I picked up a second-hand GTX 950 for just $10, thinking it was a great deal, but unfortunately, it's not showing any display, which is probably why it ended up at the thrift store. I have a soldering kit, but I'm pretty new to this kind of repair work. If there's a chance I could fix it, I'd love to because I'm trying to build a budget PC for a friend. What internal signs of damage should I be looking for, and do you have any tips or advice?
4 Answers
I've heard this might actually work, and while it sounds wild, you could remove the cooler and any plastic parts from the card, then preheat your oven to 250 or 350°F. Put the board in there and keep a close eye on it until the solder joints get shiny. When that happens, turn off the oven and let it cool. Just remember, this is only a potential fix for broken solder joints. It could bring the card back to life, or it might not do anything at all.
I’d be really interested to hear if anyone has tried this method, because it could be worth it before throwing the GPU out.
To tackle this properly, you’ll need a diagram of the components, a test power supply, and good experience with a multimeter. Also, having a steady hand and a lit microscope soldering station can help. Honestly, this level of repair is pretty tough. I suggest checking out this YouTube video on diagnosing and repairing a GTX 950: [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKq2ctH4K6U)
Thanks for the video suggestion! I guess I’ll need to pick up a multimeter... or I might just decide to scrap it, haha.
Just be careful with the soldering! It’s definitely not easy, and mistakes can happen.
Honestly, I think you should just chalk it up to experience and consider that $10 like spending it on a burger. If you're really curious about fixing it, look into reflowing solder on the PCB, but I wouldn't dedicate more than half an hour to this project.
I appreciate the advice! I might end up scrapping it after all. Can't win 'em all!
Before you go down any intense soldering or baking routes, do some basic troubleshooting first. Here’s what I suggest:
1. Check if the motherboard works with a different graphics card or the onboard GPU.
2. Try all the different video connectors on the card. One might be working while others aren’t.
3. Look into your BIOS settings; it could be set to only recognize the onboard video.
4. Investigate if your motherboard has any debug lights, especially for the VGA. A light there might indicate an issue with the card.
5. Lastly, check what motherboard you’re using. If it’s newer, you might have a compatibility issue that requires switching the BIOS mode to Legacy or CSM.
Just be sure you don’t ever use that oven for food again! Even if the solder is lead-free, there are still nasty chemicals that could vaporize.