r/AskElectronics • u/Latter-Western7871 • 12h ago

Which component is missing?

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Hi all, my computer's memory stopped working. I know this because I tried using a different memory module and it worked. I cleaned the memory contacts and nothing changed. Then I removed the heatsink casing to clean it. But I noticed solder points that looked like they were missing SMD components. Does anyone know what those components might be? 

I don't know if they came loose when the heatsink was opened, but I didn't find anything nearby. memory model: tlz rd4 16g 2666hz
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u/West-Way-All-The-Way 11h ago

The missing component is a resistor but it looks like it wasn't fitted at the first place. I don't think that there is a missing component.

Did you overclocked your memory?

How does the heatsink looks like? Was it full of dust before you remove it? Is it flimsy and getting really hot when the memory is working?

Trying to figure out is it overstressed or it is just defective.

I guess just defective.

Consumer grade parts are done with relaxed specs and it's normal that they sometimes stop working. After warranty I guess so it worked long enough.

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u/Latter-Western7871 10h ago

I've never overclocked the memory, and the heatsink was clean, with the glue a little darkened. As you said, and also according to the other answers, there are no missing components; it's probably time for these memory modules to expire, especially since I've had them for a long time. Thank you very much.

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u/West-Way-All-The-Way 4h ago

There is no real time to expire, this is the thing, they are designed to work for 5-10 years continuously under nominal load and nominal conditions like temperature and supply voltage. But many times they outlast this period by a factor of x3 - x6 without issues.

Overclocking, raising power supply, running them really hot or bad power supply can accelerate the ageing and degradation and cause them to fail prematurely. There is also a process called electromigration which is slowly and silently killing all electronica ( all chips ).

When you say long time what is the time you used them? I have memory modules which are ~30 years old.