Toshiba graphics card reseating

[Daifne]

I have a Toshiba Satellite PSAGCU-09s01s in the shop that over heated and, possibly destroyed the discrete graphics card. We are trying cleaning and reseating first, put are trying to figure something out. The GPU itself has normal thermal paste applied, but the surrounding memory (?) chips have a white paste applied.

Question is, what is the white paste and can it be replaced with Arctic Silver? It looks like it's either zinc oxide or maybe a silicone based paste. Does anyone know?

I'm doubting that the reseating will work, but the replacement card is $300-$500. I'm hoping.

 

[KM@ Dave]

Is it actually Thermal Paste on the GPU memory, or Thermal RAM pads? If they are RAM pads do not under any circumstances replace them with Thermal Paste as you may short out or blow the Graphics Card.

It just seems too strange for an OEM to put Thermal Paste on GPU RAM, maybe see if they peel off.

 

[Daifne]

Yes, it's absolutely paste on all chips. On two of the memory chips, the white paste is still somewhat moist and tacky. On the other two it's very dry and baked on. I believe that those two chips are fried. This is a "well, let's just try this first" thing right now with little to no hope of success. If the customer does decide to spend that much on a new card, we still need to know what the white paste is and if Arctic Silver will work. My partner is pretty sure it's zinc oxide, but wants confirmation.

 

[KM@ Dave]

I take it's a dedicated PCI-E card then? It astounds me how the Manufacturer placed thermal paste on GPU RAM.

But Arctic Silver will most likely short out the Card as I'm sure it's conductive. I used it on a GPU once and it got in between the e-chips as well, which caused some problems until I removed it.

 

[14049752]

I've seen those toshiba pads on several graphics cards.... they're extra viscous gel type things, right? Almost like a paste, but almost not...it's hard to describe. Arctic silver won't work in their place because the heatsink won't make a connection to the chip. You have to either use a standard pad, or find a replacement that will fill the gap between the heatsink.

It astounds me how the Manufacturer placed thermal paste on GPU RAM.

There's nothing wrong with putting thermal paste on gpu ram IF the heatsink makes contact. Generally it doesn't make contact and they use thermal pads, though.
If you shorted out something by putting thermal paste on it, you put WAY too much on. Arctic silver is safe to put on a memory chip IF it uses thermal paste and not a pad... but if you're paranoid about shorting something out, use Ceramique as it's completely non conductive electrically.

 

[Daifne]

It's similar, but not exactly like this one. Can't find a picture of this exact card on any of the parts sites I found. http://laptoping.com/wp-content/012010/ati_mobility_radeon_hd_5000.jpg

Absolutely not a pad or an extra viscous gel type thing. It was definitely paste of some sort. The memory chips make contact with an aluminum plate which is attached to the heat sink.

Edit: This one is a little closer, but the one in this machine has a L shaped cutout on the bottom right: http://www.tradetuber.com/viewpic?img=/picture/2009/11/6/41090520091106142520.bmp

 

[14049752]

It's similar, but not exactly like this one. Can't find a picture of this exact card on any of the parts sites I found. http://laptoping.com/wp-content/012010/ati_mobility_radeon_hd_5000.jpg

Absolutely not a pad or an extra viscous gel type thing. It was definitely paste of some sort.

Oh, ok. Every toshiba I've taken apart has thick gel stuff on the gpu ram.

If it's definitely paste, you can use arctic silver. Just make sure that it makes contact.


Is it an MXM card? Like this: http://mxm-upgrade.com/HD3650_MXM.JPG

 

[Daifne]

We did go ahead with it and there was no change to the initial symptoms. I think that the two memory chips that had the paste baked on are hosed due to overheating. The customer realized that he has an extended warranty until Mar. 7 that covers dust and overheating issues amongst other things. He will be going that route. I will be backing up his data for him just in case for a price, of course.

I'd still like to know what that paste was definitely. My partner is pretty convinced that it's zinc oxide.

 

[Daifne]

Hi 14049752,

Thank you.

No, it's not that one either. It's an ATI, and the board itself is green, not red.

 

[14049752]

Hi 14049752,
Thank you.
No, it's not that one either. It's an ATI, and the board itself is green, not red.

Well, yeah...I wasn't saying it was that exact card, I was just asking if it was MXM. It's a video card interface. I posted before you edited your post, showing another mxm card.

 

[Daifne]

Whoops. ;-)

typing to get to the minimum...

 

[KM@ Dave]

If you shorted out something by putting thermal paste on it, you put WAY too much on.

Patronising much?

Hmm, I always thought Arctic Silver was conductive, but obviously not. But in all honesty ordering some really cheap Thermal Pads from somewhere would probably work out better for you. I know electronics stores are known for stocking them. Just never PC stores. Which is odd.

A customer came to me once with a similar problem where his Laptop GPU was cutting out and his screen would randomly start flashing white, turned out his fan was causing the problem, took me ages to find a replacement =(

 

[14049752]

Patronising much?

I wasn't trying to be, simply stating the truth. Most people do use too much thermal paste...and certainly if you shorted something out with it, you did too.