Ezio21 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Hello,I was playing some games and my GPU's were on 50-60% load, it wasn't demanding game. However the game paused and image split to two parts and stuck. I've done a reset and aftert that I've found Windows displaying only solid color image like pink or green and not booting. I've reinstalled the Windows and everything was working fine until I've installed the GPU drivers. After that and entering game the card failed and displayed solid color screen again.I've removed primary card and replaced it with secondary HD6990M, it's working fine now. However I need to fix the second one. Because of the symptoms I assume that the gpu itself isn't damaged, it could be it's VRAM because it fails only when entering 3D mode. My friend can replace the VRAM but I need to sure. Do You think that diagnosis is correct? I could try also VRAM tester on generic driver, will it work?Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw86 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Do you know if the temps were the same before and after switching the gpus? Perhaps it was just overheating? Installed as the second card are you still getting the issues and what in general are temps like in the game. Does seem like a hardware issue since it's repeated after clean windows install and fresh driver installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khenglish Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Usually the problem is failed solder joints, not failed chips. Have your friend reflow the GPU core and memory chips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euphoric28 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 overheating can definately cause some failed solder joints after some time. I agree with Khenglish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezio21 Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hello, Many thanks for the answers guys. My friend can reflow whole card, he has a lot of specialistic devices to do this. Do you think that this will fix the card permanently or just temporarily? IMHO tandem of 6990M is more than enough for any video game available so I don't want to upgrade it to 7970M yet if I could fix this card. Waiting for your answer. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khenglish Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hello, Many thanks for the answers guys. My friend can reflow whole card, he has a lot of specialistic devices to do this. Do you think that this will fix the card permanently or just temporarily? IMHO tandem of 6990M is more than enough for any video game available so I don't want to upgrade it to 7970M yet if I could fix this card. Waiting for your answer. RegardsThe fix will be permanent.Also it's usually the core BGA that fails, so you could just have that reflowed to save time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezio21 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks. I will also check VRAM before reflowing card, maybe vram is wrong instead of core. You've helped me much anyway, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezio21 Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 Hello,I've managed run GPU diagnostic program on the damaged card. Video memory is damaged at position 512 (probably third memory unit, that's why card is working on generic driver that is mapping 256-512MB of memory). I will replace damaged GDDR5 module in next week and tell You the result. If You have any advices then tell me. Thanks for the help.Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khenglish Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Can you link this diagnostic program? It sounds very useful for bga work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezio21 Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 You can use VMTCE, however it will only test up to 512MB of memory running outside of windows. If You can run the windows version on AMD driver then You can test all the memory.I used Alienware built-in diagnostic program. Just hit F12 when booting and choose diagnostics->Video. You can even test each gpu fan separately! Awesome tool.Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khenglish Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 In regards to the memory error location, I highly suspect that the error is due to a damaged BGA connection at the GPU core from the GPU core to the memory chip. Again, I suspect that the chip itself is fine. Actual chip failure is extremely rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezio21 Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hello, Yes I suppose that too but GDDR5 chips are cheap and reflow service is much more expensive than the chip itself so I will replace it too, better safe than sorry I will also repaste both gpus with Zalman STG-2 thermal paste, great price/quality value. i7-2920XM (ES2) @ 4.0 GHz is running on it and it's cold. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellepops Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I think I've got a similar issue to this one, with regards to reflowing, has anybody had any experience doing this with a toaster oven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jallar1234 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I tried with oven toaster, was not successful. I used a heatgun after and it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jallar1234 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 i have one solution that has fixed every single dead graphics card, you take off the graphics card heatsink, on every memory chip and also on the core, take a piece of tin foil and fold it nicely so when you place it on top of the memory chip/ core it doesnt stick out, then apply thermal paste both between the tinfoil and the heatsink, between the tinfoil and the core/memory chip and also within the tinfoil. now you need to screw the heatsink back on. when you do this, make sure it is a little extra tight. I found this to be always able to fix the graphics card and a permanent fix as long as you dont shake the laptop/graphics card/desktop so much that the screws eventually loosen up. or else you need to retighten the heatsink or you can make the layer of tinfoil thicker. hope this fixes your problem. I have done this on gtx 260m, gtx 280m, 8400gs, gt 9500gt, gtx 680, gtx 780, 8800gt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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