Weird TI4600 Problem

Disaster1Disaster1
edited September 2004 in Hardware
So last night my Fiance's comp started acting like her video card was getting too hot. Weird graphics, lines across the screen etc... I couldn't figure out what the problem was, reinstalled drivers etc trying to get it working correctly. Well completely perplexed I open up her computer case...and I see the problem right away. The heatsink to her TI4600 is falling off!!! Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? The thing has been in there for almost 2 months, and no one else has touched it! So anyway I think the card is still ok, but I have a few questions.

1) What I can only assume is the remains of some thermal compound put on the card by Nvidia is hardened on the heatsink. Should I sand this off before I re-attach the heastsink? If so what grit sandpaper etc. I have a polishing kit with EXTREMELY high grit sandpaper (12000 is the highest). But what should I start out with.

2) Should I use arctic silver on the GPU??

3) How do I re-attach the heatsink and make sure that it doesn't just fall off again? Once I make sure everything works find should I put a little superglue on the holes where the heatsink attaches, or do you guys think it will be ok in the case and that the heatsink falling off was just a fluke??

Thanks for your help guys!

Comments

  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited September 2004
    Yikes! It wasn't an XFX model of ti4600 was it? The ramsinks fell off mine :)

    I would certainly remove any of the hardened thermal compound. I don't think you need to polish it with high grit paper, but just ensure there is no excess on the surface of the gpu. I think you can use pretty much any kind of thermal paste on the gpu. If the sink fell off, I would certainly look at reinforcing it somehow. The superglue idea sounds like it may work. Also, if they are plastic clips holding it on, you can try to bend out the barbs a bit to make sure they contact the pcb well.

    Or for $15, you can pick up a new Tt cooling kit for GF4's (which is what I wound up doing) :)

    Good luck.
  • Disaster1Disaster1
    edited September 2004
    will super glue ruin anything on the circuit board if I excess on that??? Just want to make sure. I don't think it will...but better safe than sorry...
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    I don't think you should be sanding anything on the GPU. You may sand down into the GPU and cause a bigger hassle. Take some 91% reubbing alcohol and rub away to get it off. It will take a while, but it will all eventually come off. I did this with my Radeon 9700 when I had to replace the HSF on it.
  • Disaster1Disaster1
    edited September 2004
    I was talking about sanding the Heatsink not the GPU! hehe I know people sand the Heatsinks for CPU, it is called "lapping" I believe. I got all the old gunk off and the heatsink is back on the card. Now I am just worried if it is going to stay on there. How do make sure it stays???
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    Hmmm.. Sorry about that. I misread.

    /me stabs out eyes for being dumb. :)
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