Help! My 4890 died:

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 12:38 PM

Last week my beloved XFX 4890 heat sink fan died. Usually this is easy enough to fix (replace the fan/heat sink) but the four screws fixing the gpu bracket to the PCB will not budge. Someone said to me that they might be lock tight screws and the only way to remove them is the use a soldering iron?. Unfortunately I don't have access to a soldering iron at the moment and I would love if anyone had any tips or tricks about how to unscrew stubborn screws. Thanks.

FreedomEclipse · Sep 7, 2012, 01:02 PM

Is it possible to have a pic of the screws you are trying to unscrew???

no manufacturer should put use tight lock screws (or gel on the screws) as this would only make it more difficult for them when it comes to being RMA'd

In the event that you cant get it off. pick up a cheap Radeon 7850 or even a 6850 if you are on a budget.... Im guessing that you dont require a lot of horse power otherwise you would have upgraded from that 4890 a while back.

phanbuey · Sep 7, 2012, 01:05 PM

a small drillbit to drill out the top of the screw would do the trick

INSTG8R · Sep 7, 2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanbuey

a small drillbit to drill out the top of the screw would do the trick

While that would get the cooler off it's gonna make it even MORE Hell trying to get the rest of the screw out

Still needs the screws "out" to put anything back on there.

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreedomEclipse

Is it possible to have a pic of the screws you are trying to unscrew???

Crap sorry. I was sure I linked a photo. http://imgur.com/YnYsr

DRDNA · Sep 7, 2012, 01:20 PM

Use a screwdriver that is designed for that size screw...It should come loose as I have never found one that did not...especially all four of them.

CJCerny · Sep 7, 2012, 01:21 PM

If Loctite Blue was used, you should still be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. If Loctite Red was used, you will not be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. Using extreme heat (500F) will break the grip of Loctite Red, but you will cause damage to the PCB at that temperature.

INSTG8R · Sep 7, 2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRDNA

Use a screwdriver that is designed for that size screw...It should come loose as I have never found one that did not...especially all four of them.

What I was about to post. Need the "right" Screwdriver for the job. "Jewellers" type. I have a whole set of Mini Screwdrivers including Torx. Great Investment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJCerny

If Loctite Blue was used, you should still be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. If Loctite Red was used, you will not be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. Using extreme heat (500F) will break the grip of Loctite Red, but you will cause damage to the PCB at that temperature.

Never seen Loctite Red used in PC gear. Blue is pretty common of course. Red is more "Mechanical" applications.

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSTG8R

What I was about to post. Need the "right" Screwdriver for the job. "Jewellers" type. I have a whole set of Mini Screwdrivers including Torx. Great Investment!
http://img.techpowerup.org/120907/IMG_0716166.jpg

I should invest in some. I've got really cheap screw drivers and they are wearing the thread down on the screws. I'm really scared to touch them again in case I fuck up the screw heads even more

phanbuey · Sep 7, 2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSTG8R

While that would get the cooler off it's gonna make it even MORE Hell trying to get the rest of the screw out

Still needs the screws "out" to put anything back on there.

well no - once you drill out the head the screw comes out away from the card... once he gets the card off he can then use pliers to get the remaining screws out of the heatsink base. At that point out can go to extreme lenghts without risk to the card.

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanbuey

well no - once you drill out the head the screw comes out away from the card... once he gets the card off he can then use pliers to get the remaining screws out of the heatsink base. At that point out can go to extreme lenghts without risk to the card.

Good point. I think I'll keep that as a last resort option though. I don't want to damage anything including the screws. Thank you

INSTG8R · Sep 7, 2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanbuey

well no - once you drill out the head the screw comes out away from the card... once he gets the card off he can then use pliers to get the remaining screws out of the heatsink base. At that point out can go to extreme lenghts without risk to the card.

If they aren't budging with a screwdriver what makes you think trying to grip whats left of the tiny shaft is going to be any easier to get out?

Needle nose pliers and a "grip of steel" is gonna amount to alot cursing and chewed up shafts and not alot of progress.

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSTG8R

If they aren't budging with a screwdriver what makes you think trying to grip whats left of the tiny shaft is going to be any easier to get out?

Needle nose pliers and a "grip of steel" is gonna amount to alot cursing and chewed up shafts and not alot of progress.

I see what he means though. The screw is screwed into the heat-sink. If I drilled off the top of the screw then the card would just come away from the heat-sink and that's what I want.

ObSo-1337 · Sep 7, 2012, 04:06 PM

Update: Got the screws off using the drill method. Now i need some screws!

Thanks for the help

sneekypeet · Sep 7, 2012, 04:52 PM

all the screws you need will come with an aftermarket cooler

To replace those, take a good one you have from the others removed from the back of the card and run to the hardware store. They should be able to match it up for you.

Sep 7, 2012, 12:38 PM	#1
ObSo-1337 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 233 (0.15/day) Thanks: 61 Thanked 34 Times in 20 Posts System Specs	Help! My 4890 died: Last week my beloved XFX 4890 heat sink fan died. Usually this is easy enough to fix (replace the fan/heat sink) but the four screws fixing the gpu bracket to the PCB will not budge. Someone said to me that they might be lock tight screws and the only way to remove them is the use a soldering iron?. Unfortunately I don't have access to a soldering iron at the moment and I would love if anyone had any tips or tricks about how to unscrew stubborn screws. Thanks.

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Sep 7, 2012, 01:02 PM	#2
FreedomEclipse Crazy Dogmatic Bullsh!t! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: (British Born Chinese) London, United Kingdom Posts: 7,528 (3.38/day) Thanks: 825 Thanked 1,606 Times in 1,285 Posts System Specs	Is it possible to have a pic of the screws you are trying to unscrew??? no manufacturer should put use tight lock screws (or gel on the screws) as this would only make it more difficult for them when it comes to being RMA'd In the event that you cant get it off. pick up a cheap Radeon 7850 or even a 6850 if you are on a budget.... Im guessing that you dont require a lot of horse power otherwise you would have upgraded from that 4890 a while back. __________________ “I used to be a serial upgrader like you, then i took a downgrade to the knee” -FreedomEclipse

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Sep 7, 2012, 01:05 PM	#3
phanbuey Eligible for custom title Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 5,010 (2.48/day) Thanks: 1,484 Thanked 959 Times in 812 Posts System Specs	a small drillbit to drill out the top of the screw would do the trick

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Sep 7, 2012, 01:20 PM	#6
DRDNA Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,122 (1.56/day) Thanks: 612 Thanked 494 Times in 424 Posts System Specs	Use a screwdriver that is designed for that size screw...It should come loose as I have never found one that did not...especially all four of them. __________________ Asus P6T Deluxe Intel X58/ i7-920CO@4.2GHZ 24/7 <> CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600.<> ThermalTake ToughPower 1200 WATT PSU 2X ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 <> Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System 320GBx4 Perpendicular RAID-0/BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer LG 50" 50PK550 1080p 600Hz Plasma/WestingHouse 37 inch @1920X1080/Windows 7 Pro/64

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Sep 7, 2012, 01:21 PM	#7
CJCerny Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 756 (0.46/day) Thanks: 2 Thanked 213 Times in 178 Posts	If Loctite Blue was used, you should still be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. If Loctite Red was used, you will not be able to remove the screws using a screwdriver. Using extreme heat (500F) will break the grip of Loctite Red, but you will cause damage to the PCB at that temperature.

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Sep 7, 2012, 04:06 PM	#14
ObSo-1337 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 233 (0.15/day) Thanks: 61 Thanked 34 Times in 20 Posts System Specs	Update: Got the screws off using the drill method. Now i need some screws! Thanks for the help

Sep 7, 2012, 04:52 PM	#15
sneekypeet Unpaid Babysitter Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 19,004 (7.32/day) Thanks: 3,035 Thanked 5,487 Times in 3,950 Posts System Specs	all the screws you need will come with an aftermarket cooler To replace those, take a good one you have from the others removed from the back of the card and run to the hardware store. They should be able to match it up for you. __________________ Hers: ASUS Maximus V Gene / i7 3770K / Swiftech H220 / 4X8GB Corsair Dominators / ASUS GTX660 / Corsair AX-760 / Windows 7 64bit / Fractal Design ARC Midi R2 Test: Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 / i7 2600K / A lot Of Coolers / Ripjaws Currently / HIS HD7950 IceQ Turbo / Silverstone SST-ST85F-G / Windows 7 64bit / InWin D-Frame Limited Edition

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