Video chip is broken. What do I do?

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gamingchris3

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Dec 18, 2013
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So I have a friend and his computer has some display problems. He said that this forum thread describes the issues nicely. http:// He also said that the LED that is supposed to be green all the time even when the PC is off, has turned orange/amber some time ago.
He doesn't really know a lot about computers, if anything at all, so I thought I might be able to help him. However it is my first time hearing something called "video chip". I saw some images on google, and I believe it is located on the motherboard. If the problem lies in that chip, is it possible to change only the chip, without getting a new motherboard? Or is the problem entirely something else? Should he just take his PC to the computer hospital ( :D )?
 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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The sort of problem detailed does indeed point to the graphics chip or GPU of the motherboard.

It depends if it is integrated to the mother board or is the actual gpu that is on a Pci-e graphics card fitted into the Pci-e slot of the motherboard.

In any case anyway what has happened is most likely the chip has overheated.
That can cause artifacts or screen corruption of different colored pixels , freezing, a black screen with no display.
What also happens is if the chip has been getting hot, the solder points of the gpu where it flows to the contacts of the board may be none contacting causing the problem.

In that case the chip needs to be re-flowed, heated so the solder contacts on the underside of the gpu re-flow to the board making all the contacts connect.


This involves using a flow station.

I suggest you look up graphics chips or GPU repair. Re-flowing to get a better Idea
Of what I am explaining to you.

There are other methods than using a flow station.
Some people claim using an oven or a heat gun over and around the Gpu chip to re-flow the solder contacts.

But you have to be careful.



 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

Titan
Mar 25, 2010
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Does not sound like you did a lot of trouble-shooting to come to the conclusion it's the video card. Did you test the monitor with another computer and the computer with another monitor to see where the issue is? Try a new cable? Check the connections? What happens when the computer turns on? Normal startup sounds or is there beeping or do the fans run funny (full blast all the time)? Desktop or laptop? What is the brand and model? Did you check the motherboard for issues, most common things that cause the computer not to start even when you see lights come on and fans spin is bad capacitors. If any are buffy or have dark stuff coming out of the tops, need a new motherboard. Depending on the age of the system, it could be cheaper to just buy a new one or at least a new used one.
 
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