Problem that is affecting every circuit in system

[switch33]

This is a 1.5 year old Intel server. All of these pictures are from the same server and are original parts except the motherboard which was replaced under warranty approx 6 months ago. The motherboard pictures are of the 6 month old replacement. This server is in a room with dedicated AC set to 18C and is on an APC UPS.

The 2 common suggestions I hear are either a power issue (possibly current) or an environmental issue (a reaction to something in the air).

I have also seen this same problem on another complete server and on various other parts from random machines in the city.


Motherboard:






Backplane:






Raid Card:




Hard Drive:





Any idea what could be causing this to effect seemingly every circuit in the machine? Any advice will be appreciated.

[blaze_125]

Is it the only machine affected in that room? Or are every machines in there affected?
computer chickenpox?

[_dangtx_]

its probably reacting to something(the solder that is) allright or is a bad jobbe(solder,again)

electrical problem would usually look like burning/brown marks and deatheth of said server..:)

[switch33]

In this situation it is only the server that is affected, it is in a server room along with a phone system. The other server I have seen this happen on was in a different part of the city and again it was only the server that was affected, it was also on an APC UPS and was in a office room.

[switch33]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

its probably reacting to something(the solder that is) allright or is a bad jobbe(solder,again)

electrical problem would usually look like burning/brown marks and deatheth of said server..:)

Yeah it definitely looks like some kind of reaction to me as well. The marks are almost a metallic grey and in some instances it will partially rub off.

[SugarJ]

I'd agree that it's a chemical reaction of some kind with the solder. Maybe the AC has a slow leak and released gases are interacting with the solder?

[_dangtx_]

ive seen something similar once where something blew and there was acid vapor in the one room.
machine was toast though...i think an old battery on the ups or something went.

[enaberif]

Are these rooms by chance air conditioned? How is the humidity in the rooms?

[switch33]

This is the motherboard by the way:

Newegg.com - Intel S5520HCR Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5520 SSI EEB Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and Quad-Core/Six-Core 5600 Series Server Motherboard


I was told that the UPS for the phone system that is in the room with the server consists of 4 car batteries, this might have something to do with emissions...

[switch33]

Originally Posted by enaberif

Are these rooms by chance air conditioned? How is the humidity in the rooms?

The room from the pictures has dedicated AC set at 18C but no formal venting. Its in Calgary so the environmental humidity is pretty low but has not been monitored inside the room.