T43 GPU chip damaged...needs repair

[billp117]

Looks like the T43 ATI GPU board was damaged by the previous owner while trying to pry the heatsink off the GPU...my guess using a screwdriver. In the process he knocked off two resistors or fuses. I am not sure what they are. They are the lower middle resistor/fuses at the bottom of the board. I am thinking of replacing the parts or just soldering over the missing parts. Any thoughts?

https://picasaweb.google.com/billpratt/ ... directlink

[ajkula66]

How about posting a link to the pictures of the damaged area?

[billp117]

I posted a link...the missing parts are circled.

[poshgeordie]

I guess it was a foggy day when you took the photo..

As it stands all we can see are some rectangular blobs which could be off the surface of Mars , so could you either post a clear photo which identifies the component numbers or give component idents for the damaged ones.
We can then possibly identify the actual components and suggest some replacements

Also , please give the FRU of the board.

Unlike blown fuses which you can solder on top of, you'll have to remove the old components and replace with exactly the same type and value.

Also are the board tracks damaged or torn off?

[billp117]

https://picasaweb.google.com/billpratt/ ... 3219751698

Here is a better picture. Straight below the word Twaiwan are two missing maybe resistors. Or are they fuses? These are located on the ATI GPU and belong to a T43 motherboard model 39T5636. It looks like they were snapped off when the previous owner tried to remove the heatsink. I was thinking of just soldering the link.

Any thoughts now that I have a better picture?

Thanks...B

[poshgeordie]

I would never have guessed from the first picture that it was of the top of the GPU LOL!

Don't link across the missing components since you'll almost certainly blow something. They could be either resistors or capacitors, but not fuses since I don't believe they exist on the GPU's. I've never seen any info on comp types and values for these chips

First Problem: The only way to replace such comps is to take them off another X300.

Second Problem: There's a possibility that the person levering off the "lid" could also have broken some solder ball joints.

Third Problem: Following on from 2, the chip is glued to the motherboard with clear epoxy - the dark marks along the sides of the chip are the giveaway - I don't know of any method of getting these chips off to reball them without damage to either the chip or motherboard and believe you me I've tried everything.

Conclusion: I'd think about giving up on this board!

BUT TPF members never got anywhere by listening to people like me, so go for it!!

[billp117]

If I am going to toss the board...perhaps I will solder across the missing part and see if it works. The board does post but the GPU displays a bunch of lines. I replaced the board with one that was repaired by GPU Medics but it lasted about an hour...they have agreed to try to repair of refund my $$. That might be fair...or just a waste of time. Either way...they agreed to honor their warranty. Since I have several T43 Thinkpads that work just fine this may just be relagated to spare parts.

Thanks for the input.

[RealBlackStuff]

I see all sorts of family photos but none of a GPU.
You seem to get around...

[poshgeordie]

I replaced the board with one that was repaired by GPU Medics but it lasted about an hour

As long as that...!

Don't bother sending a board with clear epoxy to any reflow company since no one will be able to fix it.

[billp117]

OK...the link is working now - I think. If I return the GPU Medics repaired board and they can't fix it...they will refund $$. I did not notice any epoxy on the graphic chip.

[ajkula66]

Let's get one thing straight: ALL T43/p boards are epoxied...

[poshgeordie]

Let's get one thing straight: ALL T43/p boards are epoxied...

Mmm yes and no. We reballed an X300 GPU'd T43 with red dots last Friday.

However all T43p's, and some other T4xp's, can be clear epoxied.

Coloured dots are OK except some orange ones can also be around the centre of SB chips and lifting those SB chips usually internally separates the inner layers. Orange dotted ones are often from IBM refurb'd boards.
All clear epoxy is bad. Period (always wanted to say that as someone from the UK!)

To quote Animal Farm: "All epoxy is bad, but some is "clearly" more bad than others"

[ajkula66]

poshgeordie wrote:

Mmm yes and no. We reballed an X300 GPU'd T43 with red dots last Friday.

Now you got me confused, and that takes a lot...

Wouldn't you consider the "dots" to be one form of epoxy? That's what I was referring to...not just the clear stuff...

[poshgeordie]

Sorry George, you're absolutely right - dots and clear are all epoxy - blame it on the dose of flu I've got at the moment