Worth buying a faulty graphics card to repair it, or bad idea?

[BrandX]

There are a number of videos on YouTube showing how to resurrect graphics cards with a hot-air gun or an oven-toaster, but I suspect half the "sold as faulty" graphics cards on YouTube have already been subjected to attempted repairs that didn't work, and those that haven't, I'm still not sure it's as easy as they make it sound in the videos.

Is it really that straight-forward to repair a graphics card, or is it a mug's game best left to electronics enthusiasts who know what they are doing?

 

[USAFRet]

No it is not that straight forward.
People on youtube say/post all sorts of crap.

That reflowing (what they are talking about) only potentially, maybe, kinda, sorta, works for a teeny number of fail modes.
And then, may revert back to 'broken' in a day or two of use.

Unless you have a broken card laying around and just want to play with it...don't buy a known broken one expecting a hot air gun to 'fix it'.

"faulty GPU" on ebay encompasses a LOT of fail modes.

 

[computertech82]

There are many reasons for a bad video card, including memory. Something not so simple to replace. Cold solder joints are very rare (hot air gun, probably not hot enough to soften metal). It can also be overheated (aka destroyed/damaged) gpu itself.
Better to just get a new video card, unless you majored in electronics and know how to build video cards.

 

[digitaldoc]

This would be a waste of money to purchase someone else's broken gear.

 

[cosmoji]

honestly im not sure that this concept of "reflowing" a graphics cars isnt all just one big meme joke or something. im pretty comfortable taking apart just about anything if i need to, but i would never put my gpu in my toaster over. i guess it depends on how much you're willing to gamble. thats what this is, a gamble. maybe your investment will pay off, maybe it will be wasted money. so ask yourself if its money you're willing to throw away if it comes to that.

 

[digitaldoc]

http://lifehacker.com/5823227/save-dying-video-cards-with-a-quick-bake-in-the-oven

Here's the recipe, although I agree not to intentionally purchase a bad card in the hopes of reviving it.

 

[Saberus]

Nope, not worth it. If you did get it hot enough to reflow, chances are some of the surface mount devices on the underside will just fall off or shift, and you're left with a still dead card.

 

[BrandX]

That settles it! Thanks all.