View Full Version : How do I dismantle the covers on my GTX260?
Loggitt
10-02-09, 10:02 PM
Anyone know of an instruction page that's posted somewhere for the procedure to remove the cover from a GTX200 series video card?
XFXNvidia-Freak
10-02-09, 10:13 PM
unscrew the screws and unplug the fan then pull off the heatsink? how hard can it be.
btw if you want lots of info google is your friend
CompuTamer
10-02-09, 10:19 PM
i think he may have just been talking about the cover... not the whole heatsink. I'd like to know how to get just the cover off of my 4850 so that i can clean it out later on without pulling the whole heatsink off, but i doubt that's gonna work lol
GatorChamp
10-02-09, 10:23 PM
If you're taking anything off, you might as well take the whole thing off and put some AS5 on while you're at it...
XFXNvidia-Freak
10-02-09, 10:24 PM
If you mean the plastic cover on the heatsink, then you have to pull off the heatsink and unscrew the screws on the heatsink which are attatched to the cover. Then you will have to reattach the bare heatsink to the card (screw it back on)
I just tried this the other day and couldn't do it. I removed every screw that I could see (nearly 20) and the plastic cover and/or heatsink would not come off. I could rotate it a little bit, but it was firmly held in place by something. The cover/sink would not even slide a bit. Considering that I cannot afford to replace the card, I just put the screws back in and left it alone.
Google was less than helpful. Most of what I found is already posted in this thread, but with pics. Basically, remove some screws and the cover just pops right off. Wrong.
Loggitt
10-03-09, 08:48 AM
That's really helpful, XFXNvidia-Freak. Thanks for wasting our time. :bang head All I want to do is take the cover off the card so I can thoroughly blow/wipe the dust off of everything. EVGA says it's okay to take the cover off, but you have to put it back on if you need to rma the card. I would think there would be a simple instruction page on the internet, somewhere, especially the EVGA site. Google is useless if you don't know the correct keyword. Apparently I don't.
That's really helpful, XFXNvidia-Freak. Thanks for wasting our time. :bang head All I want to do is take the cover off the card so I can thoroughly blow/wipe the dust off of everything. EVGA says it's okay to take the cover off, but you have to put it back on if you need to rma the card. I would think there would be a simple instruction page on the internet, somewhere, especially the EVGA site. Google is useless if you don't know the correct keyword. Apparently I don't.
Make sure you got all the screws out of the way, then keep rotating little bit at the time and it will come off. I had the same problem with it while trying to remove it to install a full cover water block. Dont get too crazy when you are rotating it.
thideras
10-03-09, 09:47 AM
I'm not sure about the 260 since I haven't taken mine apart yet, but the 9800GTX (same-ish cooler) has the screws for the plastic shroud UNDER the sticker up top. To test, gently push over the sticker to find any holes; should be fairly simple.
freeagent
10-03-09, 10:34 AM
^^
Thats now my 285s were :thup:
well here is a pic of the cover from my 260, hope this helps...
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg191/evoted/DSCN0232.jpg
I finally got it off last night.
To do so, remove the (13?) screws on the back with springs and then the two screws on the back plate. Hold the card in one hand on edge and the cover in the other and slowly rotate the cover back and forth. The more you do the more it rotates. As you're rotating, gently pull on the cover. Eventually it will come off, but it is very disconcerting.
I finally got it off last night.
To do so, remove the (13?) screws on the back with springs and then the two screws on the back plate. Hold the card in one hand on edge and the cover in the other and slowly rotate the cover back and forth. The more you do the more it rotates. As you're rotating, gently pull on the cover. Eventually it will come off, but it is very disconcerting.
yup sounds like you got
XFXNvidia-Freak
10-04-09, 12:35 AM
That's really helpful, XFXNvidia-Freak.
Your welcome :beer:
Thanks for wasting our time. :bang head
hey if you cant follow basic instructions thats your problem, not mine :screwy:
Basic, yes, but far from complete. How many screws? Which screws? Since it wont just pull off, are there hidden screws? Why wont it come off when all of the screws are removed? What steps are needed to ensure that releasing the suction doesn't break the card or components? Need I go on? Not everyone can toss away money. These things are darn expensive!
XFXNvidia-Freak
10-04-09, 01:10 AM
Basic, yes, but far from complete. How many screws? Which screws? Since it wont just pull off, are there hidden screws? Why wont it come off when all of the screws are removed? What steps are needed to ensure that releasing the suction doesn't break the card or components? Need I go on? Not everyone can toss away money. These things are darn expensive!
Content edited. You can keep your insults and your attitude out of these forums, understand? Next time is vacation time! - muddocktor, Forum Moderator Mine came off fine I had no problems with it, I just used common sense. If you were severely unco and did break the cover, that would by no means cause you to buy a new card because it would still work. If you somehow broke the card (I cant think of any way to damage the pcb by taking off the cover but hey, get creative) they dont cost much anymore and DX11 is already out so an upgrade would be a good idea anyways.
I really don't think you fully understand the issue here. No one cares about breaking the cover. The cover is very strong. The issue is breaking the card or damaging a surface mount component. Aftermarket coolers are cheap and is probably why someone is removing the stock cooler in the first place. The force required to break the suction and the small area to grip the card while removing it puts the board under stress.
You are right, they are "cheap" right now, but that is entirely relative. I bought mine used for $130. However, I cannot afford to spend that again and I certainly cannot afford to buy it new. Not everyone has unlimited cash flow and can throw money away. Right now this card is the most expensive part of my system and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
BTW, name calling is not such a good idea and doesn't help your point in the least. Reported as well.
Daddyjaxx
10-04-09, 04:57 PM
Just remember that when you take the HSF off, you can't reuse the thermal pads or garbage they put on the core spreader. You'll want to use some Ceramique or something non conductive or capacitive on the RAM and some pads of equal thickness on the voltage regulators or you may not get good contact.
zangler
10-05-09, 03:19 PM
from that pic it looks like way too much TIM there...lol
EarthDog
10-05-09, 03:20 PM
Just unscrew the screws man! It takes a significant amount of force (at least on my card) to remove it as well. Also see this thread I created quite a while ago...http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=599249
EDIT: Looks like you have it taken care of already though! :)
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