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Rogers Galaxy S4 Mainboard Failure - Does it matter which provider I select?

Hey folks. Just got my S4 I337M back from sending it away with Rogers for repair. I was foolish and didn't think about how I flashed it previously, so it got sent back not fixed, with the paperwork claiming mainboard failure. I'm more than happy to fix this privately, but I'd like to shop around for the part myself. Problem is that the price is very inconsistent between provider brandings. Is there a difference between them at all, so long as it isn't a mini or value edition or whatever other branding? I just want to get the cheapest fix available for this thing so I can cost out the difference to just getting a new phone. Thanks for any info.

Then you are better off buying a phone with a busted screen and just replace the motherboard.
Do take into account that some providers lock the bootloaders. Also take into account that the S4 variants all not all the same, so not every motherboard might fit in perfectly.

GDReaper said:
Then you are better off buying a phone with a busted screen and just replace the motherboard.
Do take into account that some providers lock the bootloaders. Also take into account that the S4 variants all not all the same, so not every motherboard might fit in perfectly.
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Not to be ungrateful, but this only rephrases my initial question. I'm aware that there are several variants and that there are several methods of acquiring the board, either new or from a busted phone. My question is which boards wouldn't be compatible with the I337M variant.

JavaMac said:
Not to be ungrateful, but this only rephrases my initial question. I'm aware that there are several variants and that there are several methods of acquiring the board, either new or from a busted phone. My question is which boards wouldn't be compatible with the I337M variant.
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You are changing the whole board, not just one small part from the board. This includes the ram, processor, internal memory and such, right?
So the only incompatibility issues there may be are the frame and board sizes. Theoretically you can put any other S4 board in there (as long as you change the whole motherboard and daughter board).
But I doubt there is any way to tell which fits in what, unless you try it.
Just get one from another I337M is my suggestion. Hope this is somewhat more clearer now.

There are two options for an s4 from a Canadian carrier: sgh-i337m (Telus, Rogers, Bell) or sgh-m919 (Wind, Videotron).
For the i337m, it does not matter which carrier sold the phone as the hardware is identical and ROMs from sammobile.com for the i337m can be cross flashed among carriers. The only difference is the pre-installed apps. I have a Telus s4 (came with 4.4.2) that I flashed with Bell 5.01 firmware. Same applies to the Wind/Videotron version of the s4.
In the i337m and m919, there are connections for USB flex cable, cameras, headphone jack, LCD, and wi-fi cable. No other boards that I noticed.
If you want a motherboard with a busted screen, check out Kijiji or craigslist. Just make sure the imei has not been blacklisted, and the wifi and sim reader work.

GDReaper said:
You are changing the whole board, not just one small part from the board. This includes the ram, processor, internal memory and such, right?
So the only incompatibility issues there may be are the frame and board sizes. Theoretically you can put any other S4 board in there (as long as you change the whole motherboard and daughter board).
But I doubt there is any way to tell which fits in what, unless you try it.
Just get one from another I337M is my suggestion. Hope this is somewhat more clearer now.
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There's plenty of ways to tell, like asking someone with a working knowledge of these devices, which is why I'm on this forum. To learn and apply. Speculation isn't useful.

audit13 said:
There are two options for an s4 from a Canadian carrier: sgh-i337m (Telus, Rogers, Bell) or sgh-m919 (Wind, Videotron).
For the i337m, it does not matter which carrier sold the phone as the hardware is identical and ROMs from sammobile.com for the i337m can be cross flashed among carriers. The only difference is the pre-installed apps. I have a Telus s4 (came with 4.4.2) that I flashed with Bell 5.01 firmware. Same applies to the Wind/Videotron version of the s4.
In the i337m and m919, there are connections for USB flex cable, cameras, headphone jack, LCD, and wi-fi cable. No other boards that I noticed.
If you want a motherboard with a busted screen, check out Kijiji or craigslist. Just make sure the imei has not been blacklisted, and the wifi and sim reader work.
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Awesome. Thanks for the info here.

Which model of S7 edge is best for me

Hello, I want to buy galaxy s7 edge and it has many model numbers
what I'm looking for is 2 things
1- to operate CDMA and GSM network...
2- support from samsung updates and custom ROMs here in XDA because I have galaxy note N9005 and has many ROMs but galaxy note 3 verizon doesn't have even more than 20 Roms
I prefer if it to have only has only 1 slot but 2 slots is ok in case it has more support

Please help

Hmmm, you have to pick a specific carrier. There is no such s7 edge that has all you currently want
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

There are only 3 versions that support CDMA, and those are Verizon, Sprint and the Chinese version. I wouldn't count on the Chinese version supporting all the necessary bands in the US.
The Sprint and Verizon versions support GSM radios for international roaming, and can be carrier unlocked to support US GSM carriers (but I'm not sure if they support all the right bands or not).
Neither the international nor the AT&T and T-mobile versions will support CDMA.
But none of the U.S. phones can be rooted now. Maybe never. So there's no phone that will meet all your requirements. You'll have to choose between CDMA support (Sprint or Verizon models) or rooting (International Exynos version) which will work on AT&T and T-Mobile.

I have a few quick questions. Does the Exynos model support band 30 (or whatever AT&T's new band is)?
How do screen protectors work on the Edge? Particularly non glass protectors? They seem like they could be problematic with the Edge curve.
I've heard Apple like horror stories of the entire phone shattering from drops. I'm not one to drop my device very often but this worried me a bit. Any insight?

Don't know about the Exynos and AT&T.
Look in the accessories forum. There are some film-type screen protectors that seem to work fairly well, although using them with a case can be a problem. There don't seem to be any good fitting glass protectors available.
I dropped my Edge and shattered the screen. First phone ever I've broken the screen on. That said, every model of phone available has been broken by someone. It all depends on how the phone lands, and what it lands on. But logic says a glass back is going to be more fragile than a plastic or metal one, and that the curved screen increases the likelihood of the screen breaking if the phone lands on it's edge.
The edge is the first phone I've put a case on, and the first I've gotten insurance for.

New motherboard

So my motherboard is toast (yes, I'm positive) and I'm shopping around for a used one. Since I'm pretty sure all versions of the S8 use the same internal layout & connectors I can probably put any version motherboard in as its replacement.
That being said, which model motherboard would be my best bet for the following:
-Must support T Mobile USA (all the bands they utilize) if unlocked
-Has the best ROM support
a third bonus would be having great worldwide band support since I travel, given it's already covered my first requirement (having all t mo band support).
Thanks.

Well your kinda hindered a little bit because you have to go for the snapdragon variant of the board.
There is root but there are issues with it, and as far as I know not many people are developing roms for the snapdragon variant.
Also the snapdragon variant probably isn't going to work world wide, just like the exynos version doesn't support American bands, the US variant won't work in European countries

sofir786 said:
Well your kinda hindered a little bit because you have to go for the snapdragon variant of the board.
There is root but there are issues with it, and as far as I know not many people are developing roms for the snapdragon variant.
Also the snapdragon variant probably isn't going to work world wide, just like the exynos version doesn't support American bands, the US variant won't work in European countries
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Are you sure they aren't pin compatible? I'd be somewhat surprised if Samsung actually had two board produced (but maybe). If this is confirmed by teardown or whatever then thanks for the info

Hello motherboard issue here
I have a s8+ G955FD international version, apparently my motherboard died when i was charging my phone, somebody told me that i have to replace the motherboard but looking online the "FD" version it's very hard to find and also very expensive, any recomendations that i can do, can i replace it with a diferent version of the motherboard or i have to stay with the "FD" version?

alex010911 said:
I have a s8+ G955FD international version, apparently my motherboard died when i was charging my phone, somebody told me that i have to replace the motherboard but looking online the "FD" version it's very hard to find and also very expensive, any recomendations that i can do, can i replace it with a diferent version of the motherboard or i have to stay with the "FD" version?
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I have a bad S8 plus board and my friend has a working one but it's S8 not Plus....can I use S8 board to replace S8 plus ?

Swapping motherboards

I currently have a S7 Edge from AT&T (G935A). Since carriers in the U.S keep bootloaders locked I was wondering if it could be possible to swap my motherboard with an international one (G935F) in order to install custom roms, magisk, etc etc. Do the motherboards vary in dimensions? Are the connections all the same? I read that the cameras may have slight differences in size.

Buying S7 Edge, need Exynos, SD Card slot, GSM or Verizon

But which model? I'd go for the regular S7 but I'd like the slightly larger screen, but I need Exynos, the 3.5mm jack, SD card expansion. I use Straight talk, so I'd like to be able to use the AT&T SIM or the Verizon SIM. I know the G930U is the right one for S7, but I seem to have a hard time finding information on which S7 Edge comes with all network capabilities, along with Exynos, SIM/SD Card slot. Thank you all in advance, I know you all are the best on these forums!

cumminspowered said:
But which model? I'd go for the regular S7 but I'd like the slightly larger screen, but I need Exynos, the 3.5mm jack, SD card expansion. I use Straight talk, so I'd like to be able to use the AT&T SIM or the Verizon SIM. I know the G930U is the right one for S7, but I seem to have a hard time finding information on which S7 Edge comes with all network capabilities, along with Exynos, SIM/SD Card slot. Thank you all in advance, I know you all are the best on these forums!
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all the S7 edges share the same chassis, so they all have the headphone jack and sd card slot. What makes you think you need the xynos version? If you want to use at&t, youre fine, but the verizon sim will not work in a xynos powered device. They are gsm only. Get a used G935V. Tehy are sim unlocked out of the box (or at least should be) and will work on both of your carrier choices

youdoofus said:
all the S7 edges share the same chassis, so they all have the headphone jack and sd card slot. What makes you think you need the xynos version? If you want to use at&t, youre fine, but the verizon sim will not work in a xynos powered device. They are gsm only. Get a used G935V. Tehy are sim unlocked out of the box (or at least should be) and will work on both of your carrier choices
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I see I was wrong on a few things. Was just hoping to get the Exynos for the improved battery life/talk time and rooting/flashing rom capability. Have been doing some more research today and it looks like even if i did get a Exynos model, they are Region locked. The Verizon part was just a bonus, but I see Exynos isn't capable running CDMA, my thoughts were to possibly run a Verizon card and a AT&T card in a Dual Sim version.
Looks like I won't get getting any Exynos the way it looks.
Any reason to get a G935V over a G935U?
Edit - I would take any recomendations on a phone with good service, SD card and 3.5mm jack, that is sub- $300. Need something to replace this Nexus 4.
Thanks!

cumminspowered said:
I see I was wrong on a few things. Was just hoping to get the Exynos for the improved battery life/talk time and rooting/flashing rom capability. Have been doing some more research today and it looks like even if i did get a Exynos model, they are Region locked. The Verizon part was just a bonus, but I see Exynos isn't capable running CDMA, my thoughts were to possibly run a Verizon card and a AT&T card in a Dual Sim version.
Looks like I won't get getting any Exynos the way it looks.
Any reason to get a G935V over a G935U?
Edit - I would take any recomendations on a phone with good service, SD card and 3.5mm jack, that is sub- $300. Need something to replace this Nexus 4.
Thanks!
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i dont think the S7's with the exynos chips are region locked. I run a galaxy A8 (2018) that was built for the UAE and its about as un-region locked as you can get. If i was to recommend any of them, id recommend the 935f. It has everything youre looking for and shouldnt have any issue working on AT&T towers stateside, which is also where im at. Oh, and for that price range, youre not short for choice. Look at xiaomi redmi devices. i bought 2 of them and they are actually great phones for the price. The only reason theyre not in use today is due to one word. teenagers. They broke the screens on them and thats not a fault of the phone, theyve broken 3 since... each.

youdoofus said:
i dont think the S7's with the exynos chips are region locked. I run a galaxy A8 (2018) that was built for the UAE and its about as un-region locked as you can get. If i was to recommend any of them, id recommend the 935f. It has everything youre looking for and shouldnt have any issue working on AT&T towers stateside, which is also where im at. Oh, and for that price range, youre not short for choice. Look at xiaomi redmi devices. i bought 2 of them and they are actually great phones for the price. The only reason theyre not in use today is due to one word. teenagers. They broke the screens on them and thats not a fault of the phone, theyve broken 3 since... each.
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Ahh that's interesting. I was looking at a few of the "tough" off brand phones and they looked great. I ended up with a regular S7 to try get going for my dad, and really liked it. Had planned on getting an S9 as I thought the price would have dropped alot more with the S10 launch. 300 imo is already a ton to drop on 1 phone, as I need 2, 1 for the wife.
I ended up finding a pair of brand new G935F's for $600 on ebay, so I went with those!! Thanks for all the info, it definitely helped!

cumminspowered said:
Ahh that's interesting. I was looking at a few of the "tough" off brand phones and they looked great. I ended up with a regular S7 to try get going for my dad, and really liked it. Had planned on getting an S9 as I thought the price would have dropped alot more with the S10 launch. 300 imo is already a ton to drop on 1 phone, as I need 2, 1 for the wife.
I ended up finding a pair of brand new G935F's for $600 on ebay, so I went with those!! Thanks for all the info, it definitely helped!
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glad to hear you got what you needed thats what we are here for!!

Just an update. The G935F's I received. Neither one would work right with the AT&T Straight Talk sims. I have a feeling they were region locked, but nothing came up about that on the phones. They were brand new in the box. Neither 935F wanted to recognize the sims, but they would intermediately recognize the sims, and if calling would work, data and text wouldn't, and vice-versa. It was a 12 hour nightmare of trying to get them to work right, and the bit of service I did get when they would work, was very shoddy.
I ended up sending them back, getting a full refund, no issues, and ordered 2 brand new Pixel XL's G-2PW2100. I'm glad I did as I can pretty much freely switch between AT&T Sim and Verizon sim.
Just wanted to update for anyone in the US wanting to use an international samsung phone, they don't work properly. Rip Exynos.