Aw ratz, AS3 on a refurbed Vid card?

[Nebulous]

Dammit. I get this refurb sapphire 9700 Pro Atlantis Ultimate from the egg. Great I'm happy as a clam. Inspect it thoroughly to make sure it isn't damaged. No visible signs, cool. I hook it up and no problems..........yet. Then evry now and then i get these checker board strips about 2 inches wide and 2 inches spaced from the next one. I also get the black square dots when i go into the bios screen like so=

Here's the checkered strips on desktop:
http://nebulous.250free.com/Screen1.jpg

Now the black square dots on the bios screen:
http://nebulous.250free.com/Screen2.jpg

Now i noticed the back part of the zalman type wrap around heatsink was a tad loose so i figured lemme take a look and see if i can somehow arrange it so it'll tighten up some, when I take the back heatsink off, on the heatpipe that wraps around I noticed AS3 on it :rolleyes: I'm like wtf? I have a funny feeling who ever had this card first took the heatsink completely apart and added AS3 on the gpu as well as the heatpipe so the heatsink would make so called "better" contact. I'm sure the AS3 has somehow made contact with something on the pcb close to the gpu.

Now evry once in a while i get these anomalies and i gotta turn the pc off, unplug the psu from the wall, wait a minute or 2 and fire back up and it clears. I'm gonna have to take this dam card apart, clean off the AS3 this moron applied, apply some ceramique and hope this problem clears up permantly.

Geeeez of all the stupid things :rolleyes:

[faruquehabib]

what about shin etsu? would that wrok better then ceramique?

[Nebulous]

Not sure. I never tried it plus I don't have any. All I have is the standard white goop that comes with stock hsf's and the ceramique.

[faruquehabib]

i have a cooler master socket370 rackmount copper hsf and shin etsu on my 9800p, so i'll let you know how it works

[Nebulous]

Kewl beans! Keep me posted.

[benonmsn]

on the basck of the card, where the puishpins come out, check the traces on the pcb, it looks liek ssome were damaged when he / you removed the hsf. thats what it looks liek to me (experianced same)

[Nebulous]

Originally posted by benonmsn
on the basck of the card, where the puishpins come out, check the traces on the pcb, it looks liek ssome were damaged when he / you removed the hsf. thats what it looks liek to me (experianced same)

This one doesn't have the pushpins:

http://www.vr-zone.com/reviews/Sapphire/9700ProUltimate/page2.htm

[Nebulous]

Just as I suspected, AS3 on the GPU and evrywhere else for that matter :rolleyes: I mean the person could've at least attempted to clean it up or make an effort of applying the AS3 neater and carefully. The stuff was in the corners too. This guy wasn't too bright at all, i mean even on the dam shim for cryin out loud! :mad: Once I took the vga heatsink off there was AS3 residue all over the back of the pcb. I carefully removed the SN sticker along with the Ati sticker and with my CRC QD electronic cleaner spray, off with the AS3 ! :D A blast of compressed air and another couple of shots of CRC and bam, clean as a hound's tooth. Sprayed the heatpipe and heatsink too, then wiped it up to get the rest of the stuff off. Blast of air again.Some ceramique on the Gpu, put it all back together and baddabing, baddaboom, problem solved.

Ahhhh, I luv it when a plan comes together, hee hee :D

Ran 3d2k1se and scored 17873 @ stock speed. Not too shabby
;)

[kleptophobiac]

I've only been aware of DI water... care to share some info about this magic PCB cleaner? I'm interested!

[sjohnson]

Sigh - another case of an egg "refurb" that isn't. Best of luck with that "customer return" ;)

[Nebulous]

Originally posted by kleptophobiac
I've only been aware of DI water... care to share some info about this magic PCB cleaner? I'm interested!


Here ya go:

http://www.farmbid.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Product.asp?ProductID=20037

It's available at most auto parts stores. I got it at Parts America.



Originally posted by sjohnson
Sigh - another case of an egg "refurb" that isn't. Best of luck with that "customer return" ;)


Actually Mr. Johnson I don't have a problem with it now. I replaced the stickers back to their spots and the card is workin flawlessly. I'm sure I would'nt have a problem RMA-ing it to Sapphire if need be :D

[sjohnson]

Good to hear that :toast:

[Smokin_Joe]

Good deal Neb...and good score too.:thumbsup: I guess you're liking that ATI vc huh?;)

[IamAnoobieCheez]

I didn't do it.. :idea: :shrug:

[Techmasta]

Hey neb did you but it when it was $250? It was only $199 today.

[Nebulous]

Thanx guyz :)

Well techmasta, yeah I paid 250. 199 is a great deal. If I would've had the xtra 50, I would've jumped on the 9800 pro @ bestbuy for the 300. Oh well. I'm happy with my card tho. I feel the 250 was well spent. ;)