Any options for board repair and parts?

[charlesv]

Being careful with the wifi connectors I still managed to break the MAIN connector on the module with possibly part of the connector stuck in the wire-side connector, im not sure, it may have disappeared. Left with a tiny stub on the module, I taped down the wire to the module and here I am writing.

The fix would be a new module and wires. To my understanding, Intel doesnt repair so how could this be done? I know of no shops or anyone doing this work. Is the first step trying to get parts from Intel and then hunting an electronics expert to remove and install it? What have others done or is buying a new NUC the only option apart from getting by with masking tape or a USB wifi stick?

[AlHill]

Which NUC?  So the Intel support engineers can have more information about your system, Please download and run the Intel System Support Utility (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility-for-Windows- ) for Windows. Select all data categories and then have it generate a report. Next, have the tool Save the report to a text file (don't try to use the Submit capability; it doesn't work). Finally, using the Drag and drop here or browse files to attach dialog below the edit box for the body of your response post, upload and attach this file to the response post.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Waiting for Windows 12]

[charlesv]

Thanks and sorry about that, I didnt think the details mattered yet. Its a NUC5i3RYH and I can give the SN if needed. Its discontinued. I attached the report below.

[charlesv]

I had a feeling that because its discontinued and out of warranty there would be an automatic byebye. I notice online that people complain that you get about 2-3 times unplugging these before they break. In my case, i had to service the fan and when the connector broke during reinstall I noticed that there was almost no solder on the connector/board joint. I had done this job before I knew to be careful but it didnt help. Is anyones solution to solder a new wire lead of 24 inchs or so directly to the short module stub that remains on the module? In at least many laptop boards the wifi module is replaceable but these are soldered to the board and I have no way to replace it even if I could find the correct part. I had new pigtail leads ready to buy which are very long and I wouldnt have to unplug them in the future but alas, too late. Id hate to lose a perfectly good computer over this.

[Jean_Intel]

Hello @charlesv

Thank you for posting on the Intel️® communities.  

Due to this product being discontinued, Intel Customer Service no longer supports inquiries for it, I am glad to see that fellow community members have the knowledge and they jumped in and helped. You may also find the Discontinued Products website (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/discontinued-products.html) website helpful to address your request.  

You can get the specifications and verify this product's discontinuance status at the Intel® Product Specifications website > Product Status > "Discontinued". https://ark.intel.com/ 

Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel. Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[charlesv]

I appreciate the reply but I already knew my NUC was disc. My question was, for any NUC, what are the options for replacing the wifi module? I will guess that the part is common to other NUCs so the first question is does Intel stock the part generally and the antenna leads as well? The second part of the question is did (or does) Intel ever carry out the repairs or only replace entire NUCs that are under warranty? If Intel doesnt do any work, how can I get the module replaced? Im sad because you are basically closing the thread to those who may have had an answer to this problem.

[LeonWaksman]

Hello @charlesv 

You may find replacement adapter on Amazon (for example 7265 NGW or this).

Leon

[n_scott_pearson]

Actually Leon, that's incorrect. The NUC5i3RYH has a soldered-down 7265 module that cannot be replaced.

The bottom line here is that, if the module cannot be made to work via your attempts at repairing the damage you've already done, you will have to resort to a USB wireless adapter.

Sorry,

...S

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Scott,

Thank you for correction. I don't have NUC RY and in Technical Product Specification there is no mention that this Wifi adapter is soldered down. Now, after reading your post, I saw this on an image of the board.

Leon

[n_scott_pearson]

Yea, the description is ambiguous. I saw the image, but opened my RY up and took a look at it to be absolutely sure.

...S

[charlesv]

Nice to see you again Scott, im really glad youre still around and appreciate your past help on my RY.

Yes I thought it was understood that the reason I wrote the OP in the first place was because the card is soldered. I was surprised. I've seen many cards over time and assumed they were all plug-ins and if this were I would be just buying another one. Did Intel stay with soldered cards for NUC all the while?

What appeared to happen is that part of the card-side connector came off by being stuck in the cable-side connector and it WAS there. I tried to pry out that part, its a ring, and either I failed and its still there or I succeeded and now the ring is lost. Its so small I cant see it.  Im afraid to disconnect the AUX side to compare, yet I have to be back in the fan again so i'll have to risk breaking that side too.  You need a microscope for this work but I thought the fix could be soldering down the ring again to the card and call it a day.

A person is left with a protruding pin on the card and to that I tried to clamp the wire but the pin appears to be pyramid-shaped and you cant clamp anything to it. So the wire is being held against the card connector with masking tape. Yes im online by wifi but this isnt a solution. Should I be trying to find a shop to solder a long lead to that stub pin -- and do it for both sides? I dont have the way to do this myself but if thats a solution I would be able to access the fan in the future without removing the leads. Ive heard of the connectors breaking but never a solution.

The amazon photo is great for reference, you see the rings around the pins and the white stripes on either side of the rings are solder. The ring and some solder separated from the card and the pin remained so there is still something to work with. The wire side of the connector is a clamp which grabs the pin but the grabbing is only accomplished when the ring is present to stabilize it.

You know, it takes me 1.5 hours to do a fan renovation, thats how slow I go so I dont muck up any connector or anything else. Here I am, the brain surgeon, complete with magnifying goggles and tools and time and STILL......

For me anyway, 5i3RYH has been a great machine, problem free and I want to keep it going.  I would buy a complete new board if I could. Do you suppose there is one laying around in a box somewhere or an equivalent that would fit the chassis?

[n_scott_pearson]

I can check if they have any laying around, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

You know, if this happened to me, I would just switch to a USB-based wireless card like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08D72GSMS or like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093FT3H7L.

...S

[charlesv]

Scott,

I considered a TP-Link, in fact I recently gave away one of the USB thumb drive type that doesnt have an antenna. As I remember it worked more or less OK on a desktop provided you never lost a strong physical USB connection. I'll do that as the final option.

I asked Intel if they stock the 7265 card which gave me another idea. Are pigtail connectors all the same size? I could buy any card like a plug-in, scrape off the connector portion I need and re-solder it to mine. Workable?

Thanks for asking Intel about a board. I would consider any board as replacement but im limited to where the connectors on the board line up with the case openings unless I want to start hacking at the case.

[Jean_Intel]

 Hello @charlesv

As per our private conversation, remember that you Intel developed, creates, and distributes the Intel® NUC Board, which is the entire board without any chassis, memory modules, storage, or power supply. The most similar Intel® NUC Board for tour units is the Intel® NUC Board NUC5i3MYBE; however, this unit has been discontinued for a long time, you may not find these units on retailers. Also, Intel doesn't sell any spare parts for Intel® NUC products; however, many online retail sites offer new or used parts (or comparable parts) for purchase. You can use the following retailers:

Gorite ( https://www.gorite.com/)

Simply Nuc (http://simplynuc.com/http://simplynuc.com/)

Amazon ( https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F)

Ebay ( https://www.ebay.com/)

Since we have not heard back from you, we will close this thread. If you need any additional information, submit a new question, as the thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards.

Jean O.

Intel Customer Support Technician.