News Technician warns against copper modding GPUs, fixes RTX 3080 with component damage

[Admin]

A GPU repair technician repairs a RTX 3080 from copper cooling electrical damage, demonstrating the dangers of copper modding a GPU.

Technician warns against copper modding GPUs, fixes RTX 3080 with component damage : Read more

 

[bit_user]

So, basically, the only problem with copper shims is when they're not sufficiently electrically isolated from other components? That, and the leakage of thermal compound (could this be the so-called PTM or Phase-Change material? or just some low-viscosity grease?) were responsible for basically all of the damage?

Plus, from that still frame, it looks like the copper was almost like a foil that the user pushed down onto the components.

I wish graphics card makers would do a better job to keep memory and VRM components cool, as it comes from the factory, but I get that costs money. Graphics card margins are slim, and competition among them is pretty fierce.

Anyway, what I find most surprising about this account is that a tech skilled enough to do this work can actually make money doing such involved repairs. Maybe they can't, which is why they tried to get some supplementary income (or free advertising) from posting the vid. I'm quite amazed they got it working again. Such techs are like magicians to me.

 

[thestryker]

Plus, from that still frame, it looks like the copper was almost like a foil that the user pushed down onto the components.

What you're seeing on the card is whatever janky material was used to replace thermal pads the copper mod plate is in his hand. There was a lot messed up with this card beyond just the shoddy plate installation.

 

[CelicaGT]

So, basically, the only problem with copper shims is when they're not sufficiently electrically isolated from other components? That, and the leakage of thermal compound (could this be the so-called PTM or Phase-Change material? or just some low-viscosity grease?) were responsible for basically all of the damage?

Plus, from that still frame, it looks like the copper was almost like a foil that the user pushed down onto the components.

I wish graphics card makers would do a better job to keep memory and VRM components cool, as it comes from the factory, but I get that costs money. Graphics card margins are slim, and competition among them is pretty fierce.

Anyway, what I find most surprising about this account is that a tech skilled enough to do this work can actually make money doing such involved repairs. Maybe they can't, which is why they tried to get some supplementary income (or free advertising) from posting the vid. I'm quite amazed they got it working again. Such techs are like magicians to me.

You've never watched northwestrepair before? I've watched a bit of this stuff and he makes it look easy (as many things can be with the proper tools and most importantly, experience). Mind you, this card was a train wreck so consider that they post the worst case scenarios on the channel. I expect most repairs are mundane stuff like HDMI socket replacement etc. Still, watched a few of their vids over the years and a good time was had by all.

(Edit: Spelling. Somehow AI autocorrect makes it worse...)

 

[zcomputerwiz]

It wasn't even the copper mod that was the issue with this GPU.

It was missing plenty of passive components that were knocked off the back of the board and had physical trace damage, not to mention the thermal paste underneath the VRAM and core that necessitated a reball.

 

[Stomx]

Graphics card margins are slim, and competition among them is pretty fierce.

This is because poor NVIDIA can not even eat, all the time thinking about their users. And its Jensen Huang honestly believes that "...the more you buy the more you save"

 

[MtFkr]

So, basically, the only problem with copper shims is when they're not sufficiently electrically isolated from other components? That, and the leakage of thermal compound (could this be the so-called PTM or Phase-Change material? or just some low-viscosity grease?) were responsible for basically all of the damage?

It's thermal paste, not PTM pads, if you watch the full video. The owner had a sloppy job applying the paste and perhaps overfill it to the point some of the paste went under the memory and core solder.

Not to mention it's only the beginning since later in the video, he found many missing components ripped out from the board and few deep scratches.

 

[Gaidax]

The biggest problem with the mods like this is people.

If you don't know what you're doing - don't mod your card.

 

[P.Amini]

Other damage was also discovered including cuts to some of the traces near the PCIe finger, as a result of bad handling of the card which the technician also had to repair.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME! If you have no freaking clue what you are doing.