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Background

A mainboard (or motherboard) is the core circuit board of a computer hardware system. It connects components like the CPU, memory, graphics card, and storage devices, providing electrical connections and data transmission pathways for all hardware to work together. Thermal image cameras, thermal infrared cameras, and thermo cameras play a critical role in monitoring its operational health by detecting heat distribution and identifying potential faults.

Main Issues That May Occur in a Mainboard
1. Poor Hardware Contact
- Oxidation or looseness in CPU/memory slots, leading to no display on startup or frequent blue screens.
2. Overheating of Chips/Components
- Overheating of the chipset , power supply modules, etc., causing system crashes or performance degradation.
3. Damaged Electronic Components
- Bulging capacitors, PCB short circuits, or burnt MOSFETs, resulting in failure to power on.
4. BIOS/Firmware Abnormalities
- Incorrect settings or failed updates causing the system to fail to boot or malfunction.

Applications of Infrared Thermal Imaging in Mainboard Inspection
1. Overheating Detection
- Rapidly identify abnormal hotspots in chipset or power supply areas (e.g., chipset temperature exceeding 85°C) to troubleshoot poor heat dissipation or component failures.
2. Contact Fault Diagnosis
- Identify contact issues in slots (e.g., memory slots) through temperature differences, locating localized heating caused by increased resistance.
3. Short Circuit Warning
- Precisely pinpoint high-temperature areas on the PCB to detect short circuits, helping identify component breakdowns or wiring faults.
4. Thermal Optimization
- Validate the mainboard’s thermal design, optimize fan placement or thermal paste performance, and ensure critical components operate within safe temperature ranges.

Benefits brought

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  Infrared thermal imaging quickly identifies overheating spots (e.g., in chipsets or power modules), reducing troubleshooting time by visually highlighting abnormal temperature distributions without disassembling components.

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  The technology enables non-invasive testing, allowing engineers to detect hidden issues (such as internal PCB short circuits or poor solder joints) without physical damage to the mainboard, preserving component integrity.

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  By monitoring temperature trends during normal operation, thermal imaging helps predict potential failures (e.g., aging capacitors or degraded thermal interfaces) before they escalate, enabling preventive maintenance and minimizing downtime.