Why do you think I killed my 3870?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KlausK
  • Start date Start date
GMAN said:
GMAN said:
I agree its probably the best household item most of us have around to use in
a pinch and it use it too. But just make sure its dry before plugging it back
in and turning it back on. a hairdryer on low heat, high air is good. Run it
for 10-20 seconds or so before reapplying the HS compound and ramsinks.

A good circuit board cleaning spray, made for this very thing for removing
gunk, grease, solder flux residue would be better. But for poor people,
alchohol is the bomb!

lmfao................
hides.........................
Click to expand...

It's generally accepted that you shouldn't clean a computer with a vacuum
cleaner because of the moving air creating a static charge in the circuits.
The warm(dry) air of a hair dryer. would be worse. I use compressed air from
a metal gun with the pressure turned down to clean a PC. I've seen a debate
about this go on for weeks on one of the PC homebuilt groups so don't want
in be in one. Just consider it a warning. If you think the chances of a
problem are small continue what your doing. I'd rather try to avoid them.
Waiting 15 minutes would be preferable IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
GMAN said:
Sure, but if some got behind a chip or something on the board,it may not
have
evaporated yet and it can short something out.

The proper stuff to use would be a good circuit board cleaner spray the
the
old bluewash or blubath, cant remember the name but those are safe and
meant
for circuit boards.
Click to expand...

No no no, GMAN, isopropanol is not elecrically conductive. It won't
discharge capacitors or cause shorts, which is why it is safe to immerse
modules in and use while your equipment is switched on. Look - totally,
completely saf<KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!>

Dr.White.
 
KlausK said:
Well, I used rubbing alcohol to clean gpus and mem modules because 3rd
party cooler makers (eg, Zalman, Thermalright) recommend using alcohol.
Click to expand...

So, did you fix it?
 
GMAN said:
It's generally accepted that you shouldn't clean a computer with a vacuum
cleaner because of the moving air creating a static charge in the circuits.
The warm(dry) air of a hair dryer. would be worse. I use compressed air from
a metal gun with the pressure turned down to clean a PC. I've seen a debate
about this go on for weeks on one of the PC homebuilt groups so don't want
in be in one. Just consider it a warning. If you think the chances of a
problem are small continue what your doing. I'd rather try to avoid them.
Waiting 15 minutes would be preferable IMHO.
Click to expand...
I wasnt saying to clean a computer or part with a hair dryer, i said to dry
off the remaining alchohol with one. Most hairdryers has a setting where the
heat can be shut off. If blowing air across a circuit is damaging to them
then we are doomed, ddddooooooooommmmmmmeeeeeedddddddd!!!!! (Insert Bender
voice here)


I agree, if not in a hurry just wait, go make a sandwich, make love to
wife etc....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
from my PC!!!!)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
RE: ....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
from my PC!!!!)

**** sake, you're totally under the thumb!!
 
Carl said:
RE: ....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
from my PC!!!!)

**** sake, you're totally under the thumb!!
Click to expand...

Why Should she care where he pulls himself.?
 
KlausK said:
Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't sure
if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned memory
modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape, and
attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.

I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC and
it didn't even generate video signal.

I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so static
electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and mem
modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
Click to expand...

KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after I
installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and no
video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your problem?

Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
rubbing alcohol has water in it.
 
ztwoeight said:
KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after I
installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and no
video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your problem?

Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
rubbing alcohol has water in it.
Click to expand...

I'll reply to my own question. I contacted Powercolor about my x1950 Pro
problem and they said to send it back to where I purchased it for a
replacement. Turns out Powercolor has a lifetime warranty on any video card
in the x1900 and up category. Well I haven't heard back from Newegg so far,
but I am hoping since I had my card for a little more than a year now. I
didn't mention anything about installing the new heatsink to Powercolor!
I'll just put the original back on.
 
ztwoeight said:
I'll reply to my own question. I contacted Powercolor about my x1950 Pro
problem and they said to send it back to where I purchased it for a
replacement. Turns out Powercolor has a lifetime warranty on any video
card in the x1900 and up category. Well I haven't heard back from Newegg
so far, but I am hoping since I had my card for a little more than a year
now. I didn't mention anything about installing the new heatsink to
Powercolor! I'll just put the original back on.
Click to expand...

One more update. Newegg wouldn't take it back since it was over 1 year (2
months over) since I bought it. It seems Powercolor will take it if it's
under 2 years since purchase. So Powercolor wants me to send them a Money
Order for return shipping and the card. There can't be any burns, missing
parts, or visible damage to the card. What a pain in the butt! Come on, no
visible damage to the card, what the hell if it smoked a capacitor or
resistor? I'll remember this Powercolor, next card I buy.

Anyway my card doesn't have any visible damage so maybe I will get a new or
refurbished card back. We'll see! If I remember I'll let you people know for
other Powercolor owners.
 
One more update. Newegg wouldn't take it back since it was over 1 year (2
months over) since I bought it. It seems Powercolor will take it if it's
under 2 years since purchase. So Powercolor wants me to send them a Money
Order for return shipping and the card. There can't be any burns, missing
parts, or visible damage to the card. What a pain in the butt! Come on, no
visible damage to the card, what the hell if it smoked a capacitor or
resistor? I'll remember this Powercolor, next card I buy.
Click to expand...

Unless stated, why would you assume a retailer like Newegg would take back a 1
year old item? Its up to the maufacturer to provide warranty service in the
US.
 
One more update. Newegg wouldn't take it back since it was over 1 year (2
months over) since I bought it. It seems Powercolor will take it if it's
under 2 years since purchase. So Powercolor wants me to send them a Money
Order for return shipping and the card. There can't be any burns, missing
parts, or visible damage to the card. What a pain in the butt! Come on, no
visible damage to the card, what the hell if it smoked a capacitor or
resistor? I'll remember this Powercolor, next card I buy.
Click to expand...

That is different and not your fault and not what they meant, they want to
make sure you didnt put an aftermarket cooler on it or smashed something being
careless when you installed or removed the card.
 
:>>
:>>:>>>
:>>> :>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>> KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after
:>>>> I installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and
:>>>> no video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your
:>>>> problem?
:>>>>
:>>>> Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
:>>>> rubbing alcohol has water in it.
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>
:>>> I'll reply to my own question. I contacted Powercolor about my x1950 Pro
:>>> problem and they said to send it back to where I purchased it for a
:>>> replacement. Turns out Powercolor has a lifetime warranty on any video
:>>> card in the x1900 and up category. Well I haven't heard back from Newegg
:>>> so far, but I am hoping since I had my card for a little more than a year
:>>> now. I didn't mention anything about installing the new heatsink to
:>>> Powercolor! I'll just put the original back on.
:>>>
:>>>
:>>>
:>>
:>>One more update. Newegg wouldn't take it back since it was over 1 year (2
:>>months over) since I bought it. It seems Powercolor will take it if it's
:>>under 2 years since purchase. So Powercolor wants me to send them a Money
:>>Order for return shipping and the card. There can't be any burns, missing
:>>parts, or visible damage to the card. What a pain in the butt! Come on, no
:>>visible damage to the card, what the hell if it smoked a capacitor or
:>>resistor? I'll remember this Powercolor, next card I buy.
:>
:>Unless stated, why would you assume a retailer like Newegg would take back a 1
:>year old item? Its up to the maufacturer to provide warranty service in the
:>US.

Actually Newegg does cover quite a few items for RMA through them up
to a year. I had a 10 month old HIS 1950 Pro 256MB AGP card die last
fall. Newegg accepted it for RMA and since that exact model was no
longer available they refunded my original purchase price minus
shipping.

I think is has to do with their relationships with various vendors. I
was looking at 3870 cards the other night just to see if the price had
come down yet from when I bought my pair last month. I noticed some of
the cards indicated 30 day replacement through Newegg and some
indicated 1 year replacement through Newegg. BTW, there were a few
that were cheaper than what I paid but most were about the same.

me/2
 
:>In article <[email protected]>, "ztwoeight"
:>>
:>>:>>>
:>>> :>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>> KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after
:>>>> I installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and
:>>>> no video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your
:>>>> problem?
:>>>>
:>>>> Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
:>>>> rubbing alcohol has water in it.
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>>
:>>>
:>>> I'll reply to my own question. I contacted Powercolor about my x1950 Pro
:>>> problem and they said to send it back to where I purchased it for a
:>>> replacement. Turns out Powercolor has a lifetime warranty on any video
:>>> card in the x1900 and up category. Well I haven't heard back from Newegg
:>>> so far, but I am hoping since I had my card for a little more than a year
:>>> now. I didn't mention anything about installing the new heatsink to
:>>> Powercolor! I'll just put the original back on.
:>>>
:>>>
:>>>
:>>
:>>One more update. Newegg wouldn't take it back since it was over 1 year (2
:>>months over) since I bought it. It seems Powercolor will take it if it's
:>>under 2 years since purchase. So Powercolor wants me to send them a Money
:>>Order for return shipping and the card. There can't be any burns, missing
:>>parts, or visible damage to the card. What a pain in the butt! Come on, no
:>>visible damage to the card, what the hell if it smoked a capacitor or
:>>resistor? I'll remember this Powercolor, next card I buy.
:>
:>Unless stated, why would you assume a retailer like Newegg would take back a
1
:>year old item? Its up to the maufacturer to provide warranty service in the
:>US.

Actually Newegg does cover quite a few items for RMA through them up
to a year. I had a 10 month old HIS 1950 Pro 256MB AGP card die last
fall. Newegg accepted it for RMA and since that exact model was no
longer available they refunded my original purchase price minus
shipping.
Click to expand...

I like Newegg, dont get me wrong here. What i meant was that the retailers in
the US are not obligated to provide warranty service like the EU states do. In
the US you usually have to deal with the manufacturer.


I think is has to do with their relationships with various vendors.
Click to expand...

Agreed, newegg is a very decent seller, 10 fold better than they were as a
retail store chain as egghead.




I
 
GMAN said:
Agreed, newegg is a very decent seller, 10 fold better than they were as a
retail store chain as egghead.
Click to expand...

The two companies are not connected -- never have been. Google it.
 
GMAN said:
I thought it was the remnants, even in name only of Egghead???
Click to expand...

You and a gazillion other people, because it seems logical. But nope,
no connection other than a similarity of names.
 
GMAN said:
Unless stated, why would you assume a retailer like Newegg would take back
a 1
year old item? Its up to the maufacturer to provide warranty service in
the
US.
Click to expand...

Because that is what Powercolor tech told me to do. So I tried, knowing it
was unlikely Newegg would take it. It never hurts to try anyway.
 
GMAN said:
That is different and not your fault and not what they meant, they want to
make sure you didnt put an aftermarket cooler on it or smashed something
being
careless when you installed or removed the card.
Click to expand...

Well I have sense enough to know what they really mean, but also know they
will go word for word to deny you a replacement also. So a company should
say what they mean -- clearly. Which they don't! They want to be vague so
they can win over any disagreement. I went by their rules and sent it today.
I'll see how it all turns out. Good thing I didn't do a volt mod to the
x1950 Pro like I did my HD 3870!!! <g>
 
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