Bake graphics card: instructions for the repair trick

In this tip, we’ll show you how to repair a graphics card using baking in your home oven.

The screen flickers or stays black or your computer regularly crashes during graphic-intensive applications. A defective graphics card manifests itself in many ways. However, you don’t have to throw the good piece in the trash or take it to an expensive repair shop. Because as bizarre as it may sound: In many cases, the problem can be solved by baking. In this tutorial, we will show you how to repair a graphics card in a home oven and what you need to keep in mind.

1. Bake graphics card: This is why tube resuscitation works

Over time, the contacts of the circuit board can become loose or the traces can corrode, interrupting the flow of current.

In the production of electronic components, many components are fused together with the aid of solder, and graphics cards (e.g., a computer) are also fused together with solder.B. the Nvidia GeForce) are no exceptions in this case. Over time, the contacts (z.B. due to external influences or temperature changes) come loose or the conductive paths corrode, which interrupts the flow of current. The result is image errors, system crashes or simply a black screen. By heating the board in the oven, the contacts soften again and the solder deforms. In this way, defective conductive tracks may reassemble under certain circumstances and current flows again.

Good to know: The back method often also helps when the traces have been damaged by shocks during transport.

2. The great graphics card baking: Preparation

Before you start baking, make sure that the graphics card is actually defective and not other hardware (e.g., the CPU or the motherboard).B. monitor, power supply, CPU or mainboard) cause the error. Maybe there is only a driver problem and it would be very annoying if you put an intact graphic card into the stovepipe.

Also note that the manufacturer’s warranty or the warranty for the monitor, power supply unit, CPU or main unit is affected by the baking process. any legal warranty that may still exist expires. You should therefore only carry out the procedure if the graphics card is otherwise unusable anyway.

Attention: Baking the graphics card is done at your own risk. We assume no liability for any damage caused!

3. Bake graphics card: This is how it’s done!

Don’t panic if there should be any strange smells during baking – this is completely normal!

1. First disassemble the cooler and all other plastic components. Also remove the thermal paste from the graphics chip (GPU).
2. Preheat your oven to 100°degrees (top and bottom heat). You should avoid circulating air as far as possible, as this can damage even the smallest components.
3. Then place the graphics card on a baking tray covered with baking paper. You can also wrap it in aluminum foil for better heat distribution.
4. When the oven has reached the desired temperature, bake the graphics card for 20 to 30 minutes in the oven on the middle shelf. Don’t panic if it gets a bit funny (not burnt)!) should smell – this is completely normal.
5. Then take the baking tray out of the oven and let it cool down a bit before you install the graphics card again. We also recommend that you clean the oven thoroughly after the process to remove any toxic residue.

If the graphics card still does not work again after the first time baking, you can repeat the process several times with increasingly higher temperature: