Radeon 9800 pro issue

[Kristi2k]

I took the heatsink off from the card and put it back on. Now when I power up, the grapics are blotchy everywhere... what is wrong?

 

[kyparrish]

make sure that the heatsink is "all the way" back to it's "clipped-in" position...

i took mine off and put it back on before i got a vga silencer, and noticed that you really had to push those tension clips back
in

also, did you leave the thermal grease on your vid. card core?

 

[Kristi2k]

Yes, I reaplied it and put a thermal sticker on also... I pushed the heatsink on as hard as I could...

 

[Megatomic]

Did you plug the fan back in? Stupid question, I know, but it's a detail easily overlooked.

 

[Kristi2k]

Yep, spins. I don't understand. I've tried reseating the heatsink, applying more TG, etc. No avail... I am buying a new 9800 now.

 

[Megatomic]

Hmm, did you notice anything untoward happen when you pulled the heatsink off? Did it come off easily or is it possible that you damaged the core or something else like that?

 

[mobobuff]

I noticed you used both a thermal compound and a thermal patch. Not a good idea, ever. Using a combination of grease and a sticker causes extremely faulty contact with the chip and the heatsink, resulting in very quick overheating. But as for seeing immediate graphic problems, I don't know if that would apply.

 

[Kristi2k]

At first I didn't put both on, just the TG. Right when I turned on the PC, the Intel logo was blotchy. I know the GPU gets hot, but it can't get that hot that quickly? I didn't do anything wrong from what I could see... This is the first time I have ruined hardware.

 

[PliotronX]

It might be that the shim is preventing proper contact with the heatsink. How displaced is the grease when you remove the heatsink? You might have to mill the heatsink to go around the shim or (less time consuming but more dangerous) remove it altogether. Check this out for pics of milling a heatsink (about 2/3 down for milled heatsink).

 

[Kristi2k]

Hmm, now that I bought a new 9800, I'll try to do something to the shim.

 

[flexy]

dont use a thermal sticker !

Use arctic silver - and ONLY on a cleaned (rubbing alcohol) core the thinnest possible layer so the chip is covered with a thin layer.

If you remove the shim, be extremely careful removing it.

 

[Kristi2k]

The problem is the heatsink. I received my new 9800 and the heatsink is no where near as tight as the new one. I'm sure the old one still works well. I just need to get some more of those heatsink fasteners and thermal gel.

 

[Kristi2k]

Would anyone want to buy this card instead of me tossing it out? All you'd need to do is buy a heatsink that fits this.

 

[Megatomic]

Kristi, why don't you post a For Sale thread in the For Sale/For Trade forum? Lots of people are in there looking for a good deal.

Make sure to read the RULES first though so your thread doesn't crapped all over. Good luck!

 

[Corporate Thug]

good deal there

 

[GnomeCop]

did you get any arctic silver on other parts of the card?
if any parts of the card were scratched slightly, touched with a magnetized screwdriver, or smudged with arctic silver, things like this can happen. Happened to my 9800pro AIW, when I installed a VGA silencer.