Trying to repair dead graphics cards on Aspire 7720G, 7735G and 8930G

Hello, I'm trying to repair dead graphics cards on Aspire 7720G, 7735G and 8930G. I thought to have found a lot of info in this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/acer-mxm-models-and-cards.396320/ , but it seems that a lot of worthful info is not existing anymore (or at least I can't find it). (And also the thread is so very long...)

• The 8930G first: it came with a GeForce 9600M GS 512MB DDR2 [VG.9PG0Y.004] and I replaced it with a GeForce 9600M GS 512MB [VG.9PG06.003], which should be OK according to the above mentioned thread. OK, laptop boots now and the screen seems to work for 100% in DOS and other non graphical OS'es, but once it needs graphics, the computer hangs and/or reboots. Do I need to do something more: flash a new BIOS, flash the graphics card processor, ... ? If yes, what and how to do that?

• The 7735G next: it came with an ATI HD 4570 [VG.M9206.002] and I bought this [VG.M920H.001] to replace it with: https://www.ebay.com/itm/182502462751 . I hope that it will work, as said in the eBay-ad... Do I need to do something more: flash a new BIOS, flash the graphics card processor, ... ? If yes, what and how to do that?

• The 7720G as last: it came with a [LS-3581P], which I think must be a GeForce 8600M GS 512MB. The card wasn't working OK anymore (the letters were almost not readable anymore), but it still worked somehow. So I tried to heat the graphics chip with a heat gun, but now the card is completely dead...

• I also bought a GeForce 9650M GT, but I don't seem to be able to use it because it's lay-out is the mirror image of the graphics cards used in the 7720G and 8930G.

So my goal (and my question) is: how can I repair these laptops (at least two of them) in the cheapest way possible?

Kindly thanks in advance for your reply and kind regards, Guy from Belgium

 

Is there anybody out there who could help me please, or direct me to working websites? Thanks, Guy

 

Hi

As for the first laptop (8930G) you should try modded nVidia drivers from https://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/

The card appears to be working well as long as nVidia drivers are not required which I seem to remember was mentioned multiple times in the thread you've kindly linked to. These drivers are supposed to be a fix for that as they have a modded inf that in theory should work with any nVidia card.

 

Hello, thanks for your reaction. The problem is that this laptop (8930G) simply hangs whenever some graphics are being showed on the screen. Sometimes it can take up to 10 seconds (e.g. you see can see the Ubuntu mouse symbol or the Windows 10 dots making circles) but after that, the computer or hangs or reboots automatically. So, as far a I know, no possibility at all to install Windows nor any driver... :-(

 

Are you sure that the card is not defective?
I get Windows but Linux should work alright.

 

Hello, thanks again for your reaction. I can't be completely sure that there is no hardware problem. I bought the card on eBay from a rather reliable source, and now the laptop boots normally (until loading of the OS) and I get text on the screen, where nothing happened with the original card.

I worked a lot with soft- and hardware, so I know my way a little bit in working on computers, but I surely am no expert and have never done anything with MXM-cards before. I'm just wondering if this card is fully compatible or that there has to be done a BIOS update or flashing of the card.

 

8930G: Replace the NEC-Tokin capacitor underneath the keyboard. Trust me, this c(r)apacitor has been plaguing most Toshiba A300, Acer 5930, 6920, 6935, 8920 and 8930 machines and often fixes such kinds of issues. It's not a GPU issue so you didn't waste your money on that one, it just takes a bit of soldering skills (and equal care since there are small caps around it unlike Toshibas) to replace it. I'd advise using 4x330uF, as it usually is more than enough regardless if it reads 0E907 or 0E128. (former is 900uF, latter is 1200uF)

7735G: No need to do anything, you could have gotten a GT130M or even a 240M though as both are much powerful than the 4570. Maybe even a GT540M if you're lucky to find one that isn't ROM-less, but I haven't tested it so I can't say for sure.

7720G: Any older MXM card should work (as in Go7600, 8400M G/GS/GT, 8600M GS/GT) as long as it has its own ROM that contains the VBIOS (video BIOS) - usually your best bets to work are cards coming from FSC (Fujitsu Siemens), Advent, DELL/Alienware and obviously Acer cards. HP cards don't work AFAIK.

 

Sorry for being late at this thread but i have just seen it.

Regarding changing 7720g graphic cards under my experience it won't work in the long term unless you get reballed gpu and install it on the graphic card itself with soldering, etc. It is easy to get reballed gpu units on ebay but not installed on the card.

If you have the skills needed you can sell lots of reballed cards to us on the forum probably, ja.

If not then the only option I can see so far after 6 to 8 years of having the 7720g is to add an external gpu with the expresscard adapter.

I have not done it so far but maybe I will give it a try in the near future.

I dont know if anyone have done it with the 7720g.

Cheers.
Martin