How can I fix my video card?

[The_Hermit1971]

I was working in my computer with a screwdriver and accidentally broke two of my video card´s integrated circuits. I asked for suggestions on how to fix it in some other PC hardware forums without results. They told me in those forums that is virtually impossible to get the parts from the manufacturer or elsewhere and that is a better idea to send the card to them for repairment.

I have a feeling that this way is going to cost me more than buying it new because is a real old model and I can get a better card for way less money than the amount I originally paid or the repairment costs.

A few days after that I was looking at a pc hardware magazine in wich a picture of a DDR memory module was presented. I noticed that they used a very similar IC than the two I broked in my video card. I´m almost sure about that because my video card uses DDR memory too and I noticed that the IC's are connected to the memory chips (in my video card).

However I´m no expert but I hope that an expert in that matters visit these forums soon and that he is able to help me. I can´t afford to buy a new card right now and I hope that I can repair this one with a few bucks.

I haven´t told the model and brand of the card because I´m not sure that it is allowed in this forums but if somebody is willing to help me and need this information I´ll be glad to send it to him or post it here (if it is allowed). Thanks in advance.

[Rond66]

If you get lucky enough to find a skilled in soldering friend to fix it. It still may not work anyway.
OR
Go to http://www.marketproshows.com/visitor/search.asp
You may be able to a card up like the old one very cheap.

[doom969]

How is the card broken, exactly ?
Depending of the scratch u made with the screwdriver it may even be easy to fix...
Can u post a picture of the card ?
__________
d0oM969

[Gazorgan]

Hmmm. I have fixed cards before, but generally speaking you can't. It requires a high level of soldering skill, as well as de-soldering tools.

Did you actually break the chips? Sometimes you can patch broken leads.

You should look at one of the cheaper G2 or G400 cards, older and very inexpensive, but faster than anything from 3 or more years ago.

[VCD GURU]

If you broke any of the High tech IC's it will cost you!

And btw, How the **** did you manage to destroy a card with the screwdriver?

Dont drink and drive Bob! 8)

[doom969]

LOL

[neomaine]

They're a few models back so you should be able to pick up another ATI AIW Radeon 32mb DDR for under US$30, either PCI or AGP.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412969818&category=3761


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3413492685&category=3761

[The_Hermit1971]

To be a little more specific, I was trying to remove the card´s heatsink to let some space between the video card and the cards mounted in the PCI slots. Then accidentally my srewdriver sliped over the two IC's breaking them completely.

I think that they are not high tech chips but nobody knows. Is not a simple scratch, I broke them completely. Keep in mind that I live in Puerto Rico and theres no way I can find a similar card for $30 and not even $50 bucks. I paid $159 on Electronics Boutique about two years ago.

I´m no expert but the chips that I broked are between the memory and the GPU so that is the reason why I´m so sure that they are the same chips found in DDR memory modules. Is that of any help? Can somebody tell me if I´m wrong?

[zzyzzx]

To be a little more specific, I was trying to remove the card´s heatsink to let some space between the video card and the cards mounted in the PCI slots. Then accidentally my srewdriver sliped over the two IC's breaking them completely.

Pics?