So my graphics card died on Saturday while I was playing a game. I've had various computer components go caput before, so it's never surprising when this happens. What gave me anxiety was knowing that we paid about $700 for this card a few years ago, and that we'd have to pay this again. And again, since my wife wants an upgraded video card for her computer for her birthday.
Today, I was looking to see if anyone had a similar problem with their nVidia 8800 GTX card. (The problem being short red and blue lines appearing on the monitor screen--even on the initial BIOS screens) It turns out they had! Curiouser and curiouser.
The solution:
Bake it in the oven.
I'm not kidding here. The logic behind this is that solder goes back to 'squishy' around 350 degrees. Melting point is typically 361 to 460 degrees. So I baked the card (after stripping away the heat sink) at 385 for 8 minutes. Long enough to heal the alleged 'microcracks' in the solder which were causing my problems.
I waited an hour for everything to cool, and lo! It appears to have worked! For how long remains to be seen, but I'm not complaining.
...I wonder if this would work on some other things around the house?
Today, I was looking to see if anyone had a similar problem with their nVidia 8800 GTX card. (The problem being short red and blue lines appearing on the monitor screen--even on the initial BIOS screens) It turns out they had! Curiouser and curiouser.
The solution:
Bake it in the oven.
I'm not kidding here. The logic behind this is that solder goes back to 'squishy' around 350 degrees. Melting point is typically 361 to 460 degrees. So I baked the card (after stripping away the heat sink) at 385 for 8 minutes. Long enough to heal the alleged 'microcracks' in the solder which were causing my problems.
I waited an hour for everything to cool, and lo! It appears to have worked! For how long remains to be seen, but I'm not complaining.
...I wonder if this would work on some other things around the house?
