So...my graphics card died. I've cross tested it with two loaned ones and with a functioning card, everything is fine. (the first one I swapped it for was also broken, go figure) Anyway, I'd likt to try the "Oven Trick" to try and save the card. It's in a very old pc and the cheapest new PCIexpress cards I could find are still dearer than the entire pc. At what temperature and time should I bake the card? Best regards, Eric
Strip it, whack it in the oven @ 200 for 7-8 minutes and then stick the cooler back on. That said a replacement 2nd hand card would not be at all expensive.
Stick it in the microwave, it's sure to fix it! I do not take any responsibility for anything that happens...
Well, I hadn't hoped for it, but it actually worked I probably should have taken off the VGA-extender, as it was cabled and melted a bit but the machine runs again. Unbelievable, Thx!
I picked up an 8800GT from the Marketplace for a fiver a couple of years ago. A quick bake had it and and running and it only recently died completely. Obviously this trick is not always going to work and of course left to long in the oven a pile of plastic is likely to be the result. But if you have nothing to loose then worth a try.
I've seen this trick done before but I always wonder why the components facing downwards don't just fall off when the solder melts?
Generally even melted solder can hold relatively large items in place as long as they're not nudged. Obviously trying to hang an entire GPU by melted solder is likely to fail but most smaller things stay due to the viscosity of the solder. (Viscosity may be completely the wrong word lol)
Yeah there is a balance of enough heat to get a decent reflow and ending up with a pile of surface mounted caps.
I imagine it's surface tension that would hold parts in place. I believe liquid solder has a convex meniscus, demonstrating it's high surface tension properties.
I'm not sure it's really haeted to the melting point, ideally it would be heated to the point where annealing takes place but in a normal oven (and not knowing what solder was used) this is all moot. Just heat it and hope for the best.
