I have not electronics background but after two technicians refuse to repair my Audio Card, (maybe they did not have time, or they underestimate my card, although it is an excellent one), i decided to try, at least, fix it.
My Audio Card (PCI type) stopped having sound. It is the EMU APS.
While i was trying to examine it, i notice that two components that are located very close to each other,
1) the ALTERA EPM 7064S1C44-10 BFB249919 EMU98 9946 and
2) the P98AB VT244
are getting hot very quickly. They are getting hot even if the Card snap onto the motherboard, and Windows boots up.
As i was told from somebody with a good background in electronics :
1)The '244' is almost certainly an interface to a black socket beside it, which is a connector to the Game joystick. That device is written at one side and read on the other, the input side has no capability to read anything back so if i am not using the black connector i can probably remove the IC to eliminate the problem with no adverse effects. Indeed i will not use the Joystick connector, so here i have not a problem.
2) the ALTERA device is a programmable logic device (PLD), and my only option would be to buy one from the card manufacturer and the chances of them carrying spares, even when in production, is very slim. Usually cards like that are sent out to sub-contracted assembly plants and the named manufacturer never sees any individual parts. It is normal for them to run warm.
But even if i found the ALTERA, shouldn't program it with the firmware before I replace the old one, otherwise it won't work ? But it is impossible to program it. So my only change is to be true what i have been told in 1) and especially the last sentence : " It is normal for them to run warm"
Is this truth ? (about the normal worming ?)
Ι attached a photo of my card
Big red arrow point to the ALTERA and small arrow to the P98AB VT244
(Any suggestion or idea for how i can fix it, or what procedure to follow, will be welcome)