taking apart a graphics card

2009-12-15 18:48:15

#1

prototype: Member; +52|6571

my graphics starting acting funny at random times ( artifacting and causing my system to hardlock/crash )

so I looked around online to buy a new one and found some good deals but I also did some research and found out that you are supposed to take your card apart to clean it and it is also recommended to remove and replace the thermal paste on the GPU once a year.

The card in question is an Evga 8800GT 512MB DDR3 card, I have owned the card for almost 2 years.

So I read a few articles and then took my card apart, I noticed that the thermal paste is completely dried up and crusty and also that some of the memory blocks around the GPU are caked with dust (house hold dust)

I plan on buying some thermal paste tomorrow from radio shack and also a can of spray duster to clean off the memory blocks.

My question to you all is do you think by removing the old crushed thermal paste, applying new paste and dusting off the memory blocks it may solve my problem ?

One more question I have is how can you tell if a graphics card is just DEAD/broken/beyond repair or if it is just messing up because it needs to be cleaned and new thermal paste applied ?

Thank you for any replies.

Last edited by prototype (2009-12-15 18:50:40)

2009-12-15 19:00:32

#2

Morpheus: This shit still going?; +508|6259|The Mitten

tbh, no idea, but $5 worth of thermal paste is much better than $300 of gfx cards...

even so, $5 isn't much. Go for it.

EE (hats

2009-12-15 19:06:49

#3

prototype: Member; +52|6571

Morpheus wrote:
tbh, no idea, but $5 worth of thermal paste is much better than $300 of gfx cards...

even so, $5 isn't much. Go for it.

yeah thats what i figured too, nothing to lose but $5 and 10 min of my time.

just wanted to know if you guys think that old thermal paste and some caked dust on the memory block by the GPU could cause a card to do what i described ?

When a graphics card actually dies , like completely dead beyond repair etc what are the symptoms/ signs?

My card would run fine for days and then all of a sudden artifact ( little w's all over )

I would reboot and them everything would be fine again for a day or two and then it would do it again etc
until recently the card would not even allow me to boot up without artifacts and hard locks, even doing simple tasks like just browsing the net etc

thank you for any replies

2009-12-15 20:16:28

#4

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6457|Winland

If the thermal paste on the GPU itself is really bad, it could indeed cause some funny behaviour. There's really no way to tell if it's thermal overload or just general fail that's come over it, though.

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2009-12-15 20:32:22

#5

CrazeD: Member; +368|6932|Maine

Well 8800GT's are pretty notorious for failing. So, chances are that's the case.

2009-12-15 21:35:52

#6

prototype: Member; +52|6571

CrazeD wrote:
Well 8800GT's are pretty notorious for failing. So, chances are that's the case.

I wish i knew that when I paid $237 USD for it two years ago

If i have to replace it I am planning on buying a new 9800GT or 9800 GTX

are those known for failing also?

2009-12-15 22:19:06

#7

13urnzz: Banned; +5,830|6757

CrazeD wrote:
Well 8800GT's are pretty notorious for failing. So, chances are that's the case.

where does all this hate come from? my 8800GT's still going. it's in the machine i'm on now, it's been there since Newegg first sold them.

2009-12-15 22:39:06

#8

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6966|67.222.138.85

Mine is dying too burnzz, and when I posted about it someone had the exact same problem with their XFX 8800GT.

2009-12-15 22:48:40

#9

tazz.: oz.; +1,338|6434|Sydney | ♥

prototype wrote:
CrazeD wrote:
Well 8800GT's are pretty notorious for failing. So, chances are that's the case.
I wish i knew that when I paid $237 USD for it two years ago

If i have to replace it I am planning on buying a new 9800GT or 9800 GTX

are those known for failing also?

My mate has a 9800GT, and he loves it. Workes perfectly i think.

I have a 4850, and i love it

Also, correct me if i'm wrong, but i think thermal paste is poisonous, so handle with care. Gloves will do the trick.

^{everything i write is a ramble and should not be taken seriously.... _{seriously. ♥}}

2009-12-16 05:39:59

#10

Finray: Hup! Dos, Tres, Cuatro; +2,629|6048|Catherine Black

If you're down to your last resort, put it in the oven for 30 mins at lowest heat. Freaky, but it works. Ask Sydney.

2009-12-16 05:41:37

#11

steelie34: pub hero!; +603|6641|the land of bourbon

Finray wrote:
If you're down to your last resort, put it in the oven for 30 mins at lowest heat. Freaky, but it works. Ask Sydney.

https://bf3s.com/sigs/36e1d9e36ae924048a933db90fb05bb247fe315e.png

2009-12-16 11:20:50

#12

CrazeD: Member; +368|6932|Maine

burnzz wrote:
CrazeD wrote:
Well 8800GT's are pretty notorious for failing. So, chances are that's the case.
where does all this hate come from? my 8800GT's still going. it's in the machine i'm on now, it's been there since Newegg first sold them.

They're good cards, sure. But lots of people have had them die.

And yes thermal paste is poisonous. Don't eat it and you'll be fine.

2009-12-16 16:21:16

#13

Wallpaper: ☺; +303|6253|The pool

prototype wrote:
If i have to replace it I am planning on buying a new 9800GT or 9800 GTX

are those known for failing also?

Theyre basically the same card. So yes the are, and it wouldnt be worth getting one of those now unless you absolutely do not have enough money for a better card (4870s are only $110-120)

My flickr

2009-12-16 19:17:36

#14

The_Sniper_NM: Official EVGA Fanboy; +94|6373|SC | USA |

steelie34 wrote:
Finray wrote:
If you're down to your last resort, put it in the oven for 30 mins at lowest heat. Freaky, but it works. Ask Sydney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw9oX-kZ_9k

Only do this if the card does not boot.

The oven heat will re flow the solder in weak points that have been noted in a large percentage of nvidia's laptop and desktop cards.

2009-12-16 20:55:05

#15

CrazeD: Member; +368|6932|Maine

Well considering solder melts at 200*F+, that wouldn't exactly be good for the components of your video card.

2009-12-16 20:57:01

#16

Phatmatt: Vroom Vroom; +298|6449|Canada

CrazeD wrote:
Well considering solder melts at 200*F+, that wouldn't exactly be good for the components of your video card.

If it's already dead, why not.

Referring to The_Sniper_NM's post that the card won't boot and Finrays last resort solution.

Last edited by Phatmatt (2009-12-16 20:59:24)

2009-12-16 21:42:40

#17

Benzin: Member; +576|6258

Ya, if you're pretty sure the card is dead and have nothing to lose, throw it in the oven. But try the thermal paste and the duster and see what that gets you.

2009-12-16 23:44:40

#18

signa: ~~~~~; +50|6988|Michigan, USA

Finray wrote:
If you're down to your last resort, put it in the oven for 30 mins at lowest heat. Freaky, but it works. Ask Sydney.

Its 200c for 9 minutes, and here is the thread: http://hardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1421792
There are also a couple youtube videos on it. It sounds crazy, but a lot of people on [H] have had success with it.

I just baked one yesterday trying to see if I could get it working and it didnt work. Tomorrow I will be trying again with different card.

BF2S Forums taking apart a graphics card

Morpheus wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

prototype wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Finray wrote:

burnzz wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

prototype wrote:

steelie34 wrote:

Finray wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Finray wrote:

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