• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.
  • The forums have been upgraded with support for dark mode. By default it will follow the setting on your system/browser. You may override it by scrolling to the end of the page and clicking the gears icon.

Using mats on rtx 3070 to replace vram

payerman

New Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2023
Messages
8 (0.01/day)
So long story short. I have bought used MSI RTX 3070 ventus 3x OC that was artifacting and showing 0mb memory. I have tried reflashing bios but that didnt help :)
I have used MATS to check memory and the results you can find in the file attached. Card looked brand new and there was no any dust particles on it and has factory seal.
When unscrewing i have noticed that factory seal was put on top of the old one so that means msi was working on it in some way. After opening it i have noticed that one of the vram chips is discolored like a lot of heat was put on it and that corresponds to MATS more than less
so i have removed it and im planning to order new vram to soldered it back. My question is should i replace all 4 of them even the ones with small errors or maybe this errors are there because of that faulty vram??
Can anyone give me some clue on that. Thanks
 

Attachments

You have the equipent to solder the VRAM?
 
Might as well replace everything while you're at it, unless the cost becomes an issue. If you manage to source correct vram, which is no easy feat...
 
Replace em all. And add 16gb and let me know how it went.
 
Replace em all. And add 16gb and let me know how it went.
Bios update needed.

Replace all ram, but bear in mind the chip and or traces and resistors could be bad too
 
Bios update needed.

Replace all ram, but bear in mind the chip and or traces and resistors could be bad too
Ok .thanks for information . I will order 4 of them and will start with the one that is the culprit i think. It will take some time for them to come to uk so will let you guys know how it went at the end. Thanks
 
Bios update needed.

Replace all ram, but bear in mind the chip and or traces and resistors could be bad too
I'm curious actually, for the guys who modified to 16gb their 3070's, did they have to do major bios modifications.
 
I'm curious actually, for the guys who modified to 16gb their 3070's, did they have to do major bios modifications.
I have been very tempted to get in contact to see if I could get my 3070Ti modded.. it would be nice, but I am positive it comes at a price..
 
I have been very tempted to get in contact to see if I could get my 3070Ti modded.. it would be nice, but I am positive it comes at a price..

Yeah, doubt it would be worth it mate. You're better off with a 4070/ti or wait till next gen and see what they bring to the table. Then this gen should in theory get cheaper.
 
Yeah, doubt it would be worth it mate. You're better off with a 4070/ti or wait till next gen and see what they bring to the table. Then this gen should in theory get cheaper.
I know, I am pretty close to buying a 4070 Ti right now. Its pretty much the same price as I paid for my 3070 Ti a couple of years ago :/

Maybe a wee bit more if I get a nice one :D

Edit:

My backup is a GTX 580 Matrix Platinum.. :rolleyes:
 
I'm curious actually, for the guys who modified to 16gb their 3070's, did they have to do major bios modifications.
That you do due to memory addressing
 
Just leaving this here:

@payerman for best chance of success, I would suggest getting a full set of matching memory chips, to prevent any problems with mismatched revisions or bins.

I would suggest the card was probably mined to death, then more or less repaired. Even if the memory is replaced, the bus, traces, and memory VRM will probably have suffered as well - not trying to discourage you but just keep your expectations in check.

Keep us updated, you may have to change BIOS if your VRAM timings are not stable with the new chips.
 
So long story short. I have bought used MSI RTX 3070 ventus 3x OC that was artifacting and showing 0mb memory. I have tried reflashing bios but that didnt help :)
I have used MATS to check memory and the results you can find in the file attached. Card looked brand new and there was no any dust particles on it and has factory seal.
When unscrewing i have noticed that factory seal was put on top of the old one so that means msi was working on it in some way. After opening it i have noticed that one of the vram chips is discolored like a lot of heat was put on it and that corresponds to MATS more than less
so i have removed it and im planning to order new vram to soldered it back. My question is should i replace all 4 of them even the ones with small errors or maybe this errors are there because of that faulty vram??
Can anyone give me some clue on that. Thanks

So long story short you bought a defective card thinking you could repair it and get a card for cheap. But then you come ask here what to do because you're not familiar with GPU repairs. It's a job by itself, even skilled micro soldering electronicians with years of experience sometimes can't repair them.

It's like if you buy a broken car and ask us how to repair it. It's a pro job, and if you ask questions about it, no offense but it means you are not.

Maybe it's the VRAM, maybe it's something else, it could be so many things that asking what it could be here is pointless.

Dont try to repair GPUs by yourself thinking you'll earn easy bucks just because you know how to microsolder. It's a rabbit hole. Either you go all the way to learn and you make this a pro activity or you dont start at all.
 
So long story short you bought a defective card thinking you could repair it and get a card for cheap. But then you come ask here what to do because you're not familiar with GPU repairs. It's a job by itself, even skilled micro soldering electronicians with years of experience sometimes can't repair them.

It's like if you buy a broken car and ask us how to repair it. It's a pro job, and if you ask questions about it, no offense but it means you are not.

Maybe it's the VRAM, maybe it's something else, it could be so many things that asking what it could be here is pointless.

Dont try to repair GPUs by yourself thinking you'll earn easy bucks just because you know how to microsolder. It's a rabbit hole. Either you go all the way to learn and you make this a pro activity or you dont start at all.
Yup plenty of pros on youtube with websites that people can send their pcbs to
 
Yeah, doubt it would be worth it mate. You're better off with a 4070/ti or wait till next gen and see what they bring to the table. Then this gen should in theory get cheaper.
Always waiting for the prices to go down...(sighs) lol and I just saw an RTX4070 for around $365.
All video cards seem to be lower at this time due to several market reasons.
The same RTX3060 I was looking at a few months ago is at least $100 less, as is the RTX3060Ti.

Slightly off topic, just a commentary.

I remember the long list of Nvida purchases. Always hoping for a good price. o_O
Canopus Spectra 2500 $200 sometime in 1999
Winfast Leadtech GForce 2 Ultra @$250 2001 for my sons computer
Gainward Golden Sample GF3 64Mb Vi/Vo $350
skip a few - about $300
BFG 5700 256Mb $130 on ebay
BFG 6400 Ultra 256Mb $300 on sale from BFG not used right away because of PSU limitations.
BFG goes out of business.
About a year later, I try the card with my new system and it - of course - is dead, flashing random ASCII characters. Card was pristine from the envelope.
BFG still had a lifetime warranty and a company to process returns for a number of years.
I was sent a GForce 9800 GT 2Gb single power connector (good trade up) put it in my wifes computer.
EVGA GF 8800 384Mb $260
EVGA GTS450 FTW 1Gb $150 at CompUSA it was a random off the shelf purchase while shopping for a new case/PSU for my wife, and 3 x WIndows 7 Ultra - 2011
EVGA GTX460 1Gb $200 at BestBuy for wife's computer - 2011. It died just over the 3 year limit and EVGA still RMA'd it, received a GTX660 (another good tradeup)
In the meanwhile, I purchased an EVGA 465 on big sale for $175 for the wife. 2013
I kept the GTX660 as it took awhile to arrive.
Recently, purchased an ASUS TUF 3-GTX1660S-O6G-GAMING for around $275 - 2020
If you were curious, that comes to around $2590, not counting inflation. o.0
Anyway, thanks if you read it.
peace
 
So long story short you bought a defective card thinking you could repair it and get a card for cheap. But then you come ask here what to do because you're not familiar with GPU repairs. It's a job by itself, even skilled micro soldering electronicians with years of experience sometimes can't repair them.

It's like if you buy a broken car and ask us how to repair it. It's a pro job, and if you ask questions about it, no offense but it means you are not.

Maybe it's the VRAM, maybe it's something else, it could be so many things that asking what it could be here is pointless.

Dont try to repair GPUs by yourself thinking you'll earn easy bucks just because you know how to microsolder. It's a rabbit hole. Either you go all the way to learn and you make this a pro activity or you dont start at all.
If you want to know im doing it for fun. I dont care about money just trying to fix something and be happy doing that. If it will work great if not no problems. Im not asking what to do .I just wanted to ask for suggestions about mats as i never used it before. All the cards i have fixed before have power delivery problems mostly burned components or faulty mosfets. Some of them just faulty components that i have replaced using thermal camera and voltage injection.I dont understand why so much hate is coming from you :). On the other hand i have plugged the card again to see what will happen without that chip. Its still giving picture but mats is showing something completely different this time if someone is interested :)
 

Attachments

If you want to know im doing it for fun. I dont care about money just trying to fix something and be happy doing that. If it will work great if not no problems. Im not asking what to do .I just wanted to ask for suggestions about mats as i never used it before. All the cards i have fixed before have power delivery problems mostly burned components or faulty mosfets. Some of them just faulty components that i have replaced using thermal camera and voltage injection.I dont understand why so much hate is coming from you :). On the other hand i have plugged the card again to see what will happen without that chip. Its still giving picture but mats is showing something completely different this time if someone is interested :)
dont mind that jerkoff. Keep posting. I am intrigued.
 
Today i have received 4 modules from china K4Z80325BC-HC14 . 2 different suppliers from aliexpress. All of them are already reballed so it will make the job easy. Will try to solder one of them and see what happens. One seller was stating new and they loks like it other 100% check so maybe its ok but used.
 
I hope you can manage a successful surgery. I'm looking forward to seeing your results ;)
 
Sorry for keep your waiting guys. I have a lot of other things to repair and 2 Holidays to attend so this was at the end of them on the list to do. I have soldered this ram today and the card looks like its working fine. Drivers installed succesfully and was tested ok. 10min kombustor check is fine. Mats is still giving errors but i have heard that it has something to do with blinking type at the end So it Will always faul. To make sure i tried that on few cards and brand New 3080 and it still gives small errors. So that musy be the case. Im including some photos of them surgery and wish your guys the Best. Especially those who believe in me
 

Attachments

  • 20230913_185820.jpg
    20230913_185820.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 476
  • 20230913_190736.jpg
    20230913_190736.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 331
  • 20230913_193204.jpg
    20230913_193204.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 340
  • 20230913_201933.jpg
    20230913_201933.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 323
  • 20230913_203043.jpg
    20230913_203043.jpg
    3 MB · Views: 363
  • 20230913_205125.jpg
    20230913_205125.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 479
Most impressive.
 
I have heat the board to around 100 degrees then use the the brush to spread the flux. For this operation i didnt use liquid flux because i didnt want it to spill everywhere. It was used when i was removing it. 450 degrees with good adaptor that was almost the size of vram chip and thats it. Basically it gets to place itself after heating it up.30% airflow then going to 50% at a the end when i see its seated 80% for 30secs. Little nudge to check if its swimming and there we go. Its in my pc right now so will test it more just to check if everything is fine. So i think i will sell my 3090 to get some money back and keep that for some time when prices of 4090 will go down. Im very busy right now so im not playing any demanding games at the moment. 3070 should be fine. Its doing 4k 120hz with hdr on my tv so im happy with that. My previous 2080ti couldnt do it because of hdmi restrictions or no hdr when using dp to hdmi adaptor.Will let you know if there are any problems. Thank you for watching this post
 
100°C
450°F
?

Is that corruption on the image?
 

Attachments

  • corruption.jpg
    corruption.jpg
    87 KB · Views: 163
Back
Top