RoHS sticker

Michael_10 · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:59

HI, i recently tried out the "bake a graphics card" idea on an old card that wasn't working anymore. I was reading about lead poisoning and just wanted to check that the solder will be lead free as my GPU has a "RoHS" sticker on it? Can someone please confirm and put my mind to rest?

DIABLO · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:06

RoHS means it is lead free which mostly means the solder.

darkcooleo · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:08

bake a graphics card ?

Michael_10 · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:20

Thanks DIABLO! Thats put my mind at rest.
And darkcooleo, if a graphics card stops working you can put it in an oven for 10 minutes or so to melt the solder, then if there were any bad connections they should be fixed when the solder re-solidifies. It's meant to work sometimes, sadly it didn't for me

PhillyDee · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:21

All info you need on RoHS is here: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/

The solder will be lead free, or at least in levels permissable by RoHS.
You will be fine!

darkcooleo · 4 Apr 2010 at 19:07

Michael_10 said:
Thanks DIABLO! Thats put my mind at rest.
And darkcooleo, if a graphics card stops working you can put it in an oven for 10 minutes or so to melt the solder, then if there were any bad connections they should be fixed when the solder re-solidifies. It's meant to work sometimes, sadly it didn't for me

Oh ok, sound interesting. If I ever have a issue with a GPU may give it a try, sounds dodgy though !

It work often?

Skillmister · 4 Apr 2010 at 19:42

darkcooleo said:
Oh ok, sound interesting. If I ever have a issue with a GPU may give it a try, sounds dodgy though !

It work often?

Similar to process of fixing RROD'd xboxs by wrapping it in towels when powered on for 15 mins. I know 3 mates that worked for

darkcooleo · 5 Apr 2010 at 00:40

yer i heard of that, seems crazy but i heard it works 2. I've tried the HDD in the freezer at work once, no joy but was fun lol

Jokester · 5 Apr 2010 at 04:26

As far as I can remember it's because of RoHS that we now see all these issues with solder failing.

setter · 5 Apr 2010 at 04:36

Ive got an old bfg 8800gts 640mb card thats playing up, may bung it in the oven this week.

Aod · 5 Apr 2010 at 06:06

Jokester said:
As far as I can remember it's because of RoHS that we now see all these issues with solder failing.

yeap. it's a combination of the Lead solder being less flexible and the increasing usage of high-density BGA connections for ICs.

the fact that the RoHS-approved solder has a high silver-content certainly doesn't help the price of electronics these days either.

the silly thing is that the RoHS regulations are optional and the UK is the only EU member-state that enforces them! it's madness!