New GPU - Ever see such terrible soldering? HIS IceQ 7950

[KingFatty]

Got my newly ordered HIS 7950 IceQ (original). I broke the new seal on the box so it's not a return, and took out the seemingly pristine card to see the following clumpy solder and a kind of chalky substance on the PCB surrounding the giant area of solder. The area is like there is a big thick circuit trace that looks like it was interrupted halfway and replaced by solder, instead of the nice silkscreened look of the smooth PCB gold trace. Now it's 2-tone gold PCB trace and silver solder.

Anyone see this before? The stock photos I found did NOT have this clump of solder or the chalky white stuff. I can't take off the heatsink to look for damaged components because that would void the warranty, and the card is brand new.

Just wondering if anyone else has seen this?

 

[Zanovar]

nvm.[redacted] king just wackit in and enjoy

Inappropriate language.
-- stahlhart

 

[Jodell88]

Can you send it back?

 

[Elixer]

That looks like they had to repair it...(or it didn't finish the solder bath) I would send it back as well.

 

[Fastx]

KF if you return it for a refund just so you know Newegg has the Sapphire 3L Dual X for $199.00 AR shipped right now. I decided to just go with the 3L for this price and just ordered one now.

 

[powruser]

I've seen that white stuff on cards before (though not that bad), but never anything like what's going on with that solder. I'd test it, see how it overclocks and if there's any coil whine. If you got a good card and the solder doesn't bother you, keep it. Otherwise, return it. That said, me personally I'd return it immediately.

 

[Braxos]

Send it back. It is a reason not too take it for waranty, if needed later and try then to explain to them, you got it so out of the box.

 

[imaheadcase]

I don't see anything wrong with it, its just the sealer they put on cards, it smears when it gets hot, happens in factory or removing from case when hot. Its harmless.

I have a GTX 580 that has been like that for years.

 

[KingFatty]

OK, good to hear I shouldn't worry about the sealer. My concern is maybe when they applied all of the solder, since there is SO MUCH of it, it somehow heated up the PCB and caused the PCB to break down.

But now I'm thinking maybe this card will be the incredible hulk, with super reinforced thick solder to withstand anything I throw at it? I'll connect it and see how it handles some overclocking.

I've noticed that there is also some of this "reinforcing" solder elsewhere, just not as irregular/noticeable, but seemingly applied to beef up the thickness of the traces, usually on the flipside of a component (the pictured portion is directly underneath some capacitors and what appear to be chokes).

But has anyone seen this kind of thing used as a normal strategy to beef up cards any where else, putting on extra layers of solder to reinforce the circuit traces? So far the consensus seems to be it's totally irregular and not used anywhere else.

 

[Elixer]

I've noticed that there is also some of this "reinforcing" solder elsewhere, just not as irregular/noticeable, but seemingly applied to beef up the thickness of the traces, usually on the flipside of a component (the pictured portion is directly underneath some capacitors and what appear to be chokes).

A solder joint occurs BETWEEN the part and the pad. If there is a weak joint, it will still be weak even if you put a ton of solder on it.
Solder's main job is only to provide an electrical path, and to make sure it don't move, but, it shouldn't be used to solely hold something on, that isn't the main purpose.

This is why they use screws to secure things, and not solder.

 

[Rvenger]

What the heck was going on with that QC Sticker.


Buy an Asrock mobo and that sealer is all over the backside like its been dipped in it.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

What the heck was going on with that QC Sticker.

It passed with flying colors.

 

[KingFatty]

It passed with flying colors.

LOL!

Does anyone know how to decipher those markings on the sticker? What does it mean when they have to "go outside the box" to put marking on there - if there are checkboxes and you don't use them...?

 

[lehtv]

KF if you return it for a refund just so you know Newegg has the Sapphire 3L Dual X for $199.00 AR shipped right now. I decided to just go with the 3L for this price and just ordered one now.

Even better: a Powercolor 7950 PCS+ for $180 AR

 

[Fastx]

Even better: a Powercolor 7950 PCS+ for $180 AR

I looked at that one and the Powercolor 7950 5E (CF my 3L/oc) but no VRM heatsink on either card and didn't want to mess around pulling it apart putting them on. I actually ordered the Powercolor 7950 5E but cancled the order when I found out it had no VRM Heatsink.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2341239&highlight=

 

[Ieat]

More importantly how does it overclock? I ended up getting a Sapphire 7950 with the 7970 reference cooler. Loud but the cooling is definitely effective. I'm pretty happy with it since it seems to overclock like a beast.

 

[Fastx]

More importantly how does it overclock? I ended up getting a Sapphire 7950 with the 7970 reference cooler. Loud but the cooling is definitely effective. I'm pretty happy with it since it seems to overclock like a beast.

My 3L I went 1150/1600 in UH 4.0 without any artifacts but that was high as I was willing to try due to no vrm temp sensors. To me imo this not a loud card either which does matter to me to a degree.

UH 4.0
With stock fan settings temps maxed (1150/1600) at 69C.
With fan profile it was like either 62 or 64C max at 1150/1600.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2341362

 

[Rvenger]

What's the ASIC score?

 

[Fastx]

What's the ASIC score?

61.7%

 

[KingFatty]

Here is a picture where extra soldering was also used elsewhere on this card:

So why would this be added - to let the trace carry extra current for some reason, or because the initial traces were too flimsy/faulty so they put a huge amount of solder? That's what I don't get. If it's to help a faulty trace that was too thin, why use such a huge amount of solder?

 

[KingFatty]

Ok looks like I could reach an overclock of 1100 core at 1.25 volts, but I had to set the fan manually (auto setting would result in artifacts).

Can someone say whether this 1100 speed is typical for an IceQ overclock? I have a very well ventilated case and set the case fans manually to 100%, but I wonder if this somewhat low OC score has to do with the odd soldering? I tested with Unigine Heaven and used MSI Afterburner. I also tested with Unigine Valley.

I just would be happy with the card if I understand that it typically can't overclock over 1100. But I paid for a new card and it has soldering that I typically would return the card as showing this odd soldering. I'm willing to keep the card if 1100 core is typical for IceQ?

 

[spinejam]

I've owned ~15 different 7950 /7970's and none of them looked that bad. If you can return it w/o a restocking fee, I'd suggest you do it and get another brand. There are too many good deals out there to stick w/ an ugly card / low clocker.

 

[24601]

Ok looks like I could reach an overclock of 1100 core at 1.25 volts, but I had to set the fan manually (auto setting would result in artifacts).

Can someone say whether this 1100 speed is typical for an IceQ overclock? I have a very well ventilated case and set the case fans manually to 100%, but I wonder if this somewhat low OC score has to do with the odd soldering? I tested with Unigine Heaven and used MSI Afterburner. I also tested with Unigine Valley.

I just would be happy with the card if I understand that it typically can't overclock over 1100. But I paid for a new card and it has soldering that I typically would return the card as showing this odd soldering. I'm willing to keep the card if 1100 core is typical for IceQ?

Mine only does 1050 core @1.300v, 1575 ram 24/7 stable at 100% load. The VRMs aren't cooled well enough to be stable at a lower set voltage.

 

[escrow4]

Pro tip, never buy Powercolour or HIS cards. They are cheap rubbish. If you AMD, buy Sapphire first and MSI second as a cheap alternative.

 

[isawthedevil]

damn