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Apr 30, 2013
The ICH4/5 SouthBridge chipset on my Intel® motherboard appears damaged or "burnt". How did this happen?
The GIGABYTE Global RMA Service Center has recently become aware of the randomly occurring risk to ICH4/5 SouthBridge chipsets on Intel® motherboards to become damaged or "burnt" when a USB device is connected. Please read the following paragraphs to learn more about this issue.
Why did this happen?
There are three likely causes:
Why did this happen?
There are three likely causes:
- Accumulated static electricity from the human body may have been transmitted to the ICH4/5 SouthBridge chipset when connecting a USB device if it has not been "grounded".
- A connected USB device does not have any static electricity protection.
- Accumulated static electricity in a front-panel USB port that is not properly "grounded" with the PC casing.
- Avoid touching the USB connector.
- Release static electricity within your USB device by touching the USB connector to any metal surface before plugging it into your computer.
- Use rear-panel USB ports on your PC whenever possible.
- Use a three-pronged electrical cord to connect a power supply to your PC.
- Use only approved or certified power supplies.
