Graphics Card Repair Guide

[Killed By Bugs]

Originally Posted by empire23

You mean even the metallic strip on the board (which contacts the board to the legs) has been torn off? That's what we call a board pad and yeah, they're pretty fragile and hard to repair. But i guess there's still hope.

Before you start on anything, rememeber that you want to connected the board to the component without touching anything else.

Add a blob of solder on the pad or the metallic strip (once you replace it in position), hold the broke leg with a tweezer and push it into the blob of solder. Pull back the iron and let it cool while holding the leg in place. Once the joint has cooled, bend the leg back into the body of IC, then solder the body to the leg, making sure none of the other pins have been touched by your solder work.

Hope it helps



It's probably an aluminium organic electrolyte capacitor (SMD style), because IIRC the GX2's caps don't have vents.

The rating should be
180 uf @ 16 volts tolerance

Although i can't really give you the exact replacement part (63D doesn't seem to be a known series number/designation to me, but i bet it's nipponchemicon)

But try this part number

APXE160ARA181MHA0G

Try mouser.com/Alliedelec.com/digikey.com , for the parts.

It should work just fine as the capacitor above follows the 8mm diamter size as the one on the GX2 (do help me confirm the diameter of the broken cap in mm.

Hope it helps

Are you sure about the part number? I haven't been able to find it so far. But I do appreciate the help.

[BSharp]

Originally Posted by empire23

You mean even the metallic strip on the board (which contacts the board to the legs) has been torn off? That's what we call a board pad and yeah, they're pretty fragile and hard to repair. But i guess there's still hope.

Before you start on anything, rememeber that you want to connected the board to the component without touching anything else.

Add a blob of solder on the pad or the metallic strip (once you replace it in position), hold the broke leg with a tweezer and push it into the blob of solder. Pull back the iron and let it cool while holding the leg in place. Once the joint has cooled, bend the leg back into the body of IC, then solder the body to the leg, making sure none of the other pins have been touched by your solder work.

Hope it helps

Ahh yes but, the strip that tore off was also in the same position were the leg tore off, and the leg that came off of that little piece i couldn't find it so all is lost ? unless i can find the leg, i will post pics of my card when i get back home

[fantoms]

Hi,
I need help too.
I have a Sapphire x1300le/HM videocard. I think that the TVout is damaged. Please advice what to do to check if it is true and how to fix it.
Tanks,

[Killed By Bugs]

OK. Installed the new capacitor. Card boots up fine but shuts down after about 10 minutes. The cap installed is rated for 105 degrees, I couldn't find one meeting my needs rated at 125 degrees. Do you think that temp. is the issue?

[empire23]

Originally Posted by Killed By Bugs

OK. Installed the new capacitor. Card boots up fine but shuts down after about 10 minutes. The cap installed is rated for 105 degrees, I couldn't find one meeting my needs rated at 125 degrees. Do you think that temp. is the issue?

Temp usually isn't the issue, it but the ripple rating, but usually a lower temp infers a low ripple rating, so try a cap with a higher temp rating might do the trick, but here's a few other probable causes.

1. Bad solder joints (make sure they look neat and are as small as possible)
2. Graphics card might just be clocked too high for the new capacitor (some cards come preoced so lower the frequency and see how it goes)
3. Temp might be an issue as the GX2 is a damned hot card (so try putting some air on it and see how it goes)
4. Improper seating ( a badly seated cap can increase instability)

Hope it helps.

[pothead13]

Hi

I have also broken a cap (A 63D 180 16V) of my Point of View Nvidia GeForce 2x 7950GX2 and not sure what one to order.

can anyone help me on which one to order


ps i have not noticed any problems since the cap snaped off but have not tried a game or dvd video as yet. can the card still run 100% with one of the cap missing or do i need to replace it.

many thanks

I am based in the uk

[empire23]

Originally Posted by pothead13

Hi

I have also broken a cap (A 63D 180 16V) of my Point of View Nvidia GeForce 2x 7950GX2 and not sure what one to order.

can anyone help me on which one to order


ps i have not noticed any problems since the cap snaped off but have not tried a game or dvd video as yet. can the card still run 100% with one of the cap missing or do i need to replace it.

many thanks

I am based in the uk

You should try resoldering it back on because finding the exact cap is a labourious process.

[Y0da]

Hi,

I recently recieved an XFX Geforce 7600 GS 512mb AGP card, which was damaged in the post.
It appears that only two components are damaged I would greatly appreciate it if someone would help me identify suitable replacement components for these.



The first component (labelled 1), which I believe to be an inductor has been bent over and the magnet inside the loop has snapped.

The second component (labelled 2), has snapped off (I think it was a capacitor).
The text on top of the component labelled 2 is:
PS 66k 330 16V



I think this capacitor maybe ok as a replacement, but the legs are 3.5mm apart instead of 5mm will this make any difference if i just bend them?
http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/se...l&Ntt=315-0451

thanks in advance for any help.

[empire23]

Originally Posted by Y0da

Hi,

I recently recieved an XFX Geforce 7600 GS 512mb AGP card, which was damaged in the post.
It appears that only two components are damaged I would greatly appreciate it if someone would help me identify suitable replacement components for these.



The first component (labelled 1), which I believe to be an inductor has been bent over and the magnet inside the loop has snapped.

The second component (labelled 2), has snapped off (I think it was a capacitor).
The text on top of the component labelled 2 is:
PS 66k 330 16V



I think this capacitor maybe ok as a replacement, but the legs are 3.5mm apart instead of 5mm will this make any difference if i just bend them?
http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/se...l&Ntt=315-0451

thanks in advance for any help.

The capacitor you chose is in my view insufficient as a replacement. Although the FC is pretty well regarded, i would recommend a proper Polymer or Organic Polymer electrolyte based capacitor (or known as a solid capacitor). I suggest you find something with the same leads as bending legs on noise sensitive boards may introduce some nasty effects. I suggest you try the Sanyo SEPC or SVP series or a few of Nichicon's offerings (IIRC your broken cap is a nichicon) as a replacement.

For the inductor, well that's generally generic, but since you probably don't have and LCR meter on hand you'll have to generally guess via formula the inductance needed.

Since it's a toroid inductor, the formula is

From the looks of it, your core seems to be either powered ferrite or moly permalloy. (Be sure to verify this with a magnet on hand). Knowing the metal used in the toroid is important because you need to know the permitivity to complete the formula and get an end value.

Just use the formula to get something with about the same induction. Most power sections aren't too terribly picky about the inductor so as long as it's of spec and fit, you shouldn't have too much of a hard time.

[Wanda]

Ok, if this is all beyond you and you don't have the the tools available; where would one look to find a place that will do the repairs?