In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, laptops have become indispensable tools for both work and leisure. However, the reliability of these devices can be compromised when the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) starts exhibiting signs of failure.

understanding the topic

Various red flags signal a failing GPU. Users may encounter random visual aberrations, such as lines or dots on the screen, or witness bizarre visuals with distorted colors and stretched 3D models. An ominous sign is a sudden appearance of strange colors on the screen, a temporary fixable issue through restarting, but one that inevitably reoccurs.

Another big sign that your computer’s graphics thingy might be broken is if it shows a Blue Screen Error, especially when you’re doing lots of graphic-intensive stuff like playing games or watching HD movies. But, it’s important to know that blue screens can happen because other computer parts, like the hard thing where stuff is saved or the memory thing, might also be having issues.

But before blaming the GPU Chip for the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), it’s smart to sort out the problem in a step-by-step way. Follow the guide in the article titled How to Fix BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)? – Every Advanced Solutions It lays out a big list of steps to figure out and fix what’s causing the BSOD. It’s like a map to help you find and deal with the reasons behind that pesky blue screen.

Sometimes, when your laptop just shows a black, empty screen on the starstup, it might be because the GPU is acting up. But, don’t jump to conclusions too quickly! The trouble could be hanging out with the Random Access Memory (RAM) or some other buddies inside your laptop. To really figure out what’s going on, it’s a good idea to check out the steps in the article titled “Laptop Turns ON But No Display On Monitor! – Every Possible Solution“.

Why GPU Get Fails and How Reflow Can Help?

When a graphics processing unit, or GPU, finds itself under the weighty burden of intensive workloads, generating a substantial amount of heat, the absence of adequate ventilation may usher in an environment prone to overheating. The consequential excess of heat poses a tangible risk, primarily manifesting in the potential separation of the solder joints beneath the GPU. Now, these solder joints play a pivotal role, serving as indispensable conduits of connection between the GPU and the intricate circuit board.

separation of the solder joints beneath the GPU

Another factor contributing to potential GPU malfunctions arises when using a laptop in environments marked by high humidity or excess moisture. Exposure to elevated moisture levels sets the stage for the formation of corrosion on the solder joints of the GPU. Over time, this insidious corrosion exerts its influence, weakening the solder joints and paving the way for connectivity issues and a gradual decline in the GPU’s functionality. corrosion weakening the solder joints

Reflow stands out as a technique employed to tackle glitches in a problematic GPU by essentially melting and re-establishing the solder connections linking the GPU and the motherboard.

The reflow process unfolds with the afflicted GPU subjected to precisely controlled heat. This meticulously applied heat initiates the melting of the solder, allowing it to flow and mend any fractured joints that may have formed. As the system gradually cools down, the once-molten solder solidifies, creating a rejuvenated and fortified bond between the GPU and the motherboard.

This method emerges as a potential remedy for specific GPU-related issues, intending to reinstate functionality by addressing concerns at the solder joint level. However, it’s paramount to acknowledge that reflow doesn’t universally guarantee a permanent fix. The success of this technique hinges on the nuanced nature of the GPU problem at hand, with outcomes varying depending on the specific intricacies of the issue encountered.

#Steps to Reflow a GPU of a Laptop

The simplest approach to execute a GPU reflow involves employing a heat gun. This method only necessitates a handful of fundamental tools, namely a heat gun, foil paper, and a screwdriver kit for the disassembly of the laptop.

Note: If your laptop is within the warranty period, it is advisable to reach out to the retailer or the company from which you acquired the laptop. Typically, they may propose to replace the defective GPU chip without imposing any extra labor charges.

Now, just follow these steps:Disassemble the Laptop

  1. Disassemble the Laptop – To disassemble the laptop, gather the necessary tools to meticulously take apart your device, revealing the motherboard. Extract the motherboard from the laptop body, referring to online tutorials available on platforms such as YouTube for step-by-step guidance tailored to your laptop’s specific make and model.Search YouTube for disassembly video of your laptop's specific model
  2. Find the GPU Chip – Identifying the GPU chip on a laptop’s motherboard entails finding a distinctive component. Seek out a noticeable big green chip that has a smaller black chip situated on top of it. This particular arrangement is often a sign of the GPU. To aid in the search, consult the example picture provided below for visual reference. GPU Chip On Laptop's Motherboard
  3. Preparing for the Process – Lay the disassembled laptop on a table and cover it with foil paper, ensuring the GPU chip is exposed while the entire motherboard is shielded. This protective measure prevents damage to surrounding components during the reflow process.cover motherboard with foil paper
  4. Load the Syringe with Liquid Flux: Take hold of a syringe containing a specialized liquid flux designed for Surface Mount Device (SMD) components. Position the syringe tip carefully under the edges of the main GPU chip. Squeeze out a small amount of flux evenly around the edges of the chip. This flux acts like a magic potion, removing oxides, promotes wetting, enhancing solder flow, and preventing re-oxidation during the reflow process for the highest quality, ultimately contributing to enhanced performance.
  5. Reflowing – To initiate the reflow process, start by preparing your heat gun. Set the temperature to 220°C and adjust it to very low air pressure. Allow the heat gun to preheat for about 30 seconds before you begin. Then, keep the GPU chip positioned at a distance of two inches from the heat gun and apply a continuous stream of heat for a duration of 3 minutes. To ensure even distribution of heat, rotate the heat gun in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions during the application. Maintaining consistent movement is crucial to avoid prolonged exposure to a specific area. This helps prevent overheating and potential damage. It’s equally important to keep the air pressure from the heat gun low and steady. Sudden fluctuations in air pressure could pose a risk of inadvertent damage to the smaller components of the GPU chip.Reflowing
  6. Reflow Back of GPU Chip and Reassemble the Laptop – Now, reflow the back of the GPU chip for an additional 1 minute. After this step, allow sufficient time for the GPU to cool before proceeding with the reassembly of the laptop. Once reassembled, initiate a comprehensive system test by running graphics-intensive tasks, such as games or movies. This will enable you to verify whether the previous display issues have been successfully resolved. Reflow Back of GPU Chip

If you discover that none of the troubleshooting steps or do-it-yourself solutions yield positive results, it is recommended to seek assistance from a professional because your laptop’s GPU chip needs Reballing or maybe a complete replacement. Consultation with a skilled technician or a service provider specializing in laptop repairs and GPU issues can aid in accurately diagnosing the problem and offering suitable solutions.

Need a heat gun, liquid flux, or a screwdriver kit?

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Screwdriver Kit Starts From: @Amazon US ($9.99), @Amazon UK (£9.99), @Amazon IND (₹149.00), @Walmart US ($9.99), @Newegg ($10.99).


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59 COMMENTS

  1. Hello I have a dell inspiron 15R SE 7520. When I want to start it shows a green screen with a single horizontal white stripe and beeping eight times until i shut it down. I got it checked by dell but went in vain. They suggested a screen replacement but with new one the same problem exists. I think it might be a problem in motherboard(part no: CN-04P57C). Can you suggest where exactly is the problem and is a motherboard replacement is the only solution? If it is in GPU then a GPU reflow may not be the permanent solution as it may in bad shape again in 6 months.

    Please suggest.

    Thanks in advance.

    Best Regards
    Parijat

  2. My Dell Inspiron 15-3537 Laptop first 3 three times restarts automatically then next 4th times gives 7 beeps error with no display. I do the usually process of reboiling but the problem not solved… what i do ????

  3. I did the reflow process but after that when I press power button only the display blinks for less than 1 sec My laptop is Dell studio 1555

  4. Hello friend.
    i have a problem with may packard bell laptop.it is a common problem( black screen) during booting up.everything is working except the video.need your help please

  5. Hi, can i reflow card using only ordinary fan? Does it heat up to needed temperature or is it to low? I dont have proper equipment,,

  6. My DELL INSPIRON N4030 PROBLEM IS WHITE SCREEN DISPLAY. I ALREADY REHEAT THE VIDEO CHIP BUT THE DISPLAY THE SAME. WHAT ARE THE SOLUTION SIR?
    THANK YOU

  7. Hello, Madhur TJ
    I have Acer Aspire 5783zg with mother board JV.50-MV DDR3 M96 MADISON MB 09925-1 48.4cg10.011
    there was this problem with horizontal lines but after a wile they disappeared, the problem got worse and now it dose not even want to boot and there is blue screen. The lap top restart and nothing change. I can start it in safe mode but the screen is all in square any suggestions. Is It Reflowing or Reballing or something else? The message on the blue screen was something about DVB not sure i have been told that there is a problem with my graphic processor and i start looking for mother board. I am waiting to hear from you Rosen. Thanks

  8. This is not a fix once a chip fails like this nothing can repair it dont waste time on some ovens and heat guns trow your laptop in the garbage and don’t buy from the shity manufacturer again.

    • True. A bad chip is a bad chip. Reballing will only give it a short lease of life on life-support and it’ll fail again very soon. reballing serves no long term purpose.

  9. Hi madhur
    My laptop is Toshiba Satellite c50
    I recently burned down it’s original motherboard but purchased a newer one which had an AMD gpu on it
    When i placed the motherboard in i realized that i had no heatsink over the GPU part
    But i managed to successfully boot up my laptop and everything was working fine
    It used to shutdown automatically after 6-7 minutes but recently i tried to boot again it’s having a black screen but everything else is working fine?
    Can it be repaired by reballing or the GPU is fried?

  10. I have a problem with my laptop after I came to a computer repair shop to replace my keyboard. The keyboard is fine after then, but the problem is my NVIDIA GeForce 820M is not working anymore im stuck with Intel HD graphics, the gaming performance is really poor. In device manager the NVIDIA has a yellow triangle and the error is “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)” I tried all what I can do update to the latest version of driver, registry (CCleaner), uninstall through DDU and install different version of driver it is still not working. Is this some kind of hardware problem or software? or it also needs a reflow? TIA I can’t play games in good performance without it 🙁

  11. Hello Madhur, I have a dell vostro 2521 laptop with 7 beeps problem. I reflowed the GPU and the 7 beeps stops but when I power the machine, everything seems working but still no display. What should I do now?

  12. Hi there… Thanks for your help in posting this article. I’ve read it and according to what I’ve experienced with my laptop, I think the GPU needs reflow. My laptop is a Dell XPS L502x Nvidia 540m 2G. This particular model is known to have issues with its GPU: 540M. Before I had to underclock to play games while reducing freezing or BSODs. But a week ago, when running apps with the GPU, I do see artifacts on the display (pixelated dots of different sizes). 3 days ago it stopped working. Error 43. Driver reinstall doesn’t fix this. Any guide or advice? I’ve a friend that has a heat gun… Thanks in advance.

  13. Hey Madhur. You’re really surfing on a wave of myth and urban legend. Reballing rarely ‘repairs’ a bad GPU. Sure. After throwing your hard earned money on reballing/reflowing, your system will work. But only for a while. Reballing is merely a temporary ‘fix’ and is bound to fail soon thereafter.

    • the issue in reballing, if you are not professional to do it, you might ended up a “cold solder” of solder balls into the motherboard, hence, it will return back to display issue, Madhur advice might not the ultimate fixed, but it really helps to extend the life of your laptop, I had have my laptop sent for repair 2 years ago (display issue too) the repair man ask me two option, change the GPU, but I need to pay more, but reflowing is very cheap and I’d go with that, as I mentioned, 2 years ago, and until now, I can still be able to use it without any sign display issue (Lenovo brand)

  14. Hi, I have a lenovo g5080, the screen doesn’t turn on even after the laptop is on. The screen comes on after 10mins. The service engineer says a reflowing of the graphic card will fix it. His long will it stay fixed after I reflow??

  15. Hello Madhur sir,
    My hp laptop screen started to give different colors and it goes blank while using it.different colors fills my screen. What could be the problem of it?

    Thanking you

  16. Sir where you live sir i have nvidia GeForce 410 m gpu when I enable or use it a black screen with two horizontal lines come sir plz reply tell me I have sony vaio pcg71811w laptop sir does it require reflow plz contact me I will be heartly thankfull to you

  17. quick question. what about completely removing the GPU and running the laptop only using the CPU (with integrated video chip)? is that a feasible workaround if i do not care about the dedicated GPU?

  18. Hi Madhur.
    Thanks for your interest article.
    I want to ask something about a bga chip (Intel) on my laptop’s motherboard, which is getting very hot, a few seconds after Power On the laptop. (the CPU fan, starts and led turns on, but system do not start, with the screen remain black).
    Do you beleive that the reason for the bga overheating is a bad connection of the small balls in the base of the chip, so a reflowing will solve the problem, or is it something else, so it is better not to try reflowing the bga ?
    Thanks

  19. Hi Madhur.
    I have MSI 970 gamming motherboard which is not now under warranty. I sent it to MSI repair service for no display problem. MSI told me that GPU chip is required to be replaced and the cost they mentioned is very much high, near to motherboard price. Can you please suggest the solution? Thanks in advance Sir.

  20. Not for all cases, My Dell L502x has had ongoing issues (well documented with this model due to poor thermal design) and a quick reflow coupled with way better application of paste and a slight undervoltage to the gpu has kept it running for years now.

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