Did the RMA guys "bake" my GPU?

[-Slacker-]

Yesterday my GPU broke down again (I can tell because I can still hear the windows logo on reboot), Thankfully it's still under another year of warranty.

So the first time I RMA'd it, they sent it back and said that there was nothing wrong with it and, apparently, there wasnt; It was working fine, and it was the exact same card(not just the same model or anything, literally the same card) Before I sent it, I tried to get it working every way possible, I switched the PCI-E slots, I moved the cable to the other video port, I even tested it on another monitor - same thing: The windows logo was audible but there was no image.

By that point, I'm sure most people would conclude that it was busted, which is why I found it strange that they told me it really wasn't.

It's only now that it came to me that the only way the card would not work before I RMA'd it, and would work after they sent it back is if they baked it.

 

[Soundmanred]

No.

 

[-Slacker-]

No.

I'd like to hear your reasoning too.

 

[3DVagabond]

While anything is possible, I'd lean more towards "intermittent short" than totally unethical business practices.

 

[-Slacker-]

So, basically, I just have to wait it out and see if it works again in a few days?

If this is the same problem that I had before, is there any way I can fix it on my own?

 

[3DVagabond]

No. You contact their RMA dept and explain to them that, while the card worked for a bit after they returned it to you, it is doing the same thing again. Ask them to consider it's an intermittent problem that while it might not occur for them, the card is in fact defective.

 

[-Slacker-]

Mmm, I like where this is going ... If they're going to replace my card, it could be a faster DX11 "equivalent", because my model isn't even available in stores anymore.

 

[Keysplayr]

While anything is possible, I'd lean more towards "intermittent short" than totally unethical business practices.

What is unethical about baking a video card? I would think that is a method of repair. Repairs cracks in solder points.
What is it that you claim as totally unethical business practices?
And by the way, wouldn't an intermittent short most likely be a fractured or cracked solder point in which baking would usually repair?

 

[3DVagabond]

What is unethical about baking a video card? I would think that is a method of repair. Repairs cracks in solder points.
What is it that you claim as totally unethical business practices?
And by the way, wouldn't an intermittent short most likely be a fractured or cracked solder point in which baking would usually repair?

Baking is only temporary. It's not a permanent repair.

 

[tommo123]

yep. same as what people did with ylod PS3s. bake em, get it working and sell it 2nd hand. days/weeks later it breaks down again.

totally unethical.

 

[Avalon]

I seriously doubt a major company would do something like that, knowing full well it's only a temporary fix. Chances are they just didn't come across your problem, and since they are likely a very small team with very limited time, passed it off as user error and moved onto the next RMA.

 

[-Slacker-]

And by the way, wouldn't an intermittent short most likely be a fractured or cracked solder point [...]?

But if that's the case, then how did my card suddenly start working after they sent it back the first time? Without them supposedly doing anything to fix it, I mean.

 

[imagoon]

Baking is only temporary. It's not a permanent repair.

There is a significant difference in baking in a fab / manufactures setting compared to baking PS3s or nvidia video cards in your toaster oven at home.

 

[airdata]

when you got it back, did it smell like french fries?

I remember the first time I heard of baking a bard... I sold this guy an 8800gtx i'd had that was not displaying video. Think I was selling it for $30 or something and the dude told me he was going to bake it in the oven. Then emailed me to let me know it worked!

 

[nanaki333]

when you got it back, did it smell like french fries?

I remember the first time I heard of baking a bard... I sold this guy an 8800gtx i'd had that was not displaying video. Think I was selling it for $30 or something and the dude told me he was going to bake it in the oven. Then emailed me to let me know it worked!

how long ago was that? were the 9x00 and 8x00 GPUs still the kings? if so, he got a mad deal!

 

[Seero]

Yesterday my GPU broke down again (I can tell because I can still hear the windows logo on reboot), Thankfully it's still under another year of warranty.

So the first time I RMA'd it, they sent it back and said that there was nothing wrong with it and, apparently, there wasnt; It was working fine, and it was the exact same card(not just the same model or anything, literally the same card) Before I sent it, I tried to get it working every way possible, I switched the PCI-E slots, I moved the cable to the other video port, I even tested it on another monitor - same thing: The windows logo was audible but there was no image.

By that point, I'm sure most people would conclude that it was busted, which is why I found it strange that they told me it really wasn't.

It's only now that it came to me that the only way the card would not work before I RMA'd it, and would work after they sent it back is if they baked it.

There is no reason for those technician to lie like that. They simply run some analysis procedures to identify defects (problems) and if the card indeed passes everything, then there are nothing wrong. Don't worry, during testing, they sometimes use a hammer to ensure joins are secure.

No, they won't bake your card. It isn't a proper procedure. Baking does sometimes fixes problems related to soldiering problem, but it isn't a guarantee. If you have a dead card without warranty, baking it may resurrect it, or some more nails to the coffin. If there are no problems to begin with, you really shouldn't bake it. It isn't hard for technician to identify problems as they have special equipment for testing. Once defects are found, they fix it. Maybe it is as simple as a bad join or a bad cap, which takes them 10 second to fix anyways. The time it takes to test your card as by far longer than to fix a problem as the test will likely to show where defects are. However, those tests are designed for cards that operates under usual environment, and over 300c isn't classify as normal as parts that ain't problematic may become problematic and those tests won't identify new defects arise due to baking. Therefore, they won't bake your card.

The key is, is your card working now? Mind you that you won't get a new card when you RMA, you get a fixed card from other RMAs. You can insist that the problem still persist and send it back again, but doesn't matter if you got the same card back or a different card, both should pass standard tests, meaning that it works. Insist on having a different card doesn't mean the problem which you once have will not come back. If the card is indeed operates without issues, then the problem may be on the rest of your setup or the way you set it up.

 

[aigomorla]

There is a significant difference in baking in a fab / manufactures setting compared to baking PS3s or nvidia video cards in your toaster oven at home.

+1 to this....

 

[Meghan54]

There is no reason for those technician to lie like that. They simply run some analysis procedures to identify defects (problems) and if the card indeed passes everything, then there are nothing wrong. Don't worry, during testing, they sometimes use a hammer to ensure joins are secure.

No, they won't bake your card. It isn't a proper procedure. Baking does sometimes fixes problems related to soldiering problem, but it isn't a guarantee. If you have a dead card without warranty, baking it may resurrect it, or some more nails to the coffin. If there are no problems to begin with, you really shouldn't bake it. It isn't hard for technician to identify problems as they have special equipment for testing. Once defects are found, they fix it. Maybe it is as simple as a bad join or a bad cap, which takes them 10 second to fix anyways. The time it takes to test your card as by far longer than to fix a problem as the test will likely to show where defects are. However, those tests are designed for cards that operates under usual environment, and over 300c isn't classify as normal as parts that ain't problematic may become problematic and those tests won't identify new defects arise due to baking. Therefore, they won't bake your card.

The key is, is your card working now? Mind you that you won't get a new card when you RMA, you get a fixed card from other RMAs. You can insist that the problem still persist and send it back again, but doesn't matter if you got the same card back or a different card, both should pass standard tests, meaning that it works. Insist on having a different card doesn't mean the problem which you once have will not come back. If the card is indeed operates without issues, then the problem may be on the rest of your setup or the way you set it up.

Nice story. Too bad the last two RMA's I've had with ASUS cards didn't follow anything like that....got returned the same card both times the first RMA with absolutely nothing done to them. And actually, both returned in worse condition than when I sent them in.

It took three (3) RMA's for both cards to finally get the problem with each fixed.

One, a 3870 TOP card, took two months to get a working card returned to me. The second, a 5850, took almost three months to get a working return......and that was only because I called their Tier 3 repair section personally. The card had just been sitting there, untested, unrepaired, untouched for well over a month.

This is why ASUS video cards will never be again purchased by myself. (Both functioning returns were sold immediately upon receiving them.....esp. after the second go round.) So, while some RMA facilities may test and repair the first time, I was told ASUS doesn't.....and my experiences, however limited, demonstrates that. Horrible.

 

[Seero]

Nice story. Too bad the last two RMA's I've had with ASUS cards didn't follow anything like that....got returned the same card both times the first RMA with absolutely nothing done to them. And actually, both returned in worse condition than when I sent them in.

It took three (3) RMA's for both cards to finally get the problem with each fixed.

Maybe you have missed the point of this thread. OP received a perfectly working card, not a wore down card that are put back to gather with tapes.

I believe your story about RMA. It all boils down to how they test your card. Again, the test they do isn't the test you do at home. The purpose of the test is to locate defects. Sometimes, when tests are done by a sloppy person, a defective card may appears to be a perfectly working card. This however isn't OP's problem, OP got back his/her card fully working.

OP wonders if they fixed his/her card by baking it, and I am saying that it can not be the case. Yes, baking has a chance to resurrect a card that is broken due to bad joins, but it may not put more nails on the coffin. Yes, it is okay to be used as the last thing you will do with your dead card that are off warranty, but not for technicians in lab. The chance of having more damage due to baking is far greater than it mysteriously fixes whatever problems.

 

[pcm81]

Do you see BIOS pop up but no windows logo or do you not see BIOS screen at all? On some systems BIOS screen may flash for a second or so, on others its several seconds. Try hitting DEL key to see if u can access BIOS settings and see it on the screen. DONT change any settings. If you can see bios screen then chances are you are having problems with windows installation and not so much the card. At this point try reinstalling windows. If the card still does not work with new windows install or if you cant see bios screen at all THEN you have a bad card.

 

[-Slacker-]

^I already sent the card for RMA, but I'm quite sure there was no image what-so-ever. I tried pressing del, F2, F6, F11 etc, and nothing.

As an ancient, wise scholar once used to say: It's %$@&ed! I think it was Shakespeare

 

[piasabird]

Never mind my remarks deleted.

 

[OCGuy]

Yes, they have a special card baker.


No.

 

[Madcatatlas]

What is unethical about baking a video card? I would think that is a method of repair. Repairs cracks in solder points.
What is it that you claim as totally unethical business practices?
And by the way, wouldn't an intermittent short most likely be a fractured or cracked solder point in which baking would usually repair?

So YOU claim its ethical to bake a customers card and send it back when it works again?
Why dont they just tell him how to bake it? the customer spends time and money to send a defect product in for repair, and after 2 weeks or more, he gets back the card "baked" and ready for another few weeks, months... before it fails again.... Doesnt sound ethical to me, but then again our ethical standards must vary by alot.

Ill trow this comment in aswell as he put it quite well:

yep. same as what people did with ylod PS3s. bake em, get it working and sell it 2nd hand. days/weeks later it breaks down again.

totally unethical.

 

[imagoon]

So YOU claim its ethical to bake a customers card and send it back when it works again?
Why dont they just tell him how to bake it? the customer spends time and money to send a defect product in for repair, and after 2 weeks or more, he gets back the card "baked" and ready for another few weeks, months... before it fails again.... Doesnt sound ethical to me, but then again our ethical standards must vary by alot.

Ill trow this comment in aswell as he put it quite well:

It is quite ethical to bake a card to repair it assuming they told him they repaired it. Again using a real baking machine will reflow solder joints if they are cracked. Assuming that was the actual issue, it would fix the card. You doing it home in your kid's easy bake oven might make it work again for a few weeks, a proper machine may repair the card for years. Honestly, how do you think they get the parts on there on the board in the first place?

There is quite a difference between this: (linked from google images)

and this

If they fixed it and said "no fault found" that is a little different.