Graphics Card Question
 

So I was cleaning my computer yesterday and in my negligence I bumped by graphics card and knocked off what I believe is a capacitor. Sorry for the image quality here but this is what the damage looks like:



It says C502 next to the tiny little block (Well where it's supposed to be anyways). My computer refuses to turn on with this graphics card in it, so it obviously isn't working. The graphics card in question is the GTX GeForce 470.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130550

So my question(s), would be the following....

1. Can this be soldered back on? If so, how easy would it be for me to do this on my own? I tried calling around locally for soldering, but basically nowhere offers such service that I know of. Any suggestions?

2. If this is not possible then I guess I have to get a new videocard. Problem is my motherboard has PCI 2.0 slot. Are 3.0 really backwards compatible with 2.0? Is there any noticeable performance difference if I stick a 3.0 card into a 2.0 slot?

What about getting a PCI 2.0 card? Did you try ebay?

I found this on newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130763


Geforce GTX 560 Ti. 2 GB card and PCI 2.0. $169.99.

If you own a soldering station, you can of course solder it back on.
How easy it is depends on the placement on the card.
If there is a lot of other stuff and contacts around the spot, it's harder to do.
If there is enough free space around it, you can't do much wrong. In any case make sure you got a voltmeter and after soldering check if you did not short circuit the connection.

But what exactly are we seeing on that picture? I dont see a graphics card nor a cap. :confused:

Is it one of those IC caps? Maybe 2x1mm squared, light brown color code.
Or is it one of those round caps on two legs? In that case it is most likely broken.
The number most likely identifies the C on the graphic card's blueprint and does not say anything about type of C itself.

edit:
It just loaded up the first pic. :D

for soldering that, apply a bit of solder to both contacts on the board (it will stick because of adhesive forces, but make sure you do not heat it up too much and do not apply too much solder, keep it kind of 'flat').
Then put the C on top in the right position (orientation does not matter for Cs), press it down with squeezers and heat up both sides one after the other. Let it cool down before you release the pressure.
Check the connection with the voltmeter.

btw. I can not clearly see it in the picture, but if the connector plate (little silver squares in the board, where ICs are supposed to go) got ripped out with the C, you may be screwed

Thanks for the response :). I don't think the plates got ripped off, just the cube. Well I'm going to give it a try. Better than not doing anything and wasting $200 >.>

Not much of a problem to put the capacitor back onto the board with a good soldering iron, or replace it (provided that you jotted down the full info on the capacitor in question; I once did replaced several capacitors on a video card after they suffered from bloating).