@PrMinisterGR I have a GTX580 that started showing memory issues, and is generally unusable. I was wondering if baking it may help, and how to do it. Since you are the resident pro, I figured I'd ask you.
I found this, http://www.addictivetips.com/hardware/fix-your-graphics-card-by-baking-in-oven/ lol but if my card was about to die, i would just let it go and get to shopping at ebay.
I did, and bought a 390. But since I am idling awaiting my RMA replacement I figured I'd play with it.
It is in the mail, and I'm surviving on dual GTX285 SLI. I just miss my DX11 support. (Playing DA:I on DX9/10 hardware is lol)
Question: do I have to remove the backplate? It looks like a total PITA to do that. Also, looking at things I see that the Asus DCII cooling has no fins on the memory chips. If I do this I should put fins on the chips while I am at this.
I preheated a gas oven at 200c for 10 minutes. I used aluminium foil "pyramids" to keep the GPU from touching the surface of the flat metal pan I used, being careful for it to be as level as possible. I of course removed everything that could be removed from it, and cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol before putting it in. Don't leave anything that can be unscrewed/removed on. I left it in for 10 minutes, put it out VERY gently and let it cool for an hour in room temperature. That was it, as far as I know.
What kind of question is that? You always bake. Just make sure you don't bake plastic parts and grease!
Baking is always bad idea if done way most people do it. If it has to be done in ghetto way then it still can be done intelligently. Use aluminum foil as heat shield for all components like capacitors, even several layers. Then cover (with same foil) entire PCB except that one component you want to reflow. Around chip to reflow place something to prevent movement, optimally something what can prevent undesirable heat transfer. Finally heat that one chip with heat gun and use IR thermometer to reach just 190°C where solder starts to melt (depending on type). Then increase slowly temperature up to 235°C (which is 15°C above Lead-free balls usually used). There is no good reason to go any higher, just keep temperature there and heat will slowly get to balls through chip. You may see it move a bit down (sit). And you are done. Wait for it to cool down. If balls used are not Lead-free, then melting point may be even around 305°C which increases risk that some SMD components will move around due to them having much lower solder melting temperature.
Mmmm. Going to try this on an old GTX260 that doesn't display a signal (fans spin up to max). Thanks to PrMinisterGR and Fox2232 for the great detailed advice.
Haven't started yet, sorry. Was doing clan stuff during the weekend on Diablo3 (teaching the noobs) plus I was busy prepping for the xboxx hueg blizzard we are getting tonight/tomorrow. Baking the card is a nice thing to do when sitting out a blizzard, don't you think?
OK, so I decided to bake while my card is out for 2nd RMA. Baked at 385F for 8 minutes. Now waiting for the card to cool down. EDIT: all done, reassembling...