Semi-Dead GeForce Graphics Card

[DataJoe]

This post is probably for the more advanced techs. I have a GeForce FX5700LE, 256MB, AGP graphics card that my brother gave me along with an unstable AMD 754 PC system with some bad capacitors. I performed my first motherboard surgery by replacing the bad 3300uf - 6.3 volt capacitors on the board, and it was a success! So now onto the graphics card.

The GeForce card has D-Sub, DVI and s-Video connections and no supplemental power connector. I have installed the AGP card in three different (working) systems and with the same results. The power supply unit in the systems were 350w - 450w which is more than adequate for meeting the minimum criteria for the card.

On startup, the card would display the BIOS information on the screen (Version 4.36.20.29.00, plus the info above) for a couple of seconds and then the monitor would go blank. The hard drive LED would stay continuously lit. There were no POST code beeps with any of the three systems. Try both connections, but the DVI one would show a single flashing (underscore) cursor on the screen - that's all. In no test, did it appear that the card was allowing a full boot into Windows (XP).

Of course, I would like to think the card has one or more bad capacitors and with my recently acquired soldering skills that I could replace them; however, they all appear to be good (no dome tops - no leaks) 5 - 1000uf - 10v ones and 2 - 510uf - 10v ones. I assume that obtaining manufacturer's detail specifications on graphics cards is not possible, but would be helpful to know what the impedance should be across the capacitor terminals, and at other points.

If the card failed to display the BIOS chip information, it would have already been disposed, but since it appears to be only semi-dead, maybe there is a chance for revival.

Any insightful comments or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[NinjaRicer]

There's always the chance you could bake the card, which just might work. If you're paranoid, I definitely wouldn't do it. I'm really not sure if it would work, though.

[DataJoe]

Well NinjaRicer, I took your advice and obtained the recipe, then with intrepid boldness proceeded to "bake the card" in the oven at 375 F for 12 minutes. Aside from the temporary aroma created, and after allowing the card to cool for a couple of hours, the result was - no change in the card's behavior. I suspect there is an element of voodoo science involved in baking electronic components. But with a dead or nearly dead graphics card, why not show the displeasure and unhappiness by baking that sucker until it squeals.

[NinjaRicer]

I'm not sure what you could do, honestly. I'm not really sure what's wrong with it. It might just be unrepairable. May I steer you to overclock.net? Nice little forum with a much larger community.

[*Danielx386]

Heating the card is likely to do more damage to the card than fixing it.

Daniel

[NinjaRicer]

Baking the card has been shown to actually help sometimes. Do some searching, and it helps people. Can't remember what exactly it does right now, but it helps connect some loose stuff.

[tangomouse]

1 heating the card wont do damage ,however your method of baking it is wrong ,use a reflow oven or a heat gun to reflow the joints. youtube has some demos on how to reflow

get a multimeter and check the uf on the caps and check any transistors too