Video card oven trick WORKED

[moonbogg]

OK, so my laptop wouldn't turn on. I mean, the HDD light was working etc, but the screen wouldnt turn on. It worked if connecting to another monitor though but was overall really broken. So, after failing to fix it I gave it to a friend and he failed as well. Then my wife sais "heyyyyyy babe. My friend josh sais he can fiiiiiix iiiiiit". I thought, "yeah, BS lady, but go ahead and try".
She sais like the next day that her friend fixed it, and sure enough it works. She said he stuck the video card in the over and has a picture to prove it. I thought he was messing with her because she is gullible, but nope. He baked it and it fixed it. It melts the solder and causes micro fractures in the soldering to reconnect. I learned something, but i'm sure this is common knowledge to all you anandtechians.

 

[Akantus]

I would say it's pretty common. Still I'm sure there are people that never heard about it.

Did it twice to my NB graphics, that notebook was practically indestructible zombiebook, which I kept repairing and repairing.
In the end it looked pretty sick

 

[Plimogz]

Are the laptop's graphics handled by a discreet Nvidia board?

 

[Rvenger]

From my experience its only a temporary fix though.

 

[superccs]

Just incase others are interested whats the target temp and duration?

 

[JTsyo]

Just incase others are interested whats the target temp and duration?

yea, you don't need the solder oozing off the board.

 

[dennilfloss]

But now your oven is toxic.:sneaky:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

From my experience its only a temporary fix though.

Yup.

An electronics shop can resolder for better longevity, but it's probably time to underclock the GPU and lock the fan in the "on" position.

 

[bryanW1995]

But now your oven is toxic.:sneaky:

My oven has stuff in it from 1987, it's probably toxic already...

 

[KompuKare]

Yup.

An electronics shop can resolder for better longevity, but it's probably time to underclock the GPU and lock the fan in the "on" position.

Even then it probably won't last. That's what I did with my 8800GT after baking it. Had it running at under 66% speed with the fan and in it still only lasted two months or so.

A proper re-ball may last longer but not many places do that (well re-ball of a chip with hundreds of solder blobs is hard). Also, because of the way those Nvidias fail, even a re-ball might not last.

 

[moonbogg]

Just incase others are interested whats the target temp and duration?

I don't know what he did, but I googled it and the....actually, click below.

Oven Trick Temp

 

[RussianSensation]

Ya, that usually fixes the card for another 6-12 months but eventually it has a very high chance of permanent failure. Something for you to think about as you look for a cheap replacement / sale. Definitely start looking for a backup. This card is DOA. Good thing you probably have 6 months + to get a fire sale on something cheap.