Why did my GPU (kind of) explode? [pictures]

[mrkaru]

CARD: 4GB MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G Twin FrozrV, PCIe 3.0, 7010MHz GDDR5, GPU 1216MHz, Boost 1317MHz, Cores 2048, 3x DP/HDMI/DVI-I.

 

Yesterday, while playing Dark Souls 3, my computer did a strange thing. It didn't crash, but the monitors turned back while a small audible "pop" happened. Afterwards, everything was normal for a few seconds. The game crashed, but since I was streaming it using Steam, I could see the desktop and my MSI Afterburner. Temps were normal (65c), but usage had become a mish-mash of numbers far greater than the usual "100%". Unfortunately, I didn't get any screenshots because I just wanted to restart the PC and make sure everything was okay. It wasn't, and it refused to boot. 

 

Skipping to today, here's what I know. I have no warranty, my computer is perfectly fine and only the GPU is dead. I decided to try baking, just incase I could squeeze another few weeks while I prepare for another. Taking the heatsink off, I notice [PICTURE #1]:

 

In the top left, you can see a small black dot, and a little black mark on the frame and the chip, like it had splashed. Not knowing what it could be, I quickly checked the heatsink just in case, and found [PICTURE #2].

You can't see it too well, but that thing sticks out about 0.5mm, and cleaning wouldn't get rid of it. It looks like something on my card popped and embedded itself into the heatsink.

 

What could have caused this? It wasn't overclocked (more than factory OC) and seemed to be well within temperature limits. What happened to my poor card? 

 

(EDIT) Warranty was voided ages ago by my own stupidity removing the warranty sticker from the screw. 

 

Edited April 8, 2017 by mrkaru

[Levent]

it looks like of those SMD's on the gpu die blew up, never seen that before but you most likely voided your warranty with baking it.

[Sokol1an]

1 minute ago, Levent said:

it looks like of those SMD's on the gpu die blew up, never seen that before but you most likely voided your warranty with baking it.

rest in spaghetti never forgetti warranty

[Droidbot]

Please for the love of god do not bake it

Your warranty is still in date, RMA it with MSI. They have a 3 year warranty on most of their GPUs IIRC

[mrkaru]

I only baked it because Warrenty was voided ages ago by removing the warranty seal on the screw. I've already contacted them and they said they wouldn't do anything. 

[Bananasplit_00]

a small cap exploded on the "frame" of the chip. also have you doubble checked that you have no waranty? always worth checking it  anyway the reason was probably a small spike in voltage in your wall power that then transfered all the way into your card, probably a minimal super minor one but it was enough to pop an already old and used cap 

[EPPHO]

Hey if your motherboard and everything else is still ok then you had some luck in the accident

[Tieox]

A shrine of cheeseburgers shalt this GPU rest. 

[GrayTech]

28 minutes ago, mrkaru said:

I decided to try baking

I hope that you don't intend to use this oven again for food. Linus explained why in his video.

[stefanDB]

power supply may have had something to do with it, some bad PSUs can damage other components, but don't ask me which ones are good or bad.

[mrkaru]

5 minutes ago, GrayTech said:

I hope that you don't intend to use this oven again for food. Linus explained why in his video.

It was an old oven, don't worry