Is my 9700 Pro dead?

[Rich52490]

Yesterday, I removed my heatsink from my Radeon 9700 Pro. I was replacing the thermal pad(which appeared to be pink) with some Artic Silver 5. After reinstalling the heatsink, and putting the card back in my computer, I rebooted and now I have these lines running through my screen. I removed the heatsink today, and found this http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700GPU.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700GPU1.jpg
The brown stuff around the GPU core will not come off. I have tried both alcohol, and a razor blade. Does anyone know how to remove this? Was I supposed to remove the pink thermal pad? Does anyone know what possibly happened to my card. I think I may have bridged two of the things around the core. Any suggestions on how to remove it or possible suggestions on why this happened would be greatly appreciated.

All other photos I have available at the moment.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700back.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700GPU2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/Radeon9700GPU3.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/GPUCORE.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/rich52490/GPUCORE2.jpg

 

[Stoneburner]

as5 is conductive no?

 

[Rich52490]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
as5 is conductive no?

I think it is slightly conductive. I tried to remove the thermal paste, but I'm having a hard time getting it off.

 

[Stoneburner]

i haven't checked up on thermal grease in a while but from what I remember you aren't suppose to get any on the pcb... and the pictures indicate you did. I'm not an expert but maybe that's what happened?

 

[Killrose]

AS5 requires alot of pressure via the heatsink retaining spring to make good contact, ie., heat transfer capability between the two surfaces. I would not use AS5 on loose fitting GPU/heatsink applications because of this. Use AS3 or something that does not require a CPU heatsink like "pressure" to work correctly.

MAke sure you clean up any AS5 which you have slopped around the caps, ect., because it is cnductive and could cause your arifact problem.

Don't worry about the "brown" stuff. It could be a protective layer around the GPU PCB contact area like a CPU has.

Lines thru the screen are not good. Use a different compound other than AS5 and if that does not fix it, you dammaged your card and are SOL

 

[Rich52490]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
i haven't checked up on thermal grease in a while but from what I remember you aren't suppose to get any on the pcb... and the pictures indicate you did. I'm not an expert but maybe that's what happened?

I agree, I think that is my main problem. The pink pad occupied the brown space. It just turned brown when the artic silver was added on top of it. It is almost like a gum consistency and is very difficult to remove. Alcohol has no effect on it.

 

[Rich52490]

Originally posted by: Killrose
AS5 requires alot of pressure via the heatsink retaining spring to make good contact, ie., heat transfer capability between the two surfaces. I would not use AS5 on loose fitting GPU/heatsink applications because of this. Use AS3 or something that does not require a CPU heatsink like "pressure" to work correctly.

MAke sure you clean up any AS5 which you have slopped around the caps, ect., because it is cnductive and could cause your arifact problem.

Don't worry about the "brown" stuff. It could be a protective layer around the GPU PCB contact area like a CPU has.

Lines thru the screen are not good. Use a different compound other than AS5 and if that does not fix it, you dammaged your card and are SOL

Do you know a good way to remove the AS5 around the caps? Maybe some electrical cleaner, or alcohol with a toothbrush?

 

[Killrose]

When cleaning up the gummy stuff, I use brake/electrical cleaner on a Q-tip to get it off. Alcohol will not dissolve it. And AS5 is highly conductive, more so than AS3.

 

[Rich52490]

Originally posted by: Killrose
When cleaning up the gummy stuff, I use brake/electrical cleaner on a Q-tip to get it off. Alcohol will not dissolve it. And AS5 is highly conductive, more so than AS3.

Do you know of any good electrical cleaners?

 

[Killrose]

Really any brand will work. I have some NAPA brand that I have used, and others. I would not shoot the whole board with it. Squirt some on a Q-tip or folded corner of a paper towel and carefully clean it. I alway's use a magnifying glass afterwards to make sure the GPU or CPU is clean of fibers before applying heatsink compounds.

 

[Rich52490]

This just came to me. Could I have damaged the PCB while I was trying to remove the thermal pad with a razor blade?

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: Rich52490
This just came to me. Could I have damaged the PCB while I was trying to remove the thermal pad with a razor blade?

Yes, but inspect the whole board for traces of AS5 smeared somewheres it was not intended to be , its easy just to touch the AGP slot contacts and conect 2 of them with the AS5 causing a problem.

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Killrose
When cleaning up the gummy stuff, I use brake/electrical cleaner on a Q-tip to get it off. Alcohol will not dissolve it. And AS5 is highly conductive, more so than AS3.

I was thinking that AS5 is highly conductive too, it's advertised to have 99.9% of silver and silver is metal, and metal is conductive.
Anyway, it seems that you put way too much AS5 on the chip...

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: toattett

Originally posted by: Killrose
When cleaning up the gummy stuff, I use brake/electrical cleaner on a Q-tip to get it off. Alcohol will not dissolve it. And AS5 is highly conductive, more so than AS3.

I was thinking that AS5 is highly conductive too, it's advertised to have 99.9% of silver and silver is metal, and metal is conductive.
Anyway, it seems that you put way too much AS5 on the chip...

as5 is not conductive at all but is slightly capacative which still harms hardware.I'm not sure about carb cleaners and automotice degukers, but alcohol will get it off, albiet slowly. the trick is to heat it to make it soft, and please, follow the directions next time. the layer of thermal coumpond should be barely a haze, not some thick gunk. it's wise to remove the shim on a 9700pro so the heatsink makes proper contact so that you dont have to lap so much on.

 

[Rich52490]

Tried electrical contact cleaner yesterday, and again no effect. I think my card is damaged and I will be purchasing a new one soon. I'd like to thank you all for your suggestions on trying to save my card. It was really appreciated, but unfortunately the card ended being damaged. Thank you all once again.