Scratched the back of my motherboard - RAM slots 3 and 4 dead

[IsaacMG]

Hello!

 

Well, a couple weeks ago, changing my cooler for a new one, I realized I scratched the back of my motherboard. Don't ask me how. It just happened. Anyway, when I turned my computer on I found out it wasn't working... constant beeps. That's RAM for sure... and so it was. Slots 3 and 4 are dead. 1 are 2 are OK, but I don't have dual channel anymore.

 

Everything else works fine, I've been gaming and doing stuff and 0 problems... but it just breaks my heart to know that my computer is not 100% perfect anymore.

Motherboard is a Gigabyte Z97x Gaming 3, CPU is a 4790k.

 

So, as you can see in the attached picture... is it worth repairing?

I'm afraid that those cuts may cause a short or something like that and get my other components toasted... don't laugh at me at this, it's what I've been reading...

 

I have been thinking of:

1. Repair it. Looks hard, as I'm not electronics expert and I've read that those traces are not easy to repair.

2. Get a new MOBO, which would be an Asus Maximus VII Hero which I've seen for like 130-140 bucks, used, three month warranty, or...

3. Stay this way. No dual channel and I guess that's the only thing that's broken, but I have not tested anything else (PCI slots,...)

 

I'm planning to get new CPU, MOBO and RAM by the end of the year or earlier next year... but I want this computer to last as much as I can, cause I will pass it to my girlfriend as soon as I update.

 

Thank you very much!

[Guest]

I don't think those traces are easily repairable.

Dual channel ram isn't that important for gaming and those traces only connect to the ram, this shouldn't affect he PCIe slots.

[IsaacMG]

5 minutes ago, Medicate said:

I don't think those traces are easily repairable.

Dual channel ram isn't that important for gaming and those traces only connect to the ram, this shouldn't affect he PCIe slots.

Thanks for the answer.

 

The thing that really worries me is having that thing exposed... should I put some tape or whatever over the cuts?

[Guest]

I guess it wouldn't hurt putting electrical tape over it

[Mattsk]

29 minutes ago, Medicate said:

I guess it wouldn't hurt putting electrical tape over it

uh uh

dual channel is way better for gaming

 

[IsaacMG]

But worth paying 130 bucks to change the motherboard?

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Mattsk said:

dual channel is way better for gaming

if you define 5-10% as "way better" then sure. Yes if you can you should always try to run dual channel, but as soon as that means buying new RAM or a new mobo it doesn't become worth it anymore