GPU repair
2 Jun 2016 18:48:45 UTC
Topic 198627
(moderation:
OK i'm starting to get that "something is not the way that it should be" feeling.
The HD7990 is a dual card and has always ran hot. But now, one card is is reporting 4-5C higher than normal (and higher than the other card) well into the 90C.
So i think it might be time to replace the TIM and other things as it has run for over a year 7x24.
I recall this thread Gary's GPU problems
VRM pads - where would one find such things?
I do have some TIM paste from recent Xeon build, but i've not disassembled a GPU before, so any suggestions, tips would be welcome.
GPU repair
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I have done it several times changing fans and putting on new TIM. Easier than you might expect. You should be able to get thermal pads anywhere TIM is sold. Amazon has some although Newegg has more selection.
amazon.com > thermal pads for
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amazon.com > thermal pads for gpu
Thermal conductivity should be better than 3-5 W/mk (what I use for water-cooling)
Alphacool e.g. has some with 17W/mk but extremly expensive !
Thickness is very important - so be careful with dismounting the cooler from the printed board and find out how thick each pad should be, the electric components could differ in hight !
The pads I got are protected by transparent films - do not forget to remove them before mounting ...
Good luck :-)
I know I am a part of a story that starts long before I can remember and continues long beyond when anyone will remember me [Danny Hillis, Long Now]
I first suggest to blow the
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I first suggest to blow the dust out of the card. Not insulting your household, but it can pile up surprsingly quickly. Remove the card and go outside when it's windy, secure the fan with a finger and the blow into the card. Don't inhale what's coming out :p
MrS
Scanning for our furry friends since Jan 2002
OK thanks all, i'll de-dust
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OK thanks all, i'll de-dust and see what happens, and if that doesn't improve get some cotton buds and alcohol to clean the old gunk off.
RE: Remove the card and go
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You could also hang it from a string on a windy day. Just keep it far enough away from the house so it doesn't bang into it.
RE: ... it might be time to
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I would tend to suspect the fan/fans before the TIM. The TIM usually needs longer than that to fail (unless it had a significant pre-crunching life).
Does the machine run with the case fully enclosed or open? If open, test the heat sink with a finger (if you can - you may have to remove the shroud to get access to the heat sink). If it's only warm, the problem is likely to be the TIM. If it's quite hot, it's likely not the TIM. It could be fluff/dust blocking the narrow gaps between fins or it could be inadequate airflow.
If the case is normally closed, the increase in GPU temp could be a sign of inadequate case cooling. Maybe case fan(s) are running slow? Do they have filters? Maybe filters are blocked? If you can leave the case open and this results in a significant GPU temp drop, it's a case ventilation problem.
Cheers,
Gary.
When cleaning GPU heat sinks,
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When cleaning GPU heat sinks, I remove the GPU from the machine and take it outside. I have a 10-15mm paintbrush that I stick between the fan blades and then rotate quite a few times to loosen any fluff pads that have built up. It also helps to push the bristles downwards into the gaps between fins. Only when I've done the best I can at loosening, do I blow in the opposite direction to the fan forced airflow as hard as I can, while pointing the top of the fan in a downwind direction. It's quite OK to watch a huge cloud of dust drifting away in a safe direction :-).
Of course, the fan spins in reverse when I blow but this doesn't matter in the slightest so I never bother to stop the rotation with a finger :-).
Cheers,
Gary.
Gary Roberts wrote:Does the
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Fully closed with a side fan to extract air. Opening the case and removing that fan, leaves the temps unchanged on both GPUs (as i type)
I can't remove the shroud at the moment, but all three fans on the GPU are running ok and the side of the gpu is hot to touch along its full length.
I have noticed a couple of time GPU0 times slowing which suggests down clocking has happened.
I was thinking about hanging it outside and beat it like a old rug. :P
RE: I was thinking about
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If you don't like the "blow repair" I'd rather suggest a can of compressed air as the next attempt ;)
MrS
Scanning for our furry friends since Jan 2002
Hi, I'd get a portable
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Hi,
I'd get a portable hairdryer:-) Set on 'cold' and max speed and you get a reasonable flow of air.. Should be enuff to clear out the dust..
Regards
Cliff,
Been there, Done that, Still no damm T Shirt.
