scratched some of gpu pcb trace,is it safe to use?

[dewod]

so today i just want to change my thermal paste on my gpu, but the screw that hold the heatsink is worn out i cant use philips head, so i deciced to use hackshaw so i can move the screw with my flathead screwdriver, and then my hackshaw sliped to and scratch some of gpu trace as seen in the picture below, so far i've been test the gpu with games, OCCT gpu test 15 min show no errors, furmark run fine, so far i didnt get any error flicker or anything, i cover the scratch with an electrical tape, i just wonder is it safe to use ?

[SavageNeo]

it is fine. if scrached my gpu too. 

 

 

if it works it is all good

[dewod]

1 minute ago, SavageNeo said:

it is fine. if scrached my gpu too. 

 

 

if it works it is all good

ah ok then im just being paranoid for this.

[i_build_nanosuits]

That's how I killed my 980ti a couple years ago.

[dewod]

1 minute ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

That's how I killed my 980ti a couple years ago.

im feel bad for you, how could that happen btw?

[porina]

it is almost certainly a signal trace, and as long as it isn't broken through, it'll probably be fine in the long term. It looks like the stuff they cover the board with has worn away and the track is exposed, but looks intact. If it were a power trace, there is more risk, but they're usually thicker if not using an internal plane.

[i_build_nanosuits]

4 minutes ago, dewod said:

im feel bad for you, how could that happen btw?

I think from the picture mine was scratched a bit more...but the card would display white lines all over the screen and wouldn't detect or install drivers and or run anything higher than the lowest resolution in windows.

 

If yours is fine you're very lucky.

[_Omega_]

40 minutes ago, dewod said:

so today i just want to change my thermal paste on my gpu, but the screw that hold the heatsink is worn out i cant use philips head, so i deciced to use hackshaw so i can move the screw with my flathead screwdriver, and then my hackshaw sliped to and scratch some of gpu trace as seen in the picture below, so far i've been test the gpu with games, OCCT gpu test 15 min show no errors, furmark run fine, so far i didnt get any error flicker or anything, i cover the scratch with an electrical tape, i just wonder is it safe to use ?

Seems fine its just the conformal coating that you scratched and the trace itself looks not damaged.

Just try if it works and when you want to reseal the trace use nailpolish.

[porina]

3 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

I think from the picture mine was scratched a bit more...but the card would display white lines all over the screen and wouldn't detect or install drivers and or run anything higher than the lowest resolution in windows.

If you still have it, and that was the only damage, it is likely repairable. Just carefully scratch away the coating on either side of the break, and get some conductive paint (e.g. used for car demister repair) to restore the trace. Make sure not to cause other shorts when applying.

[_Omega_]

And if it won’t work, search for someone who can solder a jumperwire on it to fix the trace. For one trace its easy with a bit of practise and a steady hand.

[i_build_nanosuits]

10 minutes ago, porina said:

If you still have it, and that was the only damage, it is likely repairable. Just carefully scratch away the coating on either side of the break, and get some conductive paint (e.g. used for car demister repair) to restore the trace. Make sure not to cause other shorts when applying.

Yeah thanks for the tip...I ended up selling it 100$ to a guy who repaired it...he melted away the black coating stuff and with a special pen he redid the traces that I broke and sprayes something on top he sent me pictures and told me it was working fine now...I remember those pictures I have posted on the forum somewhere.

[dewod]

21 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

I think from the picture mine was scratched a bit more...but the card would display white lines all over the screen and wouldn't detect or install drivers and or run anything higher than the lowest resolution in windows.

 

If yours is fine you're very lucky.

yeah mine still work until now, i've been run games, adn stress test, seems nothing weird coming from the gpu

20 minutes ago, _Omega_ said:

Seems fine its just the conformal coating that you scratched and the trace itself looks not damaged.

Just try if it works and when you want to reseal the trace use nailpolish.

for now i cover it with an electrical tape, i might use a nailpolish later, thanks for the tip

16 minutes ago, _Omega_ said:

And if it won’t work, search for someone who can solder a jumperwire on it to fix the trace. For one trace its easy with a bit of practise and a steady hand.

the gpu still runs fine with games and, no sign of error signed on any stress test i've been run like occt and furmark, i should be very careful later then.

[_Omega_]

2 minutes ago, dewod said:

the gpu still runs fine with games and, no sign of error signed on any stress test i've been run like occt and furmark, i should be very careful later then.

Dont worry its fine 

[Giffany]

i scratch traces all the time. its kinda a normal thing at this point. even if it was a minor scratch aka a micro crack some times a solder blob can be enough to re bridge them if it ever got to that point (if its minor enough anyway then its spare wire time) usually i don't re coat em as never a problem for me anyway.

Edited May 7, 2020 by Giffany
fixed my broken scentence sheesh