taking apart a gtx 280. tiny chip broke off

[alanwest09872]

Just as the title states I accidently broke off one of the tiny chips. It has 3 souter points. 2 on one side one on another. Will the card work or is it doa now.

and How do you get the dang thing apart. I got the one cover off really easily but now Theres 2 screws on the board and I cant get those to unscrew I tried screwdrivers pliers and a knife and still they dont budge. I have the right screw driver to it is a tiny one designed for working on pc. So is there a trick to it. These darn things caused be to break off thne chip. Hopefullly it still works

 

[mm2587]

probably a transistor is its got 3 mounting points. I would not try to operate the card without it. A transistor should be fairly easy to solder back on. If you don't have the skills to do it find an electronic repair shop and have them do it. They shouldn't charge more then $20

 

[alanwest09872]

The thing is tiny i can barely pick it up. Not sure how they could solder it back on lol. What does the transistor do. It was close to one of the dvi inputs.

 

[eleanor296]

A transistor amplifies or switches electronic signals. It's what your processor and graphics card die mostly consist of as well, just waaaaayyyy smaller even.

In short: very important. It's the basis of modern electronics.

 

[pmv]

A transistor amplifies or switches electronic signals. It's what your processor and graphics card die mostly consist of as well, just waaaaayyyy smaller even.

In short: very important. It's the basis of modern electronics.

I think the OP probably knows what _a_ transistor does, I thought he was asking what _this_ transistor does.

Is it at all possible it has something to do with some sort of final processing for that DVI output alone, and hence the card might still work if he only uses the other output (assuming it has two and the other one is the one that activates on boot)? Don't suppose anyone knows?

Does the other output have an exactly equivalent transistor?

 

[Martimus]

Just solder it back on. Use flux and leaded tin if you have trouble seperating the leads, and they will wick around the solder pads. It is pretty easy, even with the smallest electronics (I have soldered maybe a hundred 100 pin 3cm^2 microcontrollers with much smaller solder pads.) Use a small tweezer and a maginifying glass if you are having trouble.

 

[soccerballtux]

I think the OP probably knows what _a_ transistor does, I thought he was asking what _this_ transistor does.

Is it at all possible it has something to do with some sort of final processing for that DVI output alone, and hence the card might still work if he only uses the other output (assuming it has two and the other one is the one that activates on boot)? Don't suppose anyone knows?

Does the other output have an exactly equivalent transistor?

I'd have to see a schematic for the board to say. And companies NEVER give that stuff out.

 

[alanwest09872]

I talked to xfx and they said they would replace it. I was adding an aftermarket fan on it because it always ran at about 105c. I had a ticket doen up already from 2 weeks ago. The guy said I could send it back for a replacement at that time I asked him if I could try and put a fan on it if that doesnt work can I then get it replaced and he said yes. I got really luckie the guy was very nice

 

[Modelworks]

3 pins could be a FET, bipolar transistor, voltage reference, regulator, temp sensor and on and on . So many things in that package layout

 

[Sylvanas]

I talked to xfx and they said they would replace it. I was adding an aftermarket fan on it because it always ran at about 105c. I had a ticket doen up already from 2 weeks ago. The guy said I could send it back for a replacement at that time I asked him if I could try and put a fan on it if that doesnt work can I then get it replaced and he said yes. I got really luckie the guy was very nice

Lucky indeed. +1 rep for XFX.