Help, PCB is burnt on my xtx, why?

[Daveb2012]

Ok I posted earlier about how I had record temps today with my xtx of 98*c. That was with mild OC w/ 1.4v to core and a couple hours of gaming. I tried to play BF2 again this time with no OC'ing and stock voltage. So about 1.5hr into the game I smell a strong smell like some thing is burning from my computer. I pulled out my card and inspected it, it smells like it was burnt, this is the only visible sign I can see. its on the edge of the PCB in a weird spot. Does any one have a clue why this happened with stock settings? Is my card defective? Its a sapphire OEM so I don't think it has any warranty so Im very concerned.

here is photo its hard to see:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8444/burn6ih.jpg

any insight/advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Daveb2012]

Ok now im really getting worried, I dug up this old thread about a DEAD x1900xt. Look at the 3rd picture posted, it has a Burn in almost the exact spot as mine although its much bigger.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=90373&highlight=customer

what is in that spot that gets so hot and burns?? and why, I hope ATI is willing to fix this for me because obviously im not the only one this has happened too.

Whats Ironic is I posted in that thread, 3rd post down saying "i hope that never happens to me, blah blah"

[ahmad]

I don't think there is anything to worry about personally..

But what I am wondering is how can your card get so hot? Mine barely scratches 78*C with the stock cooler at 681MHz/800MHz 1.4v/2.1v with a couple of hours of gaming. And thats with the fan @ 50%.

As far as what I was told, Sapphire warrants all OEM cards for 2 years if you can provide proof of purchase.

[cirthix]

those arent burns, they are marks from pens. my x800xl has two marks where the power connector is missing. there are no components even within 3cm of the marks and no traces nearby. they are by a ground plane. you can make the same marks with a sharpie. there is nothing to worry about here.

the smell must have been coming from somewhere else

[Daveb2012]

I don't think there is anything to worry about personally..

But what I am wondering is how can your card get so hot? Mine barely scratches 78*C with the stock cooler at 681MHz/800MHz 1.4v/2.1v with a couple of hours of gaming. And thats with the fan @ 50%.

As far as what I was told, Sapphire warrants all OEM cards for 2 years if you can provide proof of purchase.

I bought it from some one here on Xtremesystems I hope they can help me RMA it, if thats what I need to do. I wish I would have kept the stock coole it was so much better then this crappy FS-V7.

those arent burns, they are marks from pens. my x800xl has two marks where the power connector is missing. there are no components even within 3cm of the marks and no traces nearby. they are by a ground plane. you can make the same marks with a sharpie. there is nothing to worry about here.

the smell must have been coming from somewhere else

but did you check the 2nd thread I posted of a DEAD x1900xt that is burnt in the exact same spot. I smelled that spot on the card and it smells like its burnt.

[cadaveca]

i got that mark...it's a marker, definately not a burn. It's from the binning process.

Take a reall good look under a microscope, with it backlit, and you'll see.

I've seen it a few places on a few cards now..i bet that it's over the ramchip that has caused problems, as each card with the mark has had issues with ramclocks.

[Daveb2012]

i got that mark...it's a marker, definately not a burn. It's from the binning process.

Take a reall good look under a microscope, with it backlit, and you'll see.

I've seen it a few places on a few cards now..i bet that it's over the ramchip that has caused problems, as each card with the mark has had issues with ramclocks.

hmm, well I don't understand how you say its over the ramchip that has caused problems. its a brand new card so no one would have markered it on purpose to specify a bad ram chip. Also that 2nd one I posted a link too is defiinitly burnt not marker.

[cadaveca]

its a brand new card so no one would have markered it on purpose to specify a bad ram chip.


Nah, they NEVER test parts before sending them out the door...NEVER...:slapass:

I'm not saying 100% that it's because THAT chip is bad...but what's your max memclocks?

you mean THIS one?Look the same as mine, chum..:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43875&d=1140732093

[stestan]

well knock me down with a feather i have 1 also :clap:

[SIOUX]

I also have it on my card...its not a burn:)

[psy^]

I too have a black texta mark on the side of my card :)

Curious though that this is my 2nd x1900XTX; first was DOA and i don't think it had that black texta mark. Will check if it's visible in any photos i took.

I'd say all these early deaths of the cards under mild/no-overclock conditions are just a sign of ATi pushing their fab process to the absolute limit.

[v0dka]

I'd say all these early deaths of the cards under mild/no-overclock conditions are just a sign of ATi pushing their fab process to the absolute limit.

Wait a minute... How many of those 1900XTX's are dieing so quickly then? Havent really kept track but I didnt hear about many.

[chinkgai]

its not a burn mark...i've seen probably 4 xt's and three or four xtx's and they all have that (personally in my hands...not online)

[v0dka]

Leaves the question what did cause the burning smell from his computer.

I recommend a decent search of the motherboard.

[chinkgai]

probably paranoia caused it

[v0dka]

probably paranoia caused it

I dont know if you ever had something burn in your PC but its a pretty unmistakable smell. So no need for bashing this poor guy now.

[chinkgai]

i'm not bashing...im jes saying it could totally be just paranoia

ever heard of placebo effect? this may be the opposite, especially since he saw another thread where a guy saw the black mark and mistakenly thought it was a burn mark.

as i've said in my above post...i've had nearly 8 of these cards in my hands and they've all had that mark.

and yes i've had something burnt before...and whenever i smell that...something doesnt work. sounds to me like his card still works though. correct me if im wrong and his card is indeed dead.

[Comp-Freak]

Weird smeel could be just from the high temps. Nothing to worry about. Black spot is indeed a permanent marker or something like that. Even on my 9800pro I have those spots.

But I'd recommend to get those temps down.

[Daveb2012]

well the thing is, I wasn't even thinking about my computer when I was playing BF2. I was in the middle of the game and the smell like burning was so strong, it was like burnt plastic, i smelled the top exhaust fan and it was a strong smell. I haven't turned the computer on since I will try to reproduce it again.

[cantankerous]

let us know how the system and card work after you try using it again.

[PlatoonSgtElias]

DUDE!!!
I had the same problem today :S ran 3DMark with stock cooler and friggin 98c temp :S I quicly shut down the pc and but back my waterblock.. now idles 33c passive and 40c full load

[masterofpuppets]

Quit being paranoid, that isn't a burn mark. My X1900 has a few similar looking marks in places, and so does my 9800XT. And they are both working great. My 9800XT has seen core temps over 100C in the past and it's fine.