Dying GPU, can it be fixed?

[LastEntertainment]

To preface: this card is second-hand and it was free. I'm unsure of its history; maybe it was used for mining at some point and something got (maybe) irreversibly fucked up, but I'm still try to find out if it's salvageable.

GPU issues:

• Red horizontal lines across the screen during boot and Windows logon and a single red horizontal line on the left side while using the OS and the BIOS
• Installing any of its drivers black-screen crashes at the halfway point and you're forced to boot into safe mode and uninstall the drivers to use Windows normally again
• Some scratches on the die itself, pictured below (no, I didn't cause them, they were already there)
• Erratic fans, had to remove them and use case fans instead

Otherwise the card is actually perfectly fine to use as a glorified basic display adapter, you can use Windows normally, browse the internet, watch videos, etc. In fact, I'm using it right now to type this up.

Tested it before and after cleaning it and reapplying thermal paste and nothing changed whatsoever. I also tried flashing the BIOS and did so successfully but the same problems persist.

Test system specs (PSU is an EVGA Supernova NEX650G) and the GPU in question:

GPU details:

Hawaii Bios Reader details before BIOS flash (original ROM):

Details after BIOS flash (TPU latest ROM):

PCB and close-up of the scratched die:

 

[Frick]

GPUs die, and iirc those specific cards had a bit of a habit to die off sooner rather than later. Last chance is baking, but it probably won't work and if you do it wrong you'll mess up the oven.

 

[Laurijan]

GPUs die, and iirc those specific cards had a bit of a habit to die off sooner rather than later. Last chance is baking, but it probably won't work and if you do it wrong you'll mess up the oven.

the oven gonna be a chemical hazard after that

 

[Shrek]

Use a heat gun and flux, not an oven.

Video Card Reflow | Electronics Repair And Technology News Video Card Reflow (jestineyong.com)

 

[delshay]

Use a heat gun and flux, not an oven.

Video Card Reflow | Electronics Repair And Technology News Video Card Reflow (jestineyong.com)

Thank you. I don't know where this baking card started, but it's a load of rubbish. I would start by checking memory & GPU ball contacts. There's software out there which can give pointers where the fault is.

 

[Frick]

the oven gonna be a chemical hazard after that

Not if done properly, which is why I said "you can mess up the oven".

Thank you. I don't know where this baking card started, but it's a load of rubbish.

Because it can work. I've resurrected GPUs that way. But sure, temp controlled heat guns work too.

 

[delshay]

Because it can work. I've resurrected GPUs that way. But sure, temp controlled heat guns work too.

Do you know the melting point of solder manufacture use? It's 215 - 230C. By that time plastic connector(s) would have bubbled-up. Baking a complete card has extremely high chance of killing the card. If you look at YOUTUBE professional repair, you will never see them baking a card, because that's foolish. The proper way is to desolder/reball, that's what I do here.

Even so called professional sometimes get it wrong, because I see them blowing up capacitors when trying to desolder nearby component, but I give them a thumbs up because they still get whatever device working. So full respect there.

Everyone has they own method in carrying out repairs, but you never see me put a complete card in an oven, that's reserved for reballing only.


EDIT: @OP

Start by cleaning/remover all the thermal paste around the capacitors on the GPU. Use a brush (not a tooth brush). I use a paint brush. Tip the card facing down so that when you disturb the paste it falls to the floor..

 

[LastEntertainment]

Shame, I was hoping some software tinkering could fix it. Don't think this card is worth trying to reflow. RIP.

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

Yeah, it screams hardware problems. Only worth repairing for the sake of science. Makes negative sense from economic POV.

 

[KedsDead]

Those pesky silicon crystals (or what ever they're called) that grow inside the chips with long term usage. Have not heard them mentioned or anything since the 90's. But if the card has seen alot of use over the years, that could be your culprit. Sadly, all electronics will die eventually know matter how much care you give them.

 

[Zareek]

Because it can work. I've resurrected GPUs that way. But sure, temp controlled heat guns work too.

Yup, I resurrected a MXM GPU twice that way. IIRC, it was an 8600M GT(whatever the Asus C90S came with). I used a toaster oven, with an oven setting.

 

[Shrek]

If one uses flux, once may be enough.

 

[Frick]

Do you know the melting point of solder manufacture use? It's 215 - 230C. By that time plastic connector(s) would have bubbled-up. Baking a complete card has extremely high chance of killing the card. If you look at YOUTUBE professional repair, you will never see them baking a card, because that's foolish. The proper way is to desolder/reball, that's what I do here.

Even so called professional sometimes get it wrong, because I see them blowing up capacitors when trying to desolder nearby component, but I give them a thumbs up because they still get whatever device working. So full respect there.

Everyone has they own method in carrying out repairs, but you never see me put a complete card in an oven, that's reserved for reballing only.

It's not repairing my dude, it's akin to duct tape and hoping it'll hold together a while longer.

 

[Double-Click]

Had a similar issue on a GTX 780 (red lines, flickering screen) in my case it was the VRAM.
EVGA replaced it and then the replacement died the same slow death.

You can try a heatgun if you have one as said, but generally speaking sounds like it's toast.