What should I do??

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23-01-2009, 04:37 PM
CAT-THE-FIFTH

What should I do??

I am in a bit of a pickle at the moment!! I managed to FUBAR my HD3870 a few days ago so I am relying on my old x1900gt for the time being. I managed to drop it and knock a resistor(??) off it. BTW has anyone here managed to solder back a resistor to a card (I managed to find it)!!??

The thing is I am a bit short of funds at the moment and can only afford a secondhand 9600gt or another HD3870 as a possible replacement(they go for 60 quid and under on Ebay).

The only games I probably will play in the next few months would be FEAR2 and COD4. Even the new Bioshock and Alan Wake are probably coming out at the end of the year. I do already have Quake Wars and Mass Effect but I can always play them later on.

So you think it would be better to wait a bit longer and save up for something much better during summertime??
23-01-2009, 04:56 PM
kalniel

Re: What should I do??

If you can see where it came off then should be no problem at all as long as you've got enough skillz to do it cleanly.
23-01-2009, 05:04 PM
CAT-THE-FIFTH

Re: What should I do??

It is one of the resistors on the back of the card and the break seems to be clean. My dad has more experience with doing these things so he will have to attempt it. What about the solder type and heat?? I think that my dad has some "low loss" solder?? As you can tell I am not an expert at it!!
23-01-2009, 05:04 PM
GoNz0

Re: What should I do??

live anywhere close to nottingham or derby cat ?

i got all the kit to do that
23-01-2009, 05:10 PM
CAT-THE-FIFTH

Re: What should I do??

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoNz0

live anywhere close to nottingham or derby cat ?

i got all the kit to do that

I live near Canterbury!! :( It is very kind of you to offer your help though!! What type of solder do you use BTW?? Is there a special one that has a lower melting point or something like that?? Also do the repairs last well?? Can the heat of the solder damage the component??
23-01-2009, 05:14 PM
GoNz0

Re: What should I do??

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH

I live near Canterbury!! :( It is very kind of you to offer your help though!! What type of solder do you use BTW?? Is there a special one that has a lower melting point or something like that?? Also do the repairs last well?? Can the heat of the solder damage the component??

no probs, shame your not closer.

i use standard but very fine solder

the repairs last as well as the original flow soldering does

yes the heat can damage it, if dad spends 5 mins trying to solder it back on he may kill the card if not careful, and in the process melt close by plastics and even melt the solder on chips close by

my preferred methods using the hot air gun with the smallest nozzle and a once hot enough to tap each side with the solder, although you tend to find whats already there will join back together using a pure liquid flux, i use a paper clip to hold said part in place, bend it until the shape will hold the resistor in place.
23-01-2009, 05:22 PM
CAT-THE-FIFTH

Re: What should I do??

My dad does have some experience in soldering as he used to do DIY audio stuff like amps and crossovers. I will pass your comments over to him as he will understand it better. Thanks again.

Here is a picture of the damage!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...3870DAMAGE.jpg