Could this graphic cards be repaired? (EVGA GTX 980)

[starplayer]

Hi guys.
I'd like to know your opinion on if it would be feasible to repair this graphics card. Previous user had it watercooled, and water fell down on one of the mosfets of the VRM, so it blew up, and the copper around it seems to be quite deformed. Do you think the mosfet could be replaced? Other idea would be to remove it and populate one of the alternative phases, which has no components,so that the GPU could get the power the same.
Of course, the question is if the pcb layers underneath the burn are damaged or not.
Do you guys think it's worth a shot?

[Rasz]

you need to dremel all the charred pcb material first

[wraper]

You would need to remove charred PCB material and could populate another phase. However, most likely, you would need to run a bodge wire for control from existing blown phase. In any case this job requires microscope to be done without extreme pain.

[starplayer]

Thank you for your answers. So you guys think the layers beneath the blast zone likely haven't been damaged beyoind repair? By the way, does anyone seem to recognize the mosfet?

[wraper]

Thank you for your answers. So you guys think the layers beneath the blast zone likely haven't been damaged beyoind repair? By the way, does anyone seem to recognize the mosfet?

Likely there is a short between layers. However probably there is no signal tracks underneath so you can just remove the damaged PCB material.
http://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/NTMFS4C05N-D.PDF
http://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/NTMFS4C10N-D.PDF

[Rasz]

not exactly under mosfet, but same principle:

[wraper]

not exactly under mosfet, but same principle:

Just don't remove PCB material till the other side. Only as much layers as needed.

[Kjelt]

The mosfets are only dcdc buck converters right? Perhaps build your own and place it on the empty place above the polymer caps. Oversize it or double it and solder the output to where the previous output was, of ourse remove the rest of the damaged circuit first.

[RGB255_0_0]

The mosfets are only dcdc buck converters right? Perhaps build your own and place it on the empty place above the polymer caps. Oversize it or double it and solder the output to where the previous output was, of ourse remove the rest of the damaged circuit first.

It's what some overclockers do.

[wraper]

The mosfets are only dcdc buck converters right? Perhaps build your own and place it on the empty place above the polymer caps. Oversize it or double it and solder the output to where the previous output was, of ourse remove the rest of the damaged circuit first.

"only"  , those are not separate buck converters, this is multi-phase buck converter. Good luck building diy buck converter supplying 200+ A.

[Muxr]

Yeah they are multiphase and synchronous, with high and low side mosfets. You could possible replace the mosfets on the  faulty phase, but there is also sense circuitry around there as well, also chances are your GPU could be damaged too. It's just a lot of work for a card that is not worth more than $230.

Get yourself a new rx480/rx580 is what I would do.

[Specmaster]

I agree, I would just get yourself a new rx480/rx580, its just not worth the risk in my view.

[Kjelt]

"only"  , those are not separate buck converters, this is multi-phase buck converter. Good luck building diy buck converter supplying 200+ A.

Duh not the entire powersupply just the part that was damaged, don,t think he can use that part of the pcb anymore. But then probably hard to get the parts.
What manufacturer is u18 with the weird smd code?

[RGB255_0_0]

"only"  , those are not separate buck converters, this is multi-phase buck converter. Good luck building diy buck converter supplying 200+ A.

Duh not the entire powersupply just the part that was damaged, don,t think he can use that part of the pcb anymore. But then probably hard to get the parts.
What manufacturer is u18 with the weird smd code?

Shouldn't worry too much as it's a driver. But what does U18 have to do with anything?

[Rasz]

I agree, I would just get yourself a new rx480/rx580, its just not worth the risk in my view.

risk of what? fixing the thing? 

[Kjelt]

Shouldn't worry too much as it's a driver. But what does U18 have to do with anything?

Personal interest, I have some dissected electronics on my bench i am trying to re which also has some weird code i can,t find  with the xx = xx marking, probably same manufacturer i would think

[Muxr]

I agree, I would just get yourself a new rx480/rx580, its just not worth the risk in my view.

risk of what? fixing the thing? 

Investing in new components and wasting time.

[RGB255_0_0]

I agree, I would just get yourself a new rx480/rx580, its just not worth the risk in my view.

risk of what? fixing the thing? 

Investing in new components and wasting time.

980 is about as fast as the AMD RX580. Still selling for ~$175USD on Ebay. Risk vs reward of spending a few dollars is worth it.

[starplayer]

Thanks a lot for the advice and resources guys. I'll give it a go, as I'm a bit of a masochist! I'll let you guys know if I manage to revive the dead.

[Specmaster]

Thanks a lot for the advice and resources guys. I'll give it a go, as I'm a bit of a masochist! I'll let you guys know if I manage to revive the dead.

Good luck, just hope you don't import a problem to the motherboard in the process, keep us informed please?

[Rasz]

Thanks a lot for the advice and resources guys. I'll give it a go, as I'm a bit of a masochist! I'll let you guys know if I manage to revive the dead.

Good luck, just hope you don't import a problem to the motherboard in the process, keep us informed please?

PCIE goes straight to CPU, so he will kill CPU first if something goes bad
+ I very much doubt starplayer will be able to go straight from "is this thing repairable" to fixing it. He didnt even bother to do the very first thing needed (clearing the area and checking for shorts).

[RGB255_0_0]

Thanks a lot for the advice and resources guys. I'll give it a go, as I'm a bit of a masochist! I'll let you guys know if I manage to revive the dead.

Good luck, just hope you don't import a problem to the motherboard in the process, keep us informed please?

PCIE goes straight to CPU

Depends which slot and how it's wired and which board. Generally you're right as the top x16 slot is perhaps exclusively to CPU (barring multiplexing), I'm just being pedantic.

[dimkasta]

Watch some Louis Rossman for inspiration while you are at it
Just try to control yourself from using as much flux

[RGB255_0_0]

Watch some Louis Rossman for inspiration while you are at it
Just try to control yourself from using as much flux

Not the flux again. 

[dimkasta]

Not the flux again. 

Yeah, I have to apologize
I was going for "playful semi-off-topic"
`
I love Louis' stuff and I have never worked on such components under a microscope, so I shouldn't have an opinion. It just looks... too much