Fix for a 4850 stripped screw

S

ssg10587

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 3, 2008
Messages
245
I recently took my 4850 out and tried to take off the heatsink to clean out the dust as my it runs really hot lately, like 100C playing EVE Online at max settings. So I made the bad decision the first time to use an oversized screwdriver and stripped one of the heatsink screws. I later got a correct size screwdriver but I think I stripped it too much to take it off with the right sized screwdriver.

My question is: Is there anything I can do to get the screw off or should I just leave it be?

The temps seem to be hanging there but sometimes i will hear the warning sound on the gpu at 70% fan. I am all fine with letting it go hot as long as it wont fry the gpu. I saw somewhere that up to 120C on ati cards is the max allowable so I wanted to make sure.
 
Well, it will crank up the fan rather than let itself fry, obviously. all the solutions I can think of would create metal shavings which is something you obviously don't want anywhere near a card, so... not sure what to tell you.
 
silent-circuit said:
Well, it will crank up the fan rather than let itself fry, obviously. all the solutions I can think of would create metal shavings which is something you obviously don't want anywhere near a card, so... not sure what to tell you.
Click to expand...

That is fine, I kind of figured there was nothing I could really do. I may just try at it again and see if i can grab the screw to take it out. If not, i do not mind the noise of the fan. Thanks for the information.
 
use a pair of needle nose pliers to grab the top of the screw and turn. Im sure you have some or can borrow some or go buy a pair for $3 :)
 
Borrow a good set of pliers from somebody and carefully take it out. Or go to Sears to see if they got something you can "try out" on your card.

Either that or it's time to upgrade to a Zalman VF900.
 
SonDa5 said:
Borrow a good set of pliers from somebody and carefully take it out. Or go to Sears to see if they got something you can "try out" on your card.

Either that or it's time to upgrade to a Zalman VF900.
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not entirely familur with the HS on the 4850, but i would assume that said screw is a mission critical screw (meaning it is helping the HS make contact where it is supposed to be) in which case taking it out also means replacing it/ putting it back in, getting it out is one thing... perhaps this upgrade isn't such a bad idea ;)
 
he still needs to get the screw out before he can do anything guys! Aftermarket cooling for any reference 4850 cooler is highly recommended. I put the artic cooling S1 Rev.2 with a 120mm fan on it and the difference was incredible, it idled aournd 30c and maxed out at 48-50 under load for an hour of left for dead or cod4. Total cost was around $40. Oh yeah it was almost silent.
 
Alright thanks for the help guys. I did not even think of using needle nose pliers. Those will hopefully work. On the aftermarket cooler, I have heard about it before and thought about it but its a $150 gpu and another 40 to cool it seems like a waste. Also aftermarket cooler voids warranty. But I suppose if i got the aftermarket cooler, I could oc it to make up for spending more money.
 
hossdaddy said:
he still needs to get the screw out before he can do anything guys! Aftermarket cooling for any reference 4850 cooler is highly recommended. I put the artic cooling S1 Rev.2 with a 120mm fan on it and the difference was incredible, it idled aournd 30c and maxed out at 48-50 under load for an hour of left for dead or cod4. Total cost was around $40. Oh yeah it was almost silent.
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You mind sending me the link where you got it, Is it definitely worth it? Did you overclock your 4850?
 
ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler $24.99
and get one of these
ARCTIC COOLING AF12025 PWM 120mm $7.99
Also grab this if you dont have any already,
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound $6.99

One tidbit of advice when you do this, do not use teh card for 24 hours after you install the cooler. Leave it lying on your workbench. The heatsinks that come with it do not have the stickiest of adhesives. They need some time to get stuck. I pressed mine on really hard and 2 of them fell off an hour after.
 
Responding to flamebait is every bit as bad as posting it. Report it, and wait for us to deal with it. End this crap now.

Back on topic please.
 
hossdaddy said:
ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler $24.99
and get one of these
ARCTIC COOLING AF12025 PWM 120mm $7.99
Also grab this if you dont have any already,
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound $6.99

One tidbit of advice when you do this, do not use teh card for 24 hours after you install the cooler. Leave it lying on your workbench. The heatsinks that come with it do not have the stickiest of adhesives. They need some time to get stuck. I pressed mine on really hard and 2 of them fell off an hour after.
Click to expand...

I have some cooling compound from my Heatsink fan for my cpu leftover. Do i really need to buy the one you posted? Also is the installation hard to do? I am more worried about messing something up on my 4850. Lastly did you overclock using this heatsink added to the 4850. I am not going to buy this heatsink for cooling on the normal clocks. I would buy it more for the added cooling which would enable me to overclock it. Correct me if I am missing some points, a lot of this is a first for me.

Edit: Also for the fan, is that used to cool my case or do i attach that to the heatsink and how. It does not seem to have anything to do the attaching. I already have a more than adequate amount of case cooling
 
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Why do you have to remove the cooler to clean out the dust?
If you're talking about a reference 4850 (Single-slot), then removing it won't make cleaning it any easier. The best way to get dust out of there is to just spray some air up through the fan (or perhaps in through the back of the card).

In fact I don't see why removing the cooler from any card would make dust cleaning any easier.
If the screw is partly loosened then it's probably a good idea to get it out and replace it. Someone else already suggested some pliers...
 
SIMPLE SOLUTION

Get a hacksaw and carefully saw a groove across the top of the screw head and then use a regular flat-head screwdriver to screw it in. Just make sure the groove is wide enough to fit the screwdriver head in.

Dead easy.
 
Success! Used the pliers and it came off. Only problem is it flung the screw so my heatsink is maintained by 3 screws which seems to be working fine. Think I am going with the aftermarket cooler. Seems very much so worth it to lower the temps + get an overclock out of it. I have zerotherm high performance thermal grease so I assume I can use that for the heatsink.

My last questions are:
1) How do i attach that fan to the aftermarket heatsink?
2) I know an overclocked gpu will use more power so will a 500W PSU be sufficient for it?

Antec Earthwatts 500W psu
q6600 @ 3.2
Gskill ram 4GB (2 x 2)
my vcore is at 1.35
ASUS EAH4850
 
ssg10587 said:
Success! Used the pliers and it came off. Only problem is it flung the screw so my heatsink is maintained by 3 screws which seems to be working fine. Think I am going with the aftermarket cooler. Seems very much so worth it to lower the temps + get an overclock out of it. I have zerotherm high performance thermal grease so I assume I can use that for the heatsink.

My last questions are:
1) How do i attach that fan to the aftermarket heatsink?
2) I know an overclocked gpu will use more power so will a 500W PSU be sufficient for it?

Antec Earthwatts 500W psu
q6600 @ 3.2
Gskill ram 4GB (2 x 2)
my vcore is at 1.35
ASUS EAH4850
Click to expand...

Your Eathwattts 500w power supply is more than enough for the HD4850, no worries there.

Most use zip ties, twisty ties, or other ghetto solutions to attach a fan to the Accelero heatsink.
 
JaYp146 said:
Your Eathwattts 500w power supply is more than enough for the HD4850, no worries there.

Most use zip ties, twisty ties, or other ghetto solutions to attach a fan to the Accelero heatsink.
Click to expand...


Even with the overclock on the gpu? I know it is enough for the normal gpu. Just want to make sure as I have the shopping cart ready and my card out. Also I am assuming that my heatsink grease if fine.
 
ssg10587 said:
Even with the overclock on the gpu? I know it is enough for the normal gpu. Just want to make sure as I have the shopping cart ready and my card out. Also I am assuming that my heatsink grease if fine.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's more than enough.
 
If your going to use a grease on the card, just make sure it is non conductive/compacitance, otherwise a stray drop can frag your card
 
Looked at zerotherm website and it says it can be used on gpus so I am just going to go with that and use it.
 
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