ATX power connector. Extra crispy, where/how to replace?

[Threepwood]

On this motherboard I have the ATX connectors from the PSU/board started to heat up a lot, melting together and burning at some pins:

Board

PSU

Firstly, I want to replace the connector on the PSU, the PSU still works fine as far as I can tell, I'm sure though that the burned pins aren't that great. They don't look bad (the actual metal pins are fine), but probably better safe than sorry.

It's a decent PSU also a Seasonic 300w, which AFAIK is a good PSU brand.

So, what kind of places or people will be able to put on a new ATX connector for me? How much do you think they would charge?

Or, where can I get the required connector and whatever tools would be necessary to replace it? How much would they cost? On the same note what about connectors for things like fans i.e. standard 4-pin molex, or the small 4pin and 3pin ones, and other related connectors for PCs?

Another thing I'm wondering is why this happened in the first place?

My initial theory was, I installed a new GeForce 5200 FX, which was too much load over the single 20pin ATX connector (considering that the whole system is powered through this one connector, as the board has no 4pin CPU power connector.)

Then I realised that the board used to have a fan on the North Bridge, which concked out so I discarded it and never replaced it, 'cos it "seemed fine".

This seems relevant, as I noticed on the underside of the board at the North Bridge, a small discolored green patch:

Plus some of those small holes seem blackened, whereas the others seem to have solder in them.

Also, just under these funny flat black things (what are those things), come to think of it, what are those funny green rings with the spiraled copper wire round them? At least I know the cylinders are capacitors :

There is some green discoloration. I am assuming the discoloration is from heat, but I do know that those funny black things can heat up a bit:

So, could the lack of cooling on the NB have compounded the ATX connector problem, or vice-versa?

Otherwise why do you think it burned? The PSU has been used for extended periods on another board since the burning with no problems at all, so I'm sure it's not that.

Mainly though, I just want to fix the connector 'cos it looks crappy, and I think it may become unsafe, and I do not want to chuck out the PSU 'cos it works.

Forgot to mention the board is dead, if you didn't guess, it beeps but been ages since I started it up so can't remember the beep code. It never worked though as far as I was able to assertain then anyway, but I don't hold out any hope for it working.

 

[howardb]

I've done a "cable transplant" once before, and although it takes a while, worth it if you want to keep the PSU. Either buy an ATX-extender cable or salvage the cable parts from an old PSU (or a very cheap and nasty new one).

You will need a soldering iron, some solder, de-solder pump helps, and some free time and patience - do not rush it, 'cos it will blow up in a plume of black smoke if you connect the wrong wires!

Take a photo or two of the PSU prior to removing the ATX wires for reference, and then unsolder one-by-one, noting each position and colour - reverse procedure for attaching the new or salvaged cable.

Once done, I used a PSU tester to check if all was well - saves blowing components if you mess up...

The discolouration sounds like overheating to me - had a similar problem on an old mobo, and the printed circuit board "wire" actually lifted of the pcb - managed to bridge the "wire" with wire, and worked perfectly again - turned out it was also because the NB cooler fan had stopped - eventually bought another and the board is still going.

I have no idea what the black things are called, neither the green rings with the spiralled copper wire - they must serve some purpose though!

 

[zamicro]

If it is only the plastic part that you want to change, you can remove the metal pins from the plastic connector. Remove them one by one and as you remove one, immediately put it into the new connector. You can use a sewing needle/pin to help you remove the metal pins from the plastic connector.

 

[Threepwood]

Well I can salvage a connector from an old PSU if it comes to that, would have liked to put on a new one "properly" though.