I sanded a resistor off my r9700!!!

[Artisan]

And it still works:bday:

(Story begins here, long and optional)
OK, my computer was down for some heatsink mods all week. I was adding an alx-800 to my r9700 pro, and managed to chip the core ever so slightly. So, I wanted to put some epoxy around the die to prevent anything worse.

I was getting sort of impatient, I worked two extra hours at my job Thursday, and my friends kept calling me to go out with them. I just wanted to epoxy the card, clamp the glass on to level it with the die, and go party. I did.

Got home, removed glass. :eek: Oops, too much epoxy, I thought the glass was touching the die, it wasn't, it was just as bad as the shim I had removed, only worse because it was EPOXY AHHHH:bang head

Actually, at the time, just back from a night out, I was feeling "ok" and started to scrape the epoxy with a screw driver. Well that was like the guys digging up a mummy with a toothbrush on the discovery channel, so before I know what's going on I have a rotary tool with a drum sanding attachment and I'm going wild with epoxy flying off and everthing is going great...

Untill, hey wait, wasn't there a resistor right there before I started? Hmm, looks like something is supposed to be there. And, ooh, a little part still is. This is when I come to my senses. Stay up all night back scraping with screw driver, slooooowly now, apply heatsink and test. Phew:)

(End of story, thanks for listening)

Card still seems to work fine, 15,0003dmk 2001. Which is normal at stock, for me. UT2003 plays fine. I hadn't done 3dmk 03, but got ~5000, I think that is normal for my setup. Please let me know if not.

Here is a little diagram, the 0 is the missing resistor and I labled the area that the 9500 resistors can be hard modded to 9700. (periods for spacing only)

..............AGP Connector

............................................R
........................................O
.................DDDDDDD... R
.................IcorecoreI
.................I...core...I
mod..........IcorecoreI.... R
res.............EEEEEEEE........R
here.....................................R




Its my understanding that the resistors are there to tell the drivers about the card, anyone have a clue what the missing one is supposed to do, or its value? I'm confident I can solder it back on if I can find a new one, maybe I shouldn't be, hehehe, lol. Thanks:D

[Silversinksam]

It will be very difficult to determine what the resistor(or whetever fell off) does without a pic, also you should find the piece that fell off. If you have a multimeter you can measure the resistance and attempt to repair it yourself if you are good at soldering.

You could alternatively go to a tv or electonics repair shop and have them fix it. (I did this once and it was $10 or so)

This guy online fixes this sort of stuff, but you need to email him for a quote as the $50 for a resistor repair isnt applicable to you most likely

http://www.motherboardrepair.com/index.php?sec=videocard

[Artisan]

Thanks Silversinksam, I looked for the resistor/piece but I had a shop vac sucking up the dust and I think it went right in with it.

I sorted through sawdust and worse for about 1/2 an hour, but I think its hopeless.

I added the link you kindly provided to my favorites and will consider using the service if I run into performance trouble with the card (or my mobo:)). The weird thing is nothing seems to be wrong with the way the card is working.


Sorry I'm new to editing pictures and posting them, I need to borrow a digital camera from my Dad if I hope to show you my card.

OK, here is a picture, I hope, of a r9700 I got from xbitlabs, I have drawn an arrow to the missing resistor.http://www.dieterenterprises.com/r9700_1.jpg

[oRIDDLERo]

Someone breakout the multimeter and get a value for this resister for the poor fellow so he can solder a new one on :P (surface mount resisters can be salvaged off any olf pos u have laying around

[Aeon Flux]

Ok, I have a strong background in circuit board design so I think I can make a pretty good educated guess as to what that resistor does, but please dont quote me on this as I can not be 100% without looking at a schematic.

Judging based on where the resistor is located and the patterns around it and given you have no troubles Im guessing that resistor is helping to control the voltage going into your GPU. Which is why it may still be working. Like I said this is a guess so dont quote me. But if that resistor was helping to limit the voltage and flow into your gpu that means your gpu is getting more current into it.

You said you were working on heatsink mods for the card when it happenend. Im guessing you have more then enough cooling to compensate for the the extra voltage going into the card. More current into the card means more heat.

As for why its still bridging a connection to allow the voltage in could be any reason; still enough solder linkage into it, flowing through another volage regulator into the gpu, enough dust to make a connection, ect... Its all more then possible. Its very hard to tell without actually holding the card and looking over it and testing it.

Now here's the kicker. If Im right and it helped reduce the voltage going into the GPU your GPU may be getting more current into it. And you have more then adequate cooling on the card. As long as you can keep that card cool enough you should be able to over clock it higher now because there is more current going into the GPU. But only do this at your own risk please. And again keep in mind that I am only making an educated guess and can not say for one hundred percent without looking at a schematic for the card itself or a wiring diagram for the GPU.

[Cyberwiz01]

hmmmm, a new way to volt mod? :D

[Aeon Flux]

Originally posted by Cyberwiz01
hmmmm, a new way to volt mod? :D

Maybe, but like I said, It's hard to tell without a schematic for the board. It may apply to the gpu itself or just to that model board or to all ATI boards. Its very hard to say. And like I said the voltage regulation is only a theory. I cant be 100% sure.

[Cyberwiz01]

<breaks out dremel. . .> :D

[El<(')>Maxi]

I have one of those for you if you want it:D

I just resoldered one myself 5 min ago.

[El<(')>Maxi]

Here ya go,

Take your pick
http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v31/canny/Core.jpg

[Artisan]

Thanks guys, I'm sooooo sorry it took me so long to reply. I thought this thread had run its course and I was going to just continue to hope my card kept working.

gofastman, thanks for pleading my case.:D

Aeon Flux, thank-you for venturing a well-educated guess and I think you may be right. The card is fine for cooling, the alx-800 may even be overkill, and the core has overclocked great. I'm still sorting out exactly what is artifact free but 366 definately is perfect. I've tried everything until it blacks out at 385 and 377 seemed to still work fine for the whole ten minutes I tried it and ran 3dmark 2001. So if its a voltmod I'm happy, but everyone with a dremel please step away from your video-cards, lol:D (I'm still a little worried that things may take a turn for the worse at any time.) (BTW, I appreciate you putting your theory out for me, and I will hold only myself responsible for what I may do to my card based on what you have said or what you may yet say.:))

One thing I didn't mention was that after I sanded off the resistor, and applied the heatsink rather hurridly and everything worked, I reapplied the heatsink the next day. While doing that I noticed one of the other resistors had blackened the epoxy that was partially around it. I wasn't sure if it always got hot or what.

Now taking into account your theory, I'm thinking perhaps that blackend resistor is just working overtime picking up slack or getting overvolted (and maybe getting fried in the process).

El<(')>Maxi, I'd love to take you up on your offer but I'm not sure if I should just leave well enough alone. I'm really not sure if I should solder it on or not, so if you have an extra resistor you don't need I would gladly send you a stamped envolope and pay you for the time it takes for you to solder it off your (I'm assuming already dead) board, if you need to do that. PM me and let me know anything you need and I'll send it out whenever your ready. Even if we can do that, I may just save it until/if my card starts to act up, so I don't want you to put yourself out too much for something I'm not positive I'll use. Perhaps I could just let you know later if I have problems and see if you still have an extra resistor then.:)

Did you knock a resistor off a board too? Or were you doing a volt mod? (Just curious)

So, I'm open to further opinions and appreciate everyone's help, thanks:D
Artisan