Is there a way to fix this? GeFORCE 8600GT

[TrippiN]

hello, I recently just found an old graphics card that i had stored a long time ago. I think what happened was it sparked and caught a tiny flame before i shut my computer off quickly. Is there anything I can do to fix this myself? I tried to do some research but all i found was people fixing capacitors. I did a little more digging and I think this is called a VRM or something? Anyways, if anyone can help

 

[robot zombie]

Ooo fried mosfet. Looks like it's part of a VRM phase, though maybe not for the GPU itself. Usually there are several phases for GPU vcore. Maybe its for memory.

What I can see is fixable... ...you need to get another mosfet and solder it on. Not really that different from replacing capacitors/resistors.

Mosfet failure is a bit suspect. I mean it does happen but usually the inductor or capacitor will go first. Bottom line is, that mosfet got REALLY hot when it shouldn't have. And its entirely possible that another fault is to blame, rather than the mosfet just having "gone bad". Sometimes they do just get too hot and fail, or they lock-up and fail... but it shouldn't really happen on a well-designed board with properly selected components. It's not the worst thing that could happen in terms of damage to the rest of the card, but it suggests other problems. Or just cheap fets/caps/etc... ...neither here nor there. Just something that needs investigating.

At the very least the inductor on that phase may now be ready to go too, depending on how/why that mosfet went. I'm not versed enough to say for sure what happened, but it would be a good idea to also replace the capacitor(s) and inductor on that phase.

I mean, you can replace the mosfet and call it a day... ...doesn't mean it won't fail again, or that something related won't go next (if it hasn't already.) My point is that its worth trying to diagnose why that mosfet failed if you really wanna fix it.

I will also tell you what I told the last person who asked something like this. This isn't a DIY job. The chances of succeeding without experience and equipment is pretty low. You'll burn up a lot of time and money for only a slight chance of actually fixing the problem, assuming the problem is one you can actually see (many times it isn't.) If you're gonna do it, take your time and just enjoy it. Make it a little project you research and work on in your spare time. The best you can probably hope for is to learn something.

 

[Supercrit]

The whole card itself is worth less than the chip that will fix it, not counting all the soldering equipment and time you will spend on it. If you want to have fun or learn to fix a GPU, go ahead, but otherwise don't waste your whole afternoon for this.

 

[Apocalypsee]

I agree what robot zombie an supercrit said.

First thing to do is to identify what it is, simple thing to do is look at the chip and find its number. Googling the number will reveal what it is. You can find it easily one some site like element14. But a chip burned like that is usually because of the component it connected to, for example capacitor/induction or resistor failing. Troubleshooting that requires a lot of time if you just using DMM without any PCB layout or datasheet.

It will make a good DIY project but solder/desolder multilayer PCB is not a beginner thing to do. Its harder than just solder/desolder a through-PCB electrolyctic capacitor

 

[eidairaman1]

hello, I recently just found an old graphics card that i had stored a long time ago. I think what happened was it sparked and caught a tiny flame before i shut my computer off quickly. Is there anything I can do to fix this myself? I tried to do some research but all i found was people fixing capacitors. I did a little more digging and I think this is called a VRM or something? Anyways, if anyone can help

@buildzoid has a pretty good understanding of Vrms etc even resurrected boards by crude means too lol.

Ask him a question through a private message or ask him here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrwObTfqv8u1KO7Fgk-FXHQ

It might be cheaper to buy an 8600GT, or a 9000 swries part of theirs

 

[hat]

I agree with everyone else. It's not an easy thing to do, and it's definitely not worth doing just for the sake of saving the card. It would be good to learn from though.

 

[Readlight]

you will end up whit artificial artifacts on screen until something will burn down.

 

[Keullo-e]

So many pessimistic posts.

Fixing hardware (or at least trying to fix it) is fun, and as I buy even more old hardware like AGP graphics cards, fixing stuff from that era is just cool.

 

[robot zombie]

So many pessimistic posts.

Fixing hardware (or at least trying to fix it) is fun, and as I buy even more old hardware like AGP graphics cards, fixing stuff from that era is just cool.

I agree! But I think what we're all kind of getting at is that buying the stuff to do it and putting in the time just to have a working card is probably a very bad use of time/money. Doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't. The idea just needs to be tempered with reality. If your only goal is to have something work... ...or to have a walkthrough that's gonna allow you to succeed for minimal time/effort, you're going to be let down. Sometimes, even paying someone to fix it costs more than a suitable replacement. Same with buying the gear to fix it and taking a chance with no experience. Best not to bother and just move on if all you want is for the part to work again. It just isn't worth it.

Just kind of one of those obligatory things to point out for the uninitiated. Its more of an endeavor and gamble than many people who've never done it seem to make it out to be. Not really meant to say "don't bother." More just "don't do this for the wrong reasons."

Don't get me wrong, it's a great challenge for those with a mind for figuring things out on their own and I'm sure that at least a few of us here would be happy to give a starting point in that case. Not a bad hobby to get into if you care about understanding the technology that goes into these things better.

 

[Keullo-e]

Yeah, I got the point. Usually I happen to have spare parts for fixing things, so no money wasted if something just keeps being broken.

Hell, I even fixed my brothers' Xbox with caps from a broken motherboard.