Can a board's components simply be darker from extended use or is it reflow?

[papalati]

So, I bought a replacement logic board a1260 820-2249-A used with a 603 gpu to replace a just now failing 602 board.

Compared to the current board I have, the new logic boards PCB is overall a deeper blue color, but is it just me or is there darkening around the gpu area on the under side of the board. They just look more bronze-ish than silver vs my current board. The PCB itself does not look burned just the components as seen in the attached picture.

The guy I bought it from swears he did not reflow the board and all the boards he has look like this.

Is it possible the components can darken a bit over time from usage and the gpu temperature?

Thank you to anyone that responds.

 

[SMMRepair]

Lots of things can cause dark solder joints...cleaning with thermal paste still in place (common), age/heat (also common, especially on older boards), heat from pulling larger chipsets, etc. If it's an old board like that, most likely age/heat, or an old reflow (by Apple or someone else, etc), but you'd see more signs of a reflow if that were the case. If they're ALL like that (regardless of model/age), I'd guess he is cleaning them with thermal paste still on the board (and he doesn't change his nasty UC water). Otherwise, it's just an old board.

 

[papalati]

Thanks for the reply SMMRepair. Yeah, I was thinking there would be more heat damage seen on the pcb itself and was simply hoping that they were darker from age or extended use. I'm hoping that this being a 603 will last a little while for my customer. Or do you think she should sell it? (She uses it to mostly watch videos online which was why her 602 a1260 started going on her. )

 

[SMMRepair]

I would put exactly zero faith and trust into the reliability of a 10+ year old machine, let alone one known for it's rampant GPU failure. I wouldn't touch anything older than ~2010 at this point, honestly.

 

[papalati]

Let me rephrase. The customer I have started getting gpu artifacts and freezing due to the G84-602 on her machine. I found a replacement board from a "reputable" seller who has the board but instead of the faulty 600-602 series it has the 603 gpu in it which from what I've read doesnt have the same issues onchip that the others did.

Once I replace the board in her machine should I tell her to sell it or would it be okay for her to keep it a year or so till next tax season for a new one?

Thanks again!

 

[dukefawks]

All the 603 chips being sold are remarked G84-53. This will result in VRAM only being half of what it was and only 50% of shaders are in the GPU. Just a warning, it will be slower than it already was.