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There's a tonne of articles online about fixing you graphics card by baking it in the oven. Supposedly this 'reflows' the solder to fix flaky connections. It's even been reported on sites such as Lifehacker. Does it work? Is it safe?

Sklivvz
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fredley
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  • I've seen [videos of people using a heatgun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMG-6rbanlY&feature=related) to fix the yellow light of death on PS3s citing the same thing – ratchet freak Mar 25 '12 at 21:54
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    As an electronic engineer I have to say that this could, in theory, work, but I would rather think that you destroy more than you fix. If you apply the wrong level of heat for to long chips can be affected. Electronic parts can actually fall of or move in a way that creates short circuits. If your graphic card is already broken you might give it a try. After all you don't have anything to loose. However, I wouldn't use it in an oven which is also used for preparing food. The solder tin contains lead. – Martin Scharrer Mar 25 '12 at 22:17
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    @MartinScharrer: Solder tin should no longer contain any lead, except in some specialiced devices, have a read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_of_Hazardous_Substances_Directive – Baarn Mar 25 '12 at 23:02
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    Sometimes, [it is required](http://www.flickr.com/photos/retrobakery/4266953919/). – Oddthinking Mar 26 '12 at 03:36
  • Will pointing to any card manual, under "operating conditions" and verifying that, no, they are not supposed to survive, be a sufficient answer? – Sklivvz Mar 26 '12 at 07:23
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    @Sklivvz: No, I don't think so. The card is not running while it is baked, so its not an operating condition. – Martin Scharrer Mar 26 '12 at 07:54
  • @MartinScharrer Sure, I don't remember how they are called but there are 2 ranges "while in use" and "storage". I was referring to the second. – Sklivvz Mar 26 '12 at 08:04
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    @Sklivvz: That's usually long-term values. The soldering temperatures and times are different. But as I already said, you can do more harm by applying too much heat for too long. – Martin Scharrer Mar 26 '12 at 08:15
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    I have used this [low-cost reflow kit](http://www.reflow-kit.com/rkuk/order_product_details.html?p=13) which is indeed just a normal baking oven with an external temperature control device to solder complex boards used in my PhD project. However, larger parts may fall off during the process. I personally wouldn't put an professional made graphic card in it and be sure of that it works better than before afterwards. However, as already said, if the card is already defect you don't have to loose much. – Martin Scharrer Mar 26 '12 at 08:18
  • I didn't know that. – Sklivvz Mar 26 '12 at 08:18
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    I Do not get the question. You have cited several expert sources saying it can work sometimes. None of them claim it works all the time. I doubt manufacturer recommends this fix. My problem is that this question really is only answerable via Anecdotes like you have supplied. I think your question needs to be reworked. – Chad Mar 26 '12 at 13:14
  • Yes. Go to the kitchen now, bake it, put it back into your computer, make a video while you are doing all of this, come back here and post it so we can see how great this works :D –  May 23 '12 at 20:28
  • The one detail I'd add was that the bake to reflow DIY fix was only a big item for nVidia cards and laptops using them for their first generation of lead free solder parts. The failure rates for the solder joints in these chips were high enough to trigger litigation as referenced by Rig's answer. The problem that could be fixed by a reflow is much less likely to occur in older boards with lead based solder, or with newer lead free solder boards because board makers appear to have fixed their early problems. – Dan Is Fiddling By Firelight May 24 '12 at 15:36

2 Answers2

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No, baking a broken graphics card will not necessarily fix it. It is not safe for the graphics card (may cause further problems), and may be a health risk.

It is possible to repair failed joints in a reflow oven. (Source)

Many options exist for repairing. In one embodiment the repairing can be repeating the reflow operation.

This article discusses repairing consumer electronics yourself. (They also disclose that they are a "company that specializes in the repairs of electronics", and that they offer great service and fair pricing - not the most reliable of sources)

As mentioned earlier, solder tends to melt at 183C/217C, and without proper equipment these temperatures in that environment will never be achieved. These fixes are highly advised against. While they may provide a temporary fix, the issue has been exacerbated by causing more damage to a perfectly working PCB component.

Problems with baking your broken graphics card in a standard oven at home:

  • The problem that you're trying to fix may not be a failed solder joint - it could be a software problem, or a failed hardware component.

  • Since you are not using a reflow oven with a set temperature profile, you may damage smaller components, as your oven temperature will not be accurate and consistent throughout.

    This patent describes a "Reflow Minioven for Electrical Components" - a temperature controlled oven that follows a specific temperature ramp profile to minimise adverse effects such as thermal shock and PCB/component damage.

    In reflow soldering typically a ramp-soak-spike heater panel recipe is used [snip]

    The effect of hot spots:

    [snip] forced convection can assist in reducing hot spots [snip]. As a result more uniform heating of the PCBs and the components is produced and more uniformly satisfactory results and better solder joints are achieved without damage due to overheating of small components. Source

  • There are plastic parts on graphics cards (Here's a patent for a fan-cooled card, which uses an injection moulded plastic shroud). Depending on what plastic is used and the temperature of your oven, these parts may melt/burn in the oven, which is likely to damage your graphics card, and may produce toxic fumes.

    When plastic is subjected to fire, noxious and toxic fumes result. Source

  • If the graphics card (or a component on it) was released before RoHS was enforced (2003), the solder may be lead-based, and since lead is toxic, this is not a good idea to do in the same oven you cook food.

  • Exposure to solder flux fumes can be harmful:

    [snip] evidence of a peripheral airways reaction, while working in the electronics industry and exposed to solder flux fumes containing colophony (pine resin). Source

  • If you do succeed in melting the solder, components may shift (causing short circuits, failed connections) or fall off.

    Double sided products such as printed circuit boards are more difficult to reflow solder than single sided products since special care must be directed to the components already soldered on one side of the product to prevent them from shifting position or falling off while the other side is being reflow soldered. Source

Alex L
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  • Why was this downvoted? – fredley May 24 '12 at 15:46
  • @Alex L the one issue i have is your quote says, "As mentioned earlier, solder tends to melt at 183C/217C, and without proper equipment these temperatures in that environment will never be achieved" most convential overs heat up to at least 450f, if not 550f in the broiler, which is equal to 287C which is far above the required heat to melt the solder. Also typically the instructions of baking our graphics card involves removing all plastic pieces. – Himarm Mar 18 '15 at 16:27
  • While this answer is clinically correct, there is merit to the graphics card baking, imo, its a short term solution, my card just crawled up itself, (its 23:00 here) and i couldnt get another right now. As i needed to work, few mins in the oven, and im back to work! ^ I upvoted this answer btw, purely because you point out **Its not a fix** – Pogrindis May 29 '15 at 22:05
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In some cases this can repair it through causing solder to flow correcting any possible gaps. Occasionally a board can come from the manufacturer with defects such as cold solder joints (referenced to near the paragraph end) which can make a board prone to failure if it ever works at all.

There was a period where HP laptops suffered from a high rate of defects in their laptop video cards which would result in various symptoms. A search on motherboard baking or motherboard reflow will have a high count of HP models. Here they show a how to.

EDIT: To answer the "Is it safe?", I wouldn't do it with a card that is still functional as you can very well kill it. If it is done at low temperatures there is not likely to be any harm to the oven or baking person. The proper tool for something like this is actually more likely to be a heat gun however I am sure you are more likely to have an oven.

*I am in no way liable for any negative outcomes!

EDIT: I don't know why there would be a downvote since you are not going to find many sources on putting computer components in an oven. Anecdotal evidence is really all you are going to find.

Oven reflow would be considered roughly equivalent to convection reflow referenced here using a reflow oven which a home oven can match in temperatures (operating temp of 350*F up to 450*F).

A cold solder (or here) joint can be defined as "A solder connection exhibiting poor wetting and of greyish, porous appearance due to insufficient heat or excessive impurities in the solder. The condition can be caused by applying insufficient heat to the joint, inadequately cleaning the surfaces prior to soldering, insufficiently heating the part being soldered, improper tinning of the soldering iron tip, or poor heat control." which can actually occur in automated production. On a micro scale some characteristics described would be very difficult to visually see. This definition appears in IPC-T-50 (Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits - Terms and Definitions for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits).

The HP nvidia graphics problem was wide spread enough to prompt a class action lawsuit (formerly at http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/ but referenced by http://fairnvidiasettlement.com/) which the complainants lost. They were seeking replacements with "similar value and kind" laptops however the judge ruled against them.

Rig
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  • Hi Rig, welcome to the site. We don't count Wikipedia as a reputable enough source on this site, can you find other sources for your answer? – fredley May 23 '12 at 21:33
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    Welcome to Skeptics! Please [provide some references](http://meta.skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/5) to support your claims. In particular, you need a reputable reference that the procedure actually works. As is, the answer is merely repeating the claim without looking at any facts. – Sklivvz May 23 '12 at 23:17
  • @fredley Wikipedia is irrelevant. The OP has not provided any references to support his claims. – Dave Hillier May 24 '12 at 16:06