Hardware 5 points short to ground, need help identifying issue.

[ArseBadger]

I've got a free motherboard and it seems as there are 5 points shorted to ground. I can't seem to get the reason on why it's shorted but it looks like it has been tinkered with. Here are the photos of the front motherboard and close up of the issue.

 

[jkyoho]

if you are measuring about 15~50 ohm to ground, those are not short but low impedance since those voltage lines go into CPU

 

[ArseBadger]

if you are measuring about 15~50 ohm to ground, those are not short but low impedance since those voltage lines go into CPU

And what does that mean? The board isn't booting from what I tested

 

[ArseBadger]

I've got a free motherboard and it seems as there are 5 points shorted to ground. I can't seem to get the reason on why it's shorted but it looks like it has been tinkered with. Here are the photos of the front motherboard and close up of the issue.

*Update* : have found more "short to ground" components, would like some help on where the origin of the issue might be. Here are the pictures that I took and have circled in blue the shorted components-

 

[linuxares]

Are all those short to ground? If so it's probably the APU that is shot

 

[ArseBadger]

Are all those short to ground? If so it's probably the APU that is shot

Thats sucks, I guess it'll be a donor board. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[linuxares]

I think it was "JoeyDoesTech" that had a Switch that had a lot of faults under the APU and it often means its either the APU itself or the solder balls under it being wonky.

 

[ArseBadger]

I think it was "JoeyDoesTech" that had a Switch that had a lot of faults under the APU and it often means its either the APU itself or the solder balls under it being wonky.

So there's a possibility that the solder balls under the APU are either cracked or bridged? Would that be a possible problem other then dead APU?

 

[linuxares]

So there's a possibility that the solder balls under the APU are either cracked or bridged? Would that be a possible problem other then dead APU?

I honestly think it's a higher chance for bad balls than a broken APU. The APU is pretty solid. @jkyoho have you've done a reball of the APU?

 

[ArseBadger]

I honestly think it's a higher chance for bad balls than a broken APU. The APU is pretty solid. @jkyoho have you've done a reball of the APU?

Alright, one more thing. I see some sort of scratches on the side of the APU. Would that cause an issue? I have circled it in blue here -

 

[linuxares]

I don't think so. I can't say for sure since I'm not good with the hardware itself. It's just I remembered the issue from the youtube video and all the shorts you had.

 

[ArseBadger]

I don't think so. I can't say for sure since I'm not good with the hardware itself. It's just I remembered the issue from the youtube video and all the shorts you had

Fair enough, I appreciate your help! Could you link the video perhaps?

 

[linuxares]

Fair enough, I appreciate your help! Could you link the video perhaps?

I don't remember which one it is. He have loads of them on Switches.

 

[ArseBadger]

I don't remember which one it is. He have loads of them on Switches.

Okay, will go searching for it! Thanks for giving a little hope

 

[linuxares]

Okay, will go searching for it! Thanks for giving a little hope

Ask else on the Discord - https://discord.gg/Ws8G6qWw

 

[jkyoho]

I honestly think it's a higher chance for bad balls than a broken APU. The APU is pretty solid. @jkyoho have you've done a reball of the APU?

I did but APU reball wont fix anything if people cant even tell real short or low impendence from circuit design.

The backside blue circled area are connected to the front MAX77812 yellow circled area.(frankly yes, by design).
Again, any resistance/impedance on those typical APU/GFX,CORE voltage(boost) lines has more than 10 ohm to ground(maybe less) should not be considered a "short/faulty".
Not sure how well OP knows what mandatory components make motherboard boot normally, from picture lack of emmc, semi-bent board and missing inductor(yellow circled) would never make MB happy to boot. Pile of donor board for sure IMO