Laptop grahics card playing up?

[ArtisticEndeavors]

If you're going to open a laptop let me extend you a bit of advice....don't. However if you feel you must then it goes without saying if it doesn't come off easily there is a screw you have missed...trust me on this one. This wont be to big of an issue initially as most laptops literally point to the screws that hold the outer case together, but when you get inside things like the keyboards usually being screwed in (though some are held down by a bit of plastic which is secured) can really frustrate to no end. You shouldn't have to worry about any wiring though, thank god, as most laptop connections are simple push pin type connections with "straps" attached to help you pull it off the board easily.

Id suggest looking for any discoloration around the contacts, preferably on the up side of the board, if you don't have an oscilloscope for exactness. If you see brown, or god forbid charred, areas near the connection you've found a possible cause for concern. Without an oscilloscope though this is probably the extent to what you'll be able to do unless you know exactly what you're looking for and are handy with a voltmeter and stopwatch lol.

Last bit of advise - If the laptop turns on and functions "normally" (yours is defective after all) after you put it together you can forget about the extra screw you've got lying around. If its more like extra screwS, dependant on you and how many, I'd suggest taking it all apart and doing it again.


Question - if you think the issue may be due to over heating...what happens when you ensure it doesn't over heat?

I know most parts of that laptop are upgradable (eg cpu, hardrive + ram), but I can't remember if the video card can be upgraded as well. If it can't...cross your fingers and hope and pray that its not the card or you'll be searching for a new laptop or paying out the ass for someone to repair your current card.

[AlanMc]

ArtisticEndeavors,

Thanks for your reply. I though I was being a bit of a woose not wanting to open up the laptop, but it would appear that my concerns were well placed!

If I don't either open it up or get someone to fix it, then I'm looking at throwing a £1000 laptop in the bin. Not an easy thing to do. So, I may go for having someone look at it. I know that PC World in the UK now sell Dells, they may be able to assist - albeit for a price.

Do you know if the M65 card can be replaced? I cannot find any indications on Google for a replacement card (quadro or otherwise) which gives me cause for concern on this front.



Question - if you think the issue may be due to over heating...what happens when you ensure it doesn't over heat?



The reason why I think its overheating is as that normally most display problems are with graphic cards - in my experience. As I observed no problem for the first 20min and then it started leads me to rationalise that what changes over this time on a PC - it heats up. Nothing more complex than this. Obviously, I could be wrong but I'm trying to build theories and then test them.

The only way I can stop it overheating is to shut down the PC, and if I do this then again the problem goes away for a short period (i.e. < 20 min the second or subsequent times).

Thanks again for your insight.

[Bullit]

Yes it is probably overheating. I doubt you can replace a GPU at least in most laptops it needs to be the whole board since most GPU are soldered on. Usually the cost don't makes it worthwhile. Try to clean all laptop vents, also if the card has a fan you need to check if it is working and put some sewing machine oil in it. At least 2 consumer geforces i had died because fan stopped work and i didn't noticed it, another it is still working but it is damaged, at half screen makes a discolored band.

[AlanMc]

Bullit,

Thanks for your reply.

If I'd know how critical the video card was when I bought my laptop, I may have just bought another desktop!

You mentioned, that I should check to see if the video card fan is working or working correctly. How do I do this? Is there a utility I can install that will give me this data?

Also, it may be a loose connection (if it is the fan) so opening the laptop up would help here. Have you any experience with Dell Precisions?

You mention about the GPU being soldered to MB - but the laptop has a FX350m so would this not be plugged in and replaceable?

Regards,

Alan

[Bullit]

Well see/hear it. I don't know your model so i can't comment specifics. Check the manual too, to see where are the fan vents.
Usually the fan stops working because the electric motor gets stuck(this is not the correct term but i don't know the English one) without lubrification after much use . Oil from a sewing machine that doesn't get sticky usually fixes it if the motor wasn't damaged.
Also use a temperature monitor like mobilemeter. http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/MobileMeter.shtml

Also, it may be a loose connection (if it is the fan) so opening the laptop up would help here. Have you any experience with Dell Precisions?

Yes. No i don't have.

You mention about the GPU being soldered to MB - but the laptop has a FX350m so would this not be plugged in and replaceable?

I don't know the specifics of your laptop. Most are soldered. Those that are not are for laptops that can upgrade the GPU. That should appear in manual.

[AlanMc]

Bullit,

Thanks again for your reply.

I found out the graphics card is in fact part of the motherboard. So it looks like a MB replacement. Fortunately, I have a Dell next day 3-yr warranty - must have been feeling generous when I bought the laptop! Anyway, they are coming tomorrow to replace it.

Regards,
Alan

[DanConnor]

I have a dell inspiron laptop that the display card went on over the summer. When the technician showed up (NBD on site yay) he opened it up pretty easily by taking the keyboad off, and showed me how to do it. Somewhere there is a dell page that explains it also.

What he found inside was pretty scary. The whole damn thing was plugged with lint, doghair, dirty sox etc. I suspect that's what caused the display card problem.

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