Question R9 280x - Screen scrambled , can you help me fix it ?

[saveme7593]

Hey everyone.

So, I bought this card about 6 years ago, new.

I went to eat, was away from PC for about 20 minutes, left it idling, just had browser with reddit and facebook opened.
Came back and saw this :

Here is the video, you can see the logo and boot up screens and everything, its just that the screen looks all scrambled, messed up.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2U5wgc82c


Things I tried so far :
-Replaced thermal paste, card was working for about 10 minutes
-Switched bios, this card has a switch to change to different bios

Do you know what could be the causing this issue ?
Specifically, which component ?
I have some skill in soldering using soldering iron and hot air gun, just no knowledge about diagnosing and finding what is not working.

System spec :
Cpu : Intel Core i5 4460
Ram : 8gb DDR3
Gpu : msi radeon r9 280x 3gb twin frozr
Motherboard : Asus B85M-G
PSU : Cooler Master B600 ver2 , 600w (cooler master rs-600-acab-b1)

Gpu temp on idle : around 39-43c
Gpu temp on load : 55-60c
Worth noting is that I did not play any heavy games or do any heavy tasks in 3 years.
I mostly use emulator to play Ps1 games, or Sega Genesis and NES games, and I browse internet or use FL Studio, that is a music making software.
Played Minecraft maybe one month, that was 3 years ago.Even then temps were around 50c

That's why I am hoping the GPU itself isn't dead.

I have another GPU, HD 6570, I am using it atm, its working fine.No issues.

 

[rgd1101]

full system spec? include brand and model of the psu
what the gpu temp on idle and on load?

 

[mc_spaceman]

looks to me like the card has lived a good life. do you have another graphics card to test in the system? if you do, get into your operating system and completely uninstall the driver and software for the card. before putting the 280x back in, dissassemble the heat sync from it, and check the capacitors if any are swollen or popped its done, unless you can manage to replace them. apply new thermal paste and ensure the bios switch is set to standard gaming mode, and not to the bios meant for mining. test it again.

is there dust buildup on your motherboard anywhere around your pci-e slot or IN the slot? dust can cause static buildup and damage a lot of components in a computer.

 

[saveme7593]

I have HD 6570, with it everything works fine so that leads me to say its GPU.

I did already change the thermal paste, like I said.

I clean my Pc often, every 1-2 months on average using compressed air from well maintained compressor with water collector so I only get clean air without moisture when I use it.
And atm no dust is inside the PC at all.

I will test this GPU in another PC configuration, its just that most of my friends have laptops :/

 

[mc_spaceman]

I have HD 6570, with it everything works fine so that leads me to say its GPU.

I did already change the thermal paste, like I said.

I clean my Pc often, every 1-2 months on average using compressed air from well maintained compressor with water collector so I only get clean air without moisture when I use it.
And atm no dust is inside the PC at all.

I will test this GPU in another PC configuration, its just that most of my friends have laptops :/

okay, no dust, as for when you applied fresh thermal. did you check then for swollen or popped capacitors?

if there isnt anything out of the ordinary look for a "smoke swirl" from any of the small diodes. i had a r9-270 show the same issues a few years back. i couldnt figure it out until i pulled out a magnified glass to check the diodes. i replaced the diode that blew, and also the thermostat sensor which was beside it and it has worked fine since..

 

[saveme7593]

Hey @mc_spaceman , thanks for info, so I spent some time taking a look at caps, none of them are broken or swollen.

How do I identify the thermostat sensor ?

There are many components on this PCB and I am not sure which ones are diodes, could you help identify them ?
Or point me to a place that helps me learn ? I will search online in the mean time to learn more.

I did find these components and I have no idea what they are, could you guys help identify them ?

This component in middle with weird P and number 2.
Seems its labeled F400

This golden component with B

This component labeled C317, NEV en8, I will assume its a capacitor ?

This big 2R2 component

This big R47 component

 

[mc_spaceman]

if anything is blown it will look similar to this:

 

[saveme7593]

Hi again
So far I think I was able to find 3 diodes, recognized them because of markings starting with D
All 3 are good, not shorted to ground.

Also I used your method and took your advice, with magnifying glass and some light, I scanned entire PCB, both top and bottom, no blown components.(phew, took me a good hour or more)
At least from what I can tell.
No leaks, leaked flux/solder, anything suspicious.
I watched NorthRidgeFix videos to get a feel for how damaged components look like as well and I think I did not miss anything.
No colder solder joints either.

Any other suggestions ?
I was hoping to do some tests and if I find no issues, last resort is to bake it and see what happens.

Only thing I ask is please can anyone identify components from pictures I posted above ?

 

[mc_spaceman]

2r2 and r47 chips are inductors, all of the rest appear to be diode/resisters.

as for baking the card.. its really hit and miss when you do. sometimes it helps and sometimes you make the problem worse.

if you cant seem to find anything else wrong with it physically, it may just be nearing the end of its days. I dont want to say it but i think you should start looking for another card.

 

[DSzymborski]

I suspect VRAM.

Why its life ended is harder to gauge. Might have just been its time, might have been hurried by the very low-quality PSU you're using.

I don't suspect this is likely to be revived without an obvious thing to point to.

 

[saveme7593]

@mc_spaceman Thanks for honesty, Its fine, I already have one card in mind but wont buy for now because of high prices.(either nvidia 1650s or 1660s, plus they use less power too)

@DSzymborski
Like, all vRAM is bad or maybe some of them ?
I was hoping I could run a ram test software and have it point out which chips are bad and just remove them from board, maybe replace them
I do have a hot air gun and I know how to use it.

But software is huge and it will take me few days to download it, so I thought I could try few other things.

 

[saveme7593]

I am going to link these two videos, helps with diagnosing the card

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtVcDuWGoE8

View: https://youtu.be/1duI0QH3XTQ?t=362
< --- shows voltage rails for a second, watch carefully

I will update what happens with my card, if anyone wants to chime in, please do so
I want to figure out what is wrong with it and if it turns out to be the core, I will just use heat gun on it