used all four USB ports on the hub with only minor problems early on. However, the DC connector to the machine just melted inside the socket, so I have a dead machine!! Hopefully I can find some kind of connector that works, but for now it is dead!! Shame it was a really good machine.
ATTN! Not ALL problems with blank screen, fan spinning can be fixed by Dave Cai
I sent my computer to Toronto a little over two weeks ago, and once it got there, I found out that Dave has two other computers with the same problem in his shop: fan running when turned on, blank screen, no other response. Dave did some diagnostics and testing, and has not been able to find the solution to the problem. I have to get my computer back now, and send it to ECS in California. My laptop did NOT have a burnt plug. Another mystery problem with this lovely machine..
I sent my computer to Toronto a little over two weeks ago, and once it got there, I found out that Dave has two other computers with the same problem in his shop: fan running when turned on, blank screen, no other response. Dave did some diagnostics and testing, and has not been able to find the solution to the problem. I have to get my computer back now, and send it to ECS in California. My laptop did NOT have a burnt plug. Another mystery problem with this lovely machine..
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2005
- Messages
- 76
- Reaction score
- 0
Other gremlins
I sent my A-928 in "non-responsive" to David, not the burned plug problem (He had already fixed that back in '04) Symptoms like a bad switch, working fine, couldn't shut off with switch, used the Windows menu shut down would not re-start. Took a little time for David to figure this one out, seems to be working fine now. Been running this one almost daily since 2000 AD.
Piece of junk A-928: $1300 USD (back in '00)
Shipping to Canada and back: (twice) $100.00 USD
David Cai: Priceless
I sent my A-928 in "non-responsive" to David, not the burned plug problem (He had already fixed that back in '04) Symptoms like a bad switch, working fine, couldn't shut off with switch, used the Windows menu shut down would not re-start. Took a little time for David to figure this one out, seems to be working fine now. Been running this one almost daily since 2000 AD.
Piece of junk A-928: $1300 USD (back in '00)
Shipping to Canada and back: (twice) $100.00 USD
David Cai: Priceless
Parts wanted-CPU cooler and HDD Caddy
I recently got hold of a barebones A928 in perfect condition - so as to build it up for a Christmas gift for a friend. Unfortunately when I removed the covers for the CPU and hard drive there was no cooler and no hard drive mounting kit. Any ideas where I might lay my hands on some - used parts would be fine. I don't need the cooling fan just the metal heatpipe component.
Many thanks. My machine is badged I-Buddie
I recently got hold of a barebones A928 in perfect condition - so as to build it up for a Christmas gift for a friend. Unfortunately when I removed the covers for the CPU and hard drive there was no cooler and no hard drive mounting kit. Any ideas where I might lay my hands on some - used parts would be fine. I don't need the cooling fan just the metal heatpipe component.
Many thanks. My machine is badged I-Buddie
Computer Parts
You may wish to check the mentioned wesite for parts for you I-Buddie 4 A928.
http://www.sambyte.com/eSale/eSale_item.cfm?modID=106&catID=111
Sammo said:
You may wish to check the mentioned wesite for parts for you I-Buddie 4 A928.
http://www.sambyte.com/eSale/eSale_item.cfm?modID=106&catID=111
fastest CPU for the 929
I use on my A 929 a throughbread XP 2600+ (real clock about 2100MHz) with FSB 266.
I use on my A 929 a throughbread XP 2600+ (real clock about 2100MHz) with FSB 266.
[email protected] said:
I bought an A929 for my wife during a trip in the US about 3 years ago and so far it worked without any glitch.
However lately the power supply started grizling and the computer would run very slowly at time (I got a Athlon XP 2100+ and 1go RAM). Not sure if both were related but i would not be surprise.
Now this morning my wife told me that the power supply just would not turn on anymore. Is this related to the power cord problems you all seems to talk about ?
In any case, does anyone know where I can get spare parts for the A929 in Europe or Switzerland ?
I have another problem which occured also not long ago where when playing 3d games such as zoo tycoon 2 or civilization 4, the tiles texture are simply black. Rest display fine, menus are there and other sprites (if they are still called like this!!), but all the tiles textures are just rendered black. I tried to get the latest driver for the Sis chipset to no avail..so if anyone know where to get drivers that work ? I do have the feeling though that the trouble might be with the latest directx as this did not occur before.
thanks
However lately the power supply started grizling and the computer would run very slowly at time (I got a Athlon XP 2100+ and 1go RAM). Not sure if both were related but i would not be surprise.
Now this morning my wife told me that the power supply just would not turn on anymore. Is this related to the power cord problems you all seems to talk about ?
In any case, does anyone know where I can get spare parts for the A929 in Europe or Switzerland ?
I have another problem which occured also not long ago where when playing 3d games such as zoo tycoon 2 or civilization 4, the tiles texture are simply black. Rest display fine, menus are there and other sprites (if they are still called like this!!), but all the tiles textures are just rendered black. I tried to get the latest driver for the Sis chipset to no avail..so if anyone know where to get drivers that work ? I do have the feeling though that the trouble might be with the latest directx as this did not occur before.
thanks
A928 hard drive upgrade
Hi there,
I've got an A928 with a 20gig hard drive but would like to upgrade to at least 80gig. Is this possible? How big a hard drive can it take?
P.S. It had the melting plug problem, was fixed by David Cai 9 months ago, and still works great.
Hi there,
I've got an A928 with a 20gig hard drive but would like to upgrade to at least 80gig. Is this possible? How big a hard drive can it take?
P.S. It had the melting plug problem, was fixed by David Cai 9 months ago, and still works great.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2005
- Messages
- 76
- Reaction score
- 0
hd size
Not sure what the max is for 2-1/2" drives, Ebay has 80gb's for a little over $100.00, and 120gb's for around $400. 40's and 60's real cheep.
Not sure what the max is for 2-1/2" drives, Ebay has 80gb's for a little over $100.00, and 120gb's for around $400. 40's and 60's real cheep.
Desknote A928. Lost harddrive connector. Please help
Hi there,
I bought in TigerDirect the new hard drive and returned it.
But, by mistake I sent them also the connector that shoud connect a hard drive to the main board.
They told me that it is impossible to find that connector.
Where can I obtain the new one ????
Please help,
Thanks a lot,
Michael
Hi there,
I bought in TigerDirect the new hard drive and returned it.
But, by mistake I sent them also the connector that shoud connect a hard drive to the main board.
They told me that it is impossible to find that connector.
Where can I obtain the new one ????
Please help,
Thanks a lot,
Michael
meeoow said:
I put the new hard drive of 100 gig 7200 rpm. And that was a mistake. The laptop started overheating and power plug melt. I fixed it by soldering. But the overheating still occurs and it's probaly not good for proccesor, because every 10 min. there is shutdown.
So, my recommendation NOT to put fast (7200 rpm) hard drive to this laptop. 5400 rpm should be great.
external hdd
I've been using an external USB 2.0 box for additional hard drive for years. I like to be able to transfer movies, music, files, etc. between the RV 928 and home desktop without dragging it around. The external seems to do the trick, of course it runs at 7200rpm, not exactly sure if you could boot it, haven't needed to. I had a real problem upgrading bios originally without floppy, at that time (Mar./03), couldn't find anyone that knew anything about them but managed with bios on a cdr. Think it's time for new bios!
Cheers
Zhenya
meeoow said:
I've been using an external USB 2.0 box for additional hard drive for years. I like to be able to transfer movies, music, files, etc. between the RV 928 and home desktop without dragging it around. The external seems to do the trick, of course it runs at 7200rpm, not exactly sure if you could boot it, haven't needed to. I had a real problem upgrading bios originally without floppy, at that time (Mar./03), couldn't find anyone that knew anything about them but managed with bios on a cdr. Think it's time for new bios!
Cheers
Zhenya
I recently bought a 2nd hand ecs a928 and here's a few things that I've noticed about overheating.
The power supply runs hot when the cpu and dvd/cdrom are working hard but my Apple G4 ibook power supply runs just about as hot when it's working hard.
When the bottom of the desknote is covered (I had mine on a bed) the heat inside the desknote goes up a lot (maybe 4 times as much) and it also increases the power supply heat.
The dvd I was playing was so hot I could hardly hold it when I ejected it. and the power supply was hotter than usual.
When I played the dvd with the bottom of the desknote uncovered (on a desk) the heat was ok and comparable to my Apple G4 ibook.
I think this could cause a lot of problems.
The Desknote is not a laptop it generates more heat than a laptop,
It needs the bottom vents uncovered to dispose of heat otherwise it gets trapped inside the computer and probably puts a strain on the power supply.
The ground pin overheating could be detected before it eventually fuses itself into the power supply socket and gets pulled out when unplugging the cable by checking how hot the ground pin is after you shut down.
Having the bottom of the desknote covered could be one of the reasons for the ground pin problem.
My ecs a928 was made in July 2003 and doesn't have any problems.
I've tested my ground pin and it's always cool.
btw I had to install the latest bios to get the pctel modem working.
The bios it was shipped with didn't enable the pctel modem which is a bit strange.
The power supply runs hot when the cpu and dvd/cdrom are working hard but my Apple G4 ibook power supply runs just about as hot when it's working hard.
When the bottom of the desknote is covered (I had mine on a bed) the heat inside the desknote goes up a lot (maybe 4 times as much) and it also increases the power supply heat.
The dvd I was playing was so hot I could hardly hold it when I ejected it. and the power supply was hotter than usual.
When I played the dvd with the bottom of the desknote uncovered (on a desk) the heat was ok and comparable to my Apple G4 ibook.
I think this could cause a lot of problems.
The Desknote is not a laptop it generates more heat than a laptop,
It needs the bottom vents uncovered to dispose of heat otherwise it gets trapped inside the computer and probably puts a strain on the power supply.
The ground pin overheating could be detected before it eventually fuses itself into the power supply socket and gets pulled out when unplugging the cable by checking how hot the ground pin is after you shut down.
Having the bottom of the desknote covered could be one of the reasons for the ground pin problem.
My ecs a928 was made in July 2003 and doesn't have any problems.
I've tested my ground pin and it's always cool.
btw I had to install the latest bios to get the pctel modem working.
The bios it was shipped with didn't enable the pctel modem which is a bit strange.
Another A928 satisfied (so far) customer
I googled "motherboard A928 I-Buddie4" to find this forum.
I have read a lot of the thread and am thankful that I have not had this problem yet, but I assume I will. When this happens, I am grateful to all who have gone before for paving the way to repair even if it is only temporary. I like the engineering that Menechem's friend did, but cannot fully understand how it works. I have had my A928 since Dec 2002 and no meltdowns have occured. I have read with interest the attempts to put a 7200 Rpm drive into this beast, and me thinks that maybe I won't. Anyone have good luck with an 80/100GB 5400 Rpm? I just upgraded to 1Gig of RAM the other day, and cannot see much of a performance increase. I do want more storage tho, and if nobody had really good luck without excess heat on the faster drives, then I will USB an external one. I love that I found this forum just when I needed it. I will not, however attempt to convince others to purchase this computer or indeed anything from ECS, even though I have not as yet had problems.
I googled "motherboard A928 I-Buddie4" to find this forum.
I have read a lot of the thread and am thankful that I have not had this problem yet, but I assume I will. When this happens, I am grateful to all who have gone before for paving the way to repair even if it is only temporary. I like the engineering that Menechem's friend did, but cannot fully understand how it works. I have had my A928 since Dec 2002 and no meltdowns have occured. I have read with interest the attempts to put a 7200 Rpm drive into this beast, and me thinks that maybe I won't. Anyone have good luck with an 80/100GB 5400 Rpm? I just upgraded to 1Gig of RAM the other day, and cannot see much of a performance increase. I do want more storage tho, and if nobody had really good luck without excess heat on the faster drives, then I will USB an external one. I love that I found this forum just when I needed it. I will not, however attempt to convince others to purchase this computer or indeed anything from ECS, even though I have not as yet had problems.
Last edited: