Audigy2 seated in 2/3 of a PCI slot, any harm?

[arthurleung]

I just finished rewiring my system inside out. After I sorted everything out I fired up the system. The first time I press the power button I smell some burning smell. I of course cut the power asap. Found out I didn't plug in the extra molex for my NF4 SLI-D. I plugged it and found no graphics. And the 6600GT didn't seat in properly. Third boot up into windows I found no audio. Then I realise I seated my Audigy2 ZS shifted outward!!!

___|------------|---| <---PCI Slot
___|---|--------|---| <---Audigy2ZS PCI Fingers
|---|--------|---|___ <---That was how I fitted it.

_ means nothing

I'm wondering if there are any potential risks? The system appears to work fine though. I wish there are softwares that can check hardware faults (detecting small faults, kind of like memtest for ram)

[nick_1]

That may have done some damage. This page describes the pin out for the PCI bus so if you can estimate which pins you may be shorted you might be able to figure out whats been damaged.

My big concern would be sending the full 12V to ground, that could break a few things. Generally most hardware these days use built in fuses (they look like resistors) which stop too much damage but if all is still working you might have had a lucky escape.

Nick