Through the fire and flames...and old GPUs!

Autechre

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Just picked up my 8800GTX Ultra by XFX for what...10$?!?!, which is pretty dope!
No server handle tho :(

It looks OK, doesn't smell like FIRE...all the components are in place, PCB is OK!
BUTT...it had some kind of dried up flux around pin connectors I think, cuz it smells horrible...especially when I scraped that away!
Maybe it was in a smoker's PC, before that dude picked it up even...

When I hooked it up, it didnt turned on....rather my whole PC was temporarily dead!
Cleaned my CMOS just in case....still nothing

Its obviously trying...it flashes for a second (my system that is) and goes off!

PSU: 700W 80 Silver rated dudette

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W/o 6pin power - so-called coil whine (more like that pesky PC speaker inside my GPU is screaming for smth)
W/ 6pin power - pretty much all the above

Can anyone help?
pls no answer grinders
why i even put it there?
cuz no one rly helped me last time
i guess ths isnt the same anymore
:(
 
Solution
I wouldn't call it a myth, more a last resort. There are actually guides out there for doing just that. Everyone's results will vary depending on what the original problem was though. It is not recommended to you use your household oven, an old toaster oven from a second hand store is much more suitable.

The most common mistake is not preparing the card. This means a complete disassembly, cleaning, and supporting any components that might fall off due to gravity with aluminum foil. Certainly more failures than success, but a dead card is a dead card.

As I recall this all started with a laptop that had an integrated nforce graphics chipset that was poorly soldered at the factory. And those people just chucked it in the oven. This was a...

Eximo

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I would say if you want legitimate help, make a case as to why you want to resurrect such a card. Pretty sure those are limited to DX10.1 anyway, so a lot of modern games are going to be off the table.

Board looks slightly curved, have you considered removing the heatsink and re-installing it? About the only advice I have to give, and if it was a smoker's card, take isopropyl alcohol to all surfaces after removing the heatsink. Much of that gunk is conductive when humidity is high enough.

Nothing looks particularly damaged on the back side of the board. Maybe a little de-lamination happening near the power connectors. Probably from weight/temperature cycles.

With proper equipment you could make a stab at checking some voltages, but then you are looking at many man-hours of work for something worth 10$. You can pick up something like a GT730 for practically nothing and have about the same rough performance. Invest in a GT1030 and you'll have much greater performance than anything from the 8000 series.
 

Autechre

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Wow, thats what I call an answer!

First: its a collection piece, I do intend to use it...if I get around to fix it!
Second: im not buying new GPUs anymore, that time is long gone

I will clean it up, and report back!
I have GT730...it sux
 

Autechre

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What do you think bout power issue?
No doubt 700w is an overkill!
 

japps2

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I had a 8800GTX back in the day...if I remember right there were some problems with the solder...I read on forums at the time that people were putting them in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes to soften the solder. heard some stories of success. might be something to look into.
 

sid.sinha12300

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ya you can try that weather your graphic card will start working other wise you will have a completely ruin graphic card and a microwave please don't suggest such things
 

USAFRet

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Oh yes, the baking myth.

Long long ago, there was a specific GPU with a crappy factory soldering job.
Some one discovered that baking it in a regular oven would 'reflow' that, and make it work.

This urban legend has transferred into the One True Fix for ALL non-functional GPU's, indeed, anything with a PCB.

"Bake it in the oven, and it will magically work now and forever"
Of course, that 'baking' suggestion completely fails to list the actual temperature profile.
What temp, for how long, how slow or fast do you let it cool...

Go ahead. Try it. It might do something.
Just don't invite me over for dinner later.
 

Eximo

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I wouldn't call it a myth, more a last resort. There are actually guides out there for doing just that. Everyone's results will vary depending on what the original problem was though. It is not recommended to you use your household oven, an old toaster oven from a second hand store is much more suitable.

The most common mistake is not preparing the card. This means a complete disassembly, cleaning, and supporting any components that might fall off due to gravity with aluminum foil. Certainly more failures than success, but a dead card is a dead card.

As I recall this all started with a laptop that had an integrated nforce graphics chipset that was poorly soldered at the factory. And those people just chucked it in the oven. This was a temperature too low to melt the solder, just enough thermal expansion for it to make contact again, usually only temporary.

Oddly also caught a video where an SSD was recovered in this manner.
 
Solution

USAFRet

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Right.
As opposed to the 99% of people who have heard of this and just chuck the thing in the oven.
 
Not a myth but not a fix all. Funny enough mine was an 8800 gtx. 380 degrees F for 8 minutes. Have to take all shrouds off and will need thermal paste when putting it back together.

First baking bought it another 6 months, second about 3 months, third time 2 months, then I threw in the towel and bought a new gtx 670.

BUT, I don’t think it works for one that wont even boot. Mine was artifacting and would then lock.

YMMV.
 

Autechre

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450W - nope
500W - nope
700W - nope