Graphics 9800GX2. Able to use 'half' the card?

Here's my situation:

9800GX2 displays strange lines all across the screen no matter what. They are there during post, windows boot, login etc. The card is out of warranty and XFX, in a nutshell, told me tough $#!%.

I have come to the conclusion that one, or both of the GPUs got fried.
To save everyone time with suggestions, I have already exhausted all options to fix the card. It is dead, I have come to terms with that.

My question is, does anyone know if I take apart the unit and run just one half of the card (obviously the one that has the PCIe) would it be detected and function as a single 8800GT card? And by doing so, determining if it is that GPU that is dead.

 

The problem you might find by attempting this, is that although the card is built like SLI in a box the power connectors control different parts of the cards .The 8 pin connector supplies power to the fan. if the busted bit is the side with the fan controller, then what? if you disconnect the power to 1/2 of the card the whole lot will refuse to work.It may be possible to do what you want. As the cards already on the way out it couldn't do any harm to try. It might be possible to get a busted one off fleabay and combine all the good bits to make up one card.

 

You could just disable SLI on it & windows would use it as 2 seperate cards.

 

It needs baking/solder reflow on one half of the GPU.

Before starting see if you can get some flex(? not exactly sure what its called?)) the stuff you add to stop it getting too brittle.

 

Stick it in the oven

No really, it looks like its pretty much dead and if it does need a reflow the oven will do the trick
(obviouly, a heat gun would be the better solution, but im ghetto )

 

I've read about baking it, but I don't think the lady of the house would much appreciate me using her oven to bake my electronics.

But I do have a heat gun! What and where am I heating? And for how long?

 

Buy a nice new shiny card?

 

I wouldn't try using a heat gun on it unless you're intending to make sure it does never work again. Cooking it in the oven really is the best idea, just wait till noone is around then get it in there.

 

I've read that the temp should be set at 200C and baked for 8-9 min?

So,

Preheat and then put it in and start the timer?

Or

Put it in and let it reach the 200 at the same time the oven does, then start the timer?

 

I dont know if a heat gun would provide enough direct heat across the card. If you're going to cook it go with the baking thing.

 

If you are going to bake it dont forget to take fans and heatsink etc off first.

 

cards need to be stripped bare

do a google

 

From what I have seen 385F (which is around 195C) for 10 minutes is the recommended temp and time.

Pre heat the oven, remove anything you can, ie fans, shrouds, heat-sinks etc.

Put the card on a tray with little balls of foil in the corners to stop the card touching the tray, try and keep the card as level as possible. Pop it in for 10 minutes and hope to god it works.

Disclaimer: I have never tried this, I am not sure I would have the balls to try it, though if the card is dead already maybe I would. I take no responsibility for you breaking you card further, domestic disputes and setting your house on fire.


Edit: Just found this. Looks promising...

 

Most excellent info, I have the card stripped down to nothing, cleaned off the excessive amount of thermal paste that was slathered on the GPUs, and is now ready to bake.

I do have a few hours before my girlfriend comes home.......

To the kitchen!

I'll let you know what happens!

 

Waiting with baited breath mate, so underhanded... lol

 

What happened??

 

I smell burning silicone. Gulp. Even my misses is asking if its ready to serve yet!

 

Well, the card didn't melt and no pieces fell off so that's something.

I wont know if it worked or not until I get some more thermal paste. There's never enough of that lying around when you really need it.

I'll update as soon as I get it tested. *Crossing fingers*

 

well??... did it work??.. i know it did!!!.. did it??... answer damn it *eating all fingernails at once*

 

waiting with baited breath