My 6950 is TOAST! :( (Updated with XFX response)

[MentalIlness]

I would like to see a pic of the damaged card to see exactly how it was damaged.

 

[thilanliyan]

How much would you sell the broken one for?

I didn't sell it. I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.

This please, I would like to see also.

Damn, I didn't take any pics as I was building it but I will take a couple of it in the comp later and update the thread.

I would like to see a pic of the damaged card to see exactly how it was damaged.

I put the heatsink back on already so I can't take pics. If you look at this pic:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6950/images/front.jpg
it is the small VRM at the top of the card (in the column of 8 VRMs) which got chipped.

 

[Aikouka]

So i installed the VRM heatsink on the 2nd card and all is well...just had to be super careful. I've decided not to unlock the shaders...after looking at benchmarks, I can probably get similar results through OCing so I'll just do that instead, and my warranty is intact that way as well.

Aren't you removing the stock cooler to install the water cooling system? I'm wondering because wouldn't that void your warranty anyway?

 

[thilanliyan]

Aren't you removing the stock cooler to install the water cooling system? I'm wondering because wouldn't that void your warranty anyway?

XFX has a "modder friendly" warranty in North America so you are allowed to change the cooler as long as there is no physical damage.

 

[thilanliyan]

nm

 

[Martimus]

http://www.crosscomponents.com/electronics-components/search0.aspx?val=VT243WF

It isn't hard to solder a new chip on. I used to put on and take off 100 pin microcontrollers that were less than 2cm x 2cm by hand. I had to use flux and a magnifying glass to make sure that none of the pins were shorted together, but it is definitely doable if you have a soldering iron.

 

[ss284]

Someone else had this exact problem: http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6357/dsc3923g.jpg

You won't be able to solder this unless you have an solder oven and some special equipment. Its a BGA chip, so the pins are on the underside. Its not a simple two or three pin SM component; im guessing it has at least 12 or so pins on the underside.

 

[nyker96]

Just learn to solder, get the VRM soldered back on or buy a replacement part. Soldering might sound intimidating, but it's not. You can definitely do it.

 

[Creig]

Someone else had this exact problem: http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6357/dsc3923g.jpg

You won't be able to solder this unless you have an solder oven and some special equipment. Its a BGA chip, so the pins are on the underside. Its not a simple two or three pin SM component; im guessing it has at least 12 or so pins on the underside.

A hot air soldering station could probably take care of that. They're not very expensive (~$100) and come in pretty handy for minor electrical repairs such as this or working with tiny SMDs.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

This may be an ignorant thought because I don't know anything about circuitry , but wouldn't it be possible to disable that portion of the shaders or whatever that the one voltage chip goes to and the card would run at 7/8 capacity or something? Or would there have to be a custom BIOS that allowed it to run that way?

 

[thilanliyan]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll see what I can do. Only problem is, I smelled burning as well around that VRM. You can't see any obvious burning on the PCB but it definitely smelled of it, in which case there may be more damage than just the chipped VRM.

Someone else had this exact problem: http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6357/dsc3923g.jpg

Haha yeah I saw that thread at AMD.com as well...but only after I had already damaged mine.

 

[Imp]

Well, you have a hundred times more balls than I do. I keep everything stock, and cringe whenever I bump the card into the mobo or case lightly.

Good luck repairing the card. I'd give the manufacturer an e-mail/call just to see what they could do for you.

 

[bryanW1995]

1. call xfx, explain situation, see what they would charge to repair
1a. talk to a local repair shop
2. attempt repair yourself
3. sell as-is, it's worth good money someone with the expertise to fix it

I'd go with 1, 1a, then 3. no way I'd go with #2 as you don't have any experience in that area and would likely end up causing more problems.

 

[Elfear]

Thank you for not participating in fraud, which raises prices for all of us.

+1

Thanks for sticking to your morals. Hope you can find a cheap fix for your other card.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I searched that chip to see if you could solder it yourself and found this thread. It looks like someone else did the same thing: http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Threaded&catid=260&threadid=144869

XFX covers cards with aftermarket cooling, but I doubt they'd cover physical damage done during the install of the aftermarket cooler. But if you call them up and ask them how much it would be to repair they may help you out, they may even replace the card for you, who knows.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Thilan, sorry about your loss man. On a side note, you keep your awesome reputation you have here on AT by being honest about it. :thumbsup:

 

[MentalIlness]

Thilan, sorry about your loss man. On a side note, you keep your awesome reputation you have here on AT by being honest about it. :thumbsup:

Unless he did go buy a second card. Take a picture of the two boxes, then return the bad card. :awe: Just kidding dude.

 

[thilanliyan]

Unless he did go buy a second card. Take a picture of the two boxes, then return the bad card. :awe: Just kidding dude.

Yes, that is possible...but I sleep really well at night because I don't have a guilty conscience lol.

I think I'm gonna call XFX and see what they can do. I don't think any local shop could do much about it.

 

[MentalIlness]

Yea, call XFX. Maybe they'll replace it, maybe not. Wonder how much it would cost if a shop could do it though ? Of course, that is if they could do it, or would even want to.

 

[thilanliyan]

Well, you have a hundred times more balls than I do. I keep everything stock, and cringe whenever I bump the card into the mobo or case lightly.

Yeah and I got careless. This is about the 5th card I've watercooled (1st was a X1800XL) so I am used to it and maybe was a bit overconfident. Back to being careful it is.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Return that sucker bro it's a one in a million chance people are doing something stupid enough to ruin their expensive hardware anyway.

Sounds nothing like my attempt to make ram sinks out of all copper pennies and thermal tape for my 9700Pro .... boy was that a mess

DON'T DO IT.

OP played a risky game and damaged it himself....he should take the responsibility.

If he returns it, he only makes it worse on people that actually have defective cards in the future.

 

[thilanliyan]

XFX said nothing they can do.

Damn...I've tried a couple of electronics shops too and they have all said no repairs on video cards.

 

[BD231]

Warranty fraud is not acceptable. No more of this kind of talk please.

Moderator Idontcare

Nevermind the the fact that when he originally posted he didn't have even half the info that is now mentioned, you guys are terrible .

 

[ochadd]

XFX said nothing they can do.

Damn...I've tried a couple of electronics shops too and they have all said no repairs.

That sucks. Did you offer to pay for the repair and XFX still refused? If that is the case I'm going to reconsider XFX for my next card.

I'd be heartbroken to see my new card go out like that

 

[tincart]

Well, you have a hundred times more balls than I do

That's a lot of balls. Where did he get them all?

Now that I know this I am keeping my balls far, far away from him.