This behavior is not related to capacitors. The usual cause is dead VRAM ICs / broken solder joints, but it can also be caused by a number of other problems (including a dead core).
Under normal conditions, the card should be repairable.

Thanks for the info bloodem. In the case of dead VRAMs or dead core replacement, how difficult is it to source these parts (don't have a donor V3 card)? There seems to be a seller on ebay with V2 VRAMs, but couldn't find one with V3.

That pattern is same as mine, check the tracks on backside of PCB, you might find one or two is cut.

But my voodoo3 3000 had cut tracks and bad VRAM (that kind of pattern like yours), so I had to replace them. New VRAM chips are still available on ebay. Make sure to buy 1Mb x 16 bits, with 6ns or faster.

Cheers,

pentiumspeed wrote on 2023-01-24, 23:23:

That pattern is same as mine, check the tracks on backside of PCB, you might find one or two is cut.

But my voodoo3 3000 had cut tracks and bad VRAM (that kind of pattern like yours), so I had to replace them. New VRAM chips are still available on ebay. Make sure to buy 1Mb x 16 bits, with 6ns or faster.

Cheers,

Hello pentiumspeed. I looked at the card's backside, but was unable to find any cuts on the tracks.

Also removed the heatsink and unable to notice any damages on the front side.

Tried searching for the video RAM for voodoo 3 on ebay with MT48LC1M16A1 (the VRAMs). I was indeed able to get some listings. However all of them are 7ns (-7 marking). Below is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393079896670?hash=it … ABk9SR8LZuPC8YQ

Let me know if this should work? Also is there any way to test which VRAMs are bad?

R65 appears to be missing on your card and R66 looks like it may need resoldering as well. They're right above the main chip. Try replacing/resoldering those before you replace your RAM chips.
I think both are 33Ohms but I don't currently have any V3 cards here to check myself.

Thanks for noticing that Doornkaat. Checked R66 and the number on that is 330 (33 ohm I guess). Any idea of the R65 resistor value?

stealthjoe wrote on 2023-01-25, 04:45:

Thanks for noticing that Doornkaat. Checked R66 and the number on that is 330 (33 ohm I guess). Any idea of the R65 resistor value?

I think they're both 33Ohms but my cards are all in storage right now so I can't check myself.
Anybody got a Voodoo3 AGP handy to confirm?

Checked with another V3 card which was received today. The R65 value is indeed 33 ohms.

Fingers crossed replacing the resistor will fix your card's issues.🤞

Still awaiting the heatsink and thermal tape ordered a while ago through eBay for this card. Getting delayed due to Chinese new year.
Have also ordered the 0603 33 ohms resistor. Probably should be able to solder and test this one in a week or two 😀

Doornkaat wrote on 2023-01-25, 12:15:

Fingers crossed replacing the resistor will fix your card's issues.🤞

Hopefully. Let's see. Recently got the 33 ohm 0603 resistor and soldered it a few days back:

Next was anxiously awaiting the heatsink. The one ordered through ebay would probably take another couple of weeks. So got one locally with a thermal tape pre applied. This one is 40x40x20 mm (hopefully this should suffice for the card). Received it today. Planning to add a fan soon:

Then fixed it to the Voodoo 3 card:

At last, proceeded to boot the system. Heart pounding. Fingers crossed🤞🤞

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And finally!!!!!!!

Hooray!! The issue is finally fixed. No more distorted output.
Thank you so much Doornkaat!!!! 😀

stealthjoe wrote on 2023-02-05, 08:51:

Hopefully. Let's see. Recently got the 33 ohm 0603 resistor and soldered it a few days back: […]
Show full quote

Doornkaat wrote on 2023-01-25, 12:15:

Fingers crossed replacing the resistor will fix your card's issues.🤞

Hopefully. Let's see. Recently got the 33 ohm 0603 resistor and soldered it a few days back:

Voodoo 3 repaired.jpg

Next was anxiously awaiting the heatsink. The one ordered through ebay would probably take another couple of weeks. So got one locally with a thermal tape pre applied. This one is 40x40x20 mm (hopefully this should suffice for the card). Received it today. Planning to add a fan soon:

heatsink 1.jpeg
heatsink 2.jpeg

Then fixed it to the Voodoo 3 card:

Voodoo 3 heatsink.jpg

At last, proceeded to boot the system. Heart pounding. Fingers crossed🤞🤞

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.
.
.
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.
And finally!!!!!!!

Startup bios.jpeg

Hooray!! The issue is finally fixed. No more distorted output.
Thank you so much Doornkaat!!!! 😀

I almost missed this post. Great success!😁👍 Glad it actually was that resistor and not broken VRAM.😃
Thank you for the update too!😎

Nice job on the repair! That looks great! It isn't easy soldering those tiny components, and it's even harder to make them look decent, but you managed to do both. 😀

Doornkaat wrote on 2023-02-07, 13:25:

I almost missed this post. Great success!😁👍 Glad it actually was that resistor and not broken VRAM.😃
Thank you for the update too!😎

Thanks Doornkaat! If not for your finding, wouldn't have proceeded much. VRAMs for this card are hardly available. Glad it wasn't that.

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2023-02-07, 19:38:

Nice job on the repair! That looks great! It isn't easy soldering those tiny components, and it's even harder to make them look decent, but you managed to do both. 😀

Thanks Ozzuneoj!! I am actually quite new to SMD soldering. However took a risk as I was desperate in trying to fix this card. Thankfully, the repair came out as intended.