9800m gts... should I bake it?

So here's the situation.

Gpu has been running strong for a good 3 and a half years...about 8 months ago I start having black screen crashes.
I buy a new PSU which doesn't solve the problem. I get the black screens under control by lowering the Gpu's clocks to 480core/925mem while gaming (400core/500mem necessary on Dota 2 which is fine as the game doesn't need too much power to run well).

Now I just bought the new Tomb Raider and the game is DROP DEAD gorgeous and seemed stable at 480core/925mem with pretty playable fps (27-30average). However I am now getting random black screen crashes even at this lowered setting and I am getting frustrated as I know that this Laptop could run this game fantastically if I could run it at the old clocks (or even default would be fine).

So my question to the experts is: should I bake it?
1. Could I expect to be getting results after the bake (even if for a short time)?
2. Would I be severely shortening the lifetime of the GPU?
3. In your opinion would it be better to simply sell this Laptop and buy a new more powerful Rig?
4. Can you provide a link to a baking guide focusing on baking GPU's on a Laptop motherboard?

Let me know, thanks.

 

1.) there was a user that claimed it helped but then we never heard from them again. There was another user that supposedly had a tech repair the GPU? unfortunately wht that entailed was never revealed nor have we heard from them if the repair held.
2.) short answer is no. So long as the bake is done properly it is just a reflow with no added damage to the silicon.
3.) if you can afford it I would say yes. I have the P79 but can tell you the new system demolishes that one.
4.) I haven't seen an all encompassing guide here as it is different from machine to machine...............

 

Thank you for quick response and + rep

I was looking around but I could not find anything specific to the 9800m gts, but some threads of baking the 9800m GT. Should I follow their procedure? http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/475415-baked-my-fried-area-51-m17x-9800m-gt-2.html

People have posted that they placed their GPU (along with the whole motherboard I would assume) into the oven at 385 F for about 8-10 minutes and simply let it cool for about a half hour. How would I go about placing the GPU in the oven? Should I put it on a flat surface with both top and bottom burners on? Should I just heat it to that temp then turn the burners off, then place the MB inside for 10 min? Haven't found the answers to these details yet.

 

Hi andros

I baked my mobo at 390-395F (200C) for around 8 mins using both the burners to avoid expansion from only the one side thus risking a mobo breakage.

This temp is typical for solder used in these electronics.

Dont expect that to be a long term solution though. Mine lasted for about 2 weeks.

Good luck mate

 

Actually the 10-15 minute mark at 395 seems a bit better. One user suggested turning the burners off and letting it cool for at least 30 minutes with the door open and the board inside the oven. This is best as it allow a SLOW cool down of the solder preventing cold joints as they harden. This will yield the longest lasting procedure. If this works a reball may be the answer but then the problem lies in what to resolder. Is it truly the GPU that needs the solder or is it the memory etc.

 

Thanks psyauto and Tan,
I have completed the Baking and I am extactic!

Played Skyrim at my old clocks of 715/925/1800 for a good hour with no black screen crashing.
Truly, wish I had tried this as a first resort. I had so many headaches trying to figure out how to get performance back up and running.
Performance is up and temps on the GPU are way down, reaching a max 65 degrees under gaming load.
Hopefully it won't be too much of a temporary solution.

It's a bit too early to tell but for now I find this to be the best solution to the problems with this GPU so far.
I advise anyone who is on the brink of buying a new Laptop out of frustration to try this first.

 

However I am having a different problem now:
after reassembling the computer this time I noticed that my media bar was acting up and reacting to pressure around the center area with all the media controls and the volume area.

Strange things like lighting up or lighting down by pressing down on it. This has happened before and I resolved by re-attaching the cable that connects the media bar to the motherboard.

This time I tried re-attaching several times and it only got worse to the point that it doesn't recognize the power button. I am thinking that I might need a new connector cable from the media bar to the MB.

I was only able to turn on the computer again by unattaching the cmos battery and reattaching, causing the computer to turn on automatically when you plug in the AC adapter.

 

The ribbon is probably broken mate. I had the exact same issue and i had to buy a new cable, that was the solution!

As for the advice about the slow cooling down, yes that is totally valid as it allows a nice recrystalization process since you want to avoid a martensitic-like transformation of the crystalic structure.

 

I always hated the idea of baking the whole MB, caps, relays and all. If, or more like when, my sons 6831 or 7805 GPU becomes unglued; I will try my $20 hot air gun on just the GPU. I got the idea watching video of removing the GPU for reball from links on this forum.

How long to apply hot air and if solder crystallizes, turns grey, has to be worked out on scrap part boards laying about. Making a heat shield template with aluminum foil seems simple enough?

cheers

 

Just replace the GPU -> G94-701-A1 DC08 for G94-701-A1 DC09 or later
Should rectify the fault