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Bringing a 9800GT back from the dead!

U

uberDoward

Junior Member
Thought this might be interesting for you all!

Long story short, dead 9800GT given to me by a friend. Artifacting like mad, crashing, etc.

So what do to?

First, we prep the card:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt0UMJOtvhE

Second, we cook the card:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaZ9YKmoQWs

Third, we reassemble the card:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_neMli1z6g

Finally, we enjoy the card!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14i05IuBVGI

Temperature testing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHEDx-3AQY0

I can't tell you how many Xboxes, PS3s, motherboards, and what not I've managed to reflow with this freaking oven. First video card, though 😉
 
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Love the oven technique. It brought my beloved 8800GTX back to life. Keep in mind you may have to do this again and again. It won't last forever 🙂 Nice Videos!
 
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Thanks! So far so good. I can't think of a single item I've hot flowed so far that needed re-doing, including a couple original Xbox360s. Maybe I've just been lucky 😉
 
Doubt it will last. I gave up on trying to bake those old junk cards. But if OP's other stuff has lasted a while (as in more than a few months which is the max I ever got out of my 8800GT), then maybe there is another factor involved?

That is, maybe not all failing solder joints are the same and some (due to different solder etc.) actually last longer? Maybe those xbox360, PS3s failed for similar reasons but unlike the Geforces their solder actually last longer after being reflown?

All speculation, but the real problem is that manufacturers are seldom forthcoming about why something broke. Although I'm sure internally Microsoft, Sony and Nvidia know exactly which parts fail and why the failed.
 
I'll keep tabs on the card, and if it fails again, I'll provide more data to that end.

I did play completely through Heart of the Swarm beginning to end with no issues, though, so I'm happy so far.

I need to see about getting temperature monitoring off the card - since I polished the heatsink and replaced the heatsink compound, I wonder if I"m running cooler than normal (may extend the life of the card?)
 
After heating, adding extra cooling measures is always a good idea. If a card will manage to stay below 60C at all times, chances are, it can work for quite a long time.
 
I'll need to toss RivaTuner on the comp and see what we've got, then 😉 Also look up average other temps under load, see what kind of improvements we got out of polishing and compound!
 
This does work I have done it many times.

The last card I did it with was a 9800 GT reference design by ASUS.

The card originally lasted around 6 months or so. After that it had terrible artifacting, blocks, screen flashes, and lines even when not playing games.

At the time I replaced it and forgot about it so I left it way past the warranty expiration date.

I decided I had nothing to lose so I baked it, twice.

I removed the cooler and the thermal pads and cleaned it.

Put it back together and 0 problems. I ran it for quite a few months and then sold it with a Pentium D system for $350.
 
I've got a dead gtx 295 but not much reason to bother trying to fix it.. I wish I did this years ago when it broke though.
 
That was interesting, you did a good job. I'm batting .500 on baking, one saved motherboard and one not saved.

BTW, did you tell your friend you fixed the card?
 
From my experience baking actually works sometimes, especially if you've used subzero cooling along with your hardware. In the past I've managed to bring back my beloved Rampage Extreme X48. Sadly she died again like 3 moths after :/
 
balane, sure did! He was impressed lol.

TidusZ, how much would you want for that GTX 295? I'd be happy to flow it, and do a video on it!

Installing RivaTuner to check temps now.
 
Idle temp - 60C (also showed an ambient temp of 44C, although my case temp in all locations is 73F (23C), and the ambient temp in the house is the same, so not sure how much I trust it.

Ran 3DMark 2011 on it, max temp was 75C. So a 15C rise, and I could hear the card's fan kick up a notch or two.

I'm seeing reports that these 9800s will run 90C+, so I'm happy with the results!
 
i have a 9800gtx+ i need to bake, i even have an old toaster oven to do it with.

the problem is the oven is one of blackNdecker's first models before they cheaped out on materials in the eventual costcutting all commodity items face. so it's actually a very good oven that im hesitant to contaminate with all the chemicals/smells that will offgas when you bake a card.
 
gorobei said:
i have a 9800gtx+ i need to bake, i even have an old toaster oven to do it with.

the problem is the oven is one of blackNdecker's first models before they cheaped out on materials in the eventual costcutting all commodity items face. so it's actually a very good oven that im hesitant to contaminate with all the chemicals/smells that will offgas when you bake a card.
Click to expand...
It won't contaminate your oven... Open the window.

Use a real oven not a sissy toaster oven.
 
I baked a GTX 280, and it's still going strong almost two years later. I gave it to a friend, and I don't think he does a lot of gaming--maybe not enough heating/cooling to break the soldered connections again.
 
This being an XFX brand card, wouldn't it have had a lifetime warranty? I understand the fun/intrigue in doing what you did, but couldn't you have sent it in for replacement?
 
OCNewbie said:
This being an XFX brand card, wouldn't it have had a lifetime warranty? I understand the fun/intrigue in doing what you did, but couldn't you have sent it in for replacement?
Click to expand...

wonder if you could return it in say another 10 years (2023). since 9800gt is not available anymore, much less parts to fix it. XFX just give you a refurbish GT1210 (or whatever it is called at that time). even though it is the slower nvidia gpu at the time. it be blazing fast compare to a 9800gt from 2008. :biggrin:

gotta love lifetime warranty!!
 
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