GPU hardware failure?

Hardware Hub GPU
1

I have a 7870 that's ran fine for about a year. However recently when I went to crossfire it with a new card I got, it wouldn't work. So I tested each card separately and found that my original card wasn't working properly.

Now when I boot with my original GPU, there are columns horizontal lines  going down the screen, and when I check GPU-Z it shows that GPU is only 553Mhz, when it used to be 1275. Also GPU-Z wouldnt' show the information for the temperature or fan speed. I am also not able to install any drivers to the card, my computer freezes when I try.

I'm thinking I may have shocked the GPU while I was installing the other one for crossfire, but I would like to know what on the GPU could be failing. I'm thinking it's the GPU's RAM due to the clock speed issues?

I'd just like to know more about what's going on with the card before I RMA it.

2

It sounds like the card is on its way out with failing BGA joints. You can give the oven trick a try and you may get a little more time out of the card but i think its done.

3

I'm not going to throw it in the oven, I think I'll just RMA it at this point, I think it has a two year warrenty.

It worked perfectly though until I opened up my computer and took it out and put it back in again last week. Wouldn't that be ESD?

4

If the solder joints were of poor quality and had become brittle, the physical stress of handling the card might have caused further damage. RMA is probably the best course of action if the card is still under warranty.

Or maybe it was ESD. Maybe you can use this as motivation to get a wrist strap and always practice static safety.

FWIW, I've never seen a card damaged by static. I have, however, reflowed several GPUs.