maa wrote on 2021-10-15, 10:35:

Hello guys, I've just got a 6800gt, everything seems to be ok with Windows 2000, I tried the card with Need for Speed Undergroun […]
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Hello guys,
I've just got a 6800gt, everything seems to be ok with Windows 2000, I tried the card with Need for Speed Underground 2 to see if the card perform well, and it was perfect for me.
I previously used a 6600gt with a Sony G500 and the colors were great. This time it's a little bit different... I can see a very blue tint but not only in Windows, even in bios eveything is very blue (I feel like the red is missing).
In bios, the selected option is black and not red (see photos) and the energy logo is green, not yellow.
I put back my old 6600gt and everything was completely fine, I tried again and same problem...
That 6800gt came with a Zalman fan that I need to plug on the 5 or 12v if I remember.
And again, except that problem, the card is running extremely well so what do you think? I've also tried with VGA connector and DVI connector, tested other cables, different agp aperture size and the problem still)

I really don't know if the card is dead or if I can do something 🙁

Hello.

It looks like you're using a tube monitor (this one?), which means the image transmission is analog.
Since the image appears normal with another video card, we can rule out the issue being with the monitor itself or with the cable (although you do want to check the pins/connection when you plug your monitor into the video card).

If the analog output of the video card is indeed failing, you will see the tint in every image at every resolution and refresh rate. You may be able to compensate by using the color controls in the video card settings (by adjusting the colors/saturation there), though this will only help in Windows, or in some cases by adjusting them from the monitor (this will apply globally).

I'm not technical enough to be able to tell you, how to actually repair the card - but if it performs to expectations without crashing, likely getting the color output corrected isn't a huge ordeal.

Oh and also, if the card only has digital outputs and you have to use a DVI->VGA adapter, you'll want to swap those just to rule out a problem with the adapter.

Yes I'm using that tube monitor. But the 6800gt is supposed to be analog too I think.
I just tried with another monitor, a Benq lcd with VGA and I have no image at all... 😒

Do you think it can change something if I flash the gpu bios?

I guess something in the analog signal path on the card is bad. Most likely within the red signal.
Do you have a DVI-I to VGA adaptor? Maybe the colours are correct on the DVI output.

Could you also post pictures of your card? Especially the area around the VGA port, front and back? I suspect we'll find missing inductor.

Doornkaat wrote on 2021-10-15, 15:23:

I guess something in the analog signal path on the card is bad. Most likely within the red signal.
Do you have a DVI-I to VGA adaptor? Maybe the colours are correct on the DVI output.

The seller told me he did all test with an adapter (vga/dvi to... with a modern monitor) without any problems, here I only have a real dvi-i (i guess) to vga, and my vga cable is a d-sub... I don't know if there is a difference with a classic vga cable because it's perfectly working with my 6600gt.
I tried to take the best photos possible and you can see something like a small "burned" thing on the pcb.

Some others pictures

I think I found the problem. look at image 68004, there's something missing near the marking that reads "L514"

and then in another photo the same component is missing near the marking "L511"

I'm assuming they're both inductors

L511 and L514 have 4 soldering pads each, I think they are transformers - or double-inductors.
They have been removed by force - let´s hope no traces have been damaged.

majestyk wrote on 2021-10-15, 17:17:

L511 and L514 have 4 soldering pads each, I think they are transformers - or double-inductors.
They have been removed by force - let´s hope no traces have been damaged.

unfortunately both missing components have pulled one trace each off of the board.

511 took the lower right and 514 took the upper right

The missing traces can be restored. A very good magnifying glass and very thin wires (plus decent soldering skills) are your friends.
But first you have to find replacement transformers, I assume they are used for galvanic decoupling of the output signals.

Sounds bad to me 🙁 Is it possible to fix that?
So that means the seller just fake all the tests?
He ask me if I want to return the card or keep it for a partial refund so...

I have absolutely no skills in soldering so it's probably better to return the card.
Thank you so much for your feedback guys! 😀
You have the perfect eye to see those things 😁
Thank you thank you !

At least the seller sold you a damaged card.

If this wasn´t the "bargain of the year" I would return it and buy a working card.

The seller is ok for a refund! I just keep the fan (that Zalman VF700-AlCu seems to be really good for those gpu)
Again, Thanks a lot!
Thank you than you

As suspected those are coils/inductors meant to improve the signal integrity on the analog red colour signal. Missing the inductors means the red signal is missing completely on the VGA/DVI port.
Interesting how on both the VGA and DVI the inductor of the red signal was ripped off. It doesn't look like they were unsoldered for spare parts though, just ripped off.
If the seller used the digital DVI signal he probably wouldn't have noticed any problem so there's a good chance he didn't know. The digital signal should be unaffected by this. I wouldn't suspect any foul play.
Anyway, good on you for getting a refund. 👍

I might be naive but I think the seller was honest when he said he tested with an adapter.
I also checked the photos before shipping and they were missing... Thats probably why he accepted the refund so quickly 😀