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    GPU memory modules resoldering..... Is it possible?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by zeera, Mar 28, 2012.

  1. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    Hi t everyone!
    I know that it is possible to resolder a BGA chip of a video card to a better compatible one (for example BGA chip on 9800m gtx to a 280M gtx chip).
    It may sound a little stupid :) but what about memory chips????
    I mean if the GPU has 8 memory chips, but with total amount of 512MB and I will resolder other 8 chips but with total amount of 1GB and in the end flash a video card with a compatible 1GB bios. Will it work??? Maybe someone knows something about that, or was already doing something like that???
    Would be nice to haer any suggestions.
     
    zeera, Mar 28, 2012
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  2. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    GalaxySII, Mar 28, 2012
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  3. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    I have watched the videos, but no info about resoldering a memory chips was there, only baking a BGA chip :)
    I do understand that soldering a new momory chips with the same ammount of memory must be absolutely safe. But what i'm interested in is, if the memory chips with bigger amount of memory can be soldered and if the card will work???
     
    zeera, Mar 28, 2012
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  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    This can easily be done with the right hardware and memory chips that meet the same electrical specifications as the original chips. But that hardware is expensive and good luck finding those specifications. Go buy a new computer. It's cheaper.
     
    Greg, Mar 28, 2012
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  5. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    found some interesting video with resoldering memory chips. BGA Soldering - Memory Swapping by Hand - YouTube
     
    zeera, Mar 28, 2012
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  6. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    If you want to risk screwing something up on your GPU with a poor quality Youtube video, by all means go ahead. I'd advise you to buy a new card.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Mar 28, 2012
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  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I've worked in the engineering sector long enough to tell you while it might be possible, it sure as heck isn't easy to do by hand. It'll take many attempts, and possibly even an X-ray machine, to finally verify it all works well. Been there and done it. Not worth the time unless you are trying to debug bad circuitry on a several thousand dollar prototype.
     
    Greg, Mar 28, 2012
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  8. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If we are talking about a 4870 ( ;)), then I would rather replace the GDDR3 vram with GDDR5 and not worry about 512mb vs 1gb.

    But it would be a very cool thing to do.
     
    moral hazard, Mar 28, 2012
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  9. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'd have to look it up, but I don't think those interfaces are electrically compatible...
     
    Greg, Mar 28, 2012
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  10. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    Different BGA structure or ball assignments?
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Mar 29, 2012
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  11. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    You want to do things what I wanted to do few months ago because my gt555m has gddr3 and there are 555m with gddr5 .. But I realised it is not worth we have reflow station at work but it is a big risk ..
    Try to do it on som crappy laptop what u can brick . I replaced once bios from same models PC and it didnt work .
    It is not like laptop bios will read normal RAM
    If you manage to replace those gddr you might end up with same amount of gddr ram or black screen
    You will have to update BIOS of GPU as well ..
     
    GalaxySII, Mar 29, 2012
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  12. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    :D Do not think it's possible, DDR5 structure must be different from DDR3(maybe different connectors). But replacing the same memory type chips with bigger capacity should be possible.

    I think firstly it must be tryed out on some cheap desctop board

    EDIT: DDR3 has 136 balls, while DDR5 has 170 balls
     
    zeera, Mar 29, 2012
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  13. TheBluePill

    TheBluePill Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ok.. I have to ask..

    Is this an attempt to upgrade due to budget constraints.. OR is it a "Because its there" type thing just to see if you can do it?
     
    TheBluePill, Mar 29, 2012
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  14. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    It's just a question of my own curiosity. I have already found memory chips that would be compatible wit the card, but the price of the chips + shipping is around 100$. Now I start to think if I really want to do this :D
     
    zeera, Mar 29, 2012
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  15. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    Told Ya ;)
     
    GalaxySII, Mar 29, 2012
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  16. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    maan....I have already watched tons of links, but no information about soldering a higher capacity memory chips. That's just couldn't be the truth that noone had tried to do this before.
     
    zeera, Mar 30, 2012
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  17. TheBluePill

    TheBluePill Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I figure most people wouldn't bother.. and those that have the skills probably didnt think many other people do, so didnt bother to film and post it.

    It is not a common, or lower skill-level activity. Its going to be a 8 on a 1-10 difficultly scale for an average DIYer.
     
    TheBluePill, Mar 30, 2012
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  18. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    I don't know why people bother with such inquiries... these are high-precision parts that require specialized equipment. Its not as simple as changing the oil in a car.
     
    Bog, Mar 30, 2012
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  19. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    I suggest you don't just watch videos but contact those people who are on youtube .. They done it .. OR contact nvidia / ati directly and ask them .. :)
     
    GalaxySII, Mar 30, 2012
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  20. TheBluePill

    TheBluePill Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Hey.. if he gets it to work.. I think his next challenge should be to attempt to double the L2 Cache on the die of his processor. ;)
     
    TheBluePill, Mar 30, 2012
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  21. __-_-_-__

    __-_-_-__ God

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    Couldn't believe in some of the replies. IT WON'T WORK.
    Maybe in Narnia it could be possible but here on Earth with the laws of physics it just won't happen.
    Sure, you can replace the chip with insane amounts of work and money. But the card won't work. The chips aren't compatible with the card.
    It's like connecting an intel cpu to an amd socket. sure, it can be done with loads of work and money, but it won't even boot.

    I loled.
     
    __-_-_-__, Apr 1, 2012
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  22. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    I LOLed as well on this thread :)
    Anyway what u just wrote I already told him that so people noo need to copy my post ..
     
    GalaxySII, Apr 1, 2012
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  23. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Gddr5 has very strict signaling requirements and i believe the connector sizes is different. On an nvidia card you can put higher capacity chips (bios scans on boot) or faster modules (of the same brand would be sensible).
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 1, 2012
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  24. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    You mean on Nvidia it can be done. And what about ATI?
    On a ATI card are H5RS5223CFR-N0C chips and I want to change them with H5RS1H23MFR-N0C. I was also thinking about faster chips, but they could have different timings or something else, that's why I stick to the same speed one.
     
    zeera, Apr 1, 2012
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  25. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    You have to update the bios on amd cards as the memory amount is programmed. Yes you could use faster mem without.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 1, 2012
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  26. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe you, or someone else can help with such bios modding?
    Here is the bios https://rapidshare.com/files/3626958669/M98.bin
     
    zeera, Apr 1, 2012
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  27. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    GalaxySII, Apr 1, 2012
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  28. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    zeera, Apr 1, 2012
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  29. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    So I advise you : Google , google and google
     
    GalaxySII, Apr 1, 2012
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  30. zeera

    zeera Notebook Consultant

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    Well. New chips ordered. If they will not work with Ati card, will put them on Nvidia card, cos they are anyway faster than original ones. I think in 12-15 days will write what will be the result.
    And by the way, maybe someone has mobility radeon 4870 mxm 2.1 1Gb BIOS?
     
    zeera, Apr 2, 2012
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  31. GalaxySII

    GalaxySII Notebook Deity

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    GalaxySII, Apr 6, 2012
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