Is my motherboard fried?

Okay, I have another thread on this that no longer fit what I am now trying to figure out. If you would like to know the whole story written just after each chapter happened, then look here.

So, my main question: How can one confirm if one's motherboard is fried? Is there something one can do, or is it just put in a new one and see if it works?

Secondary questions: How much does an M17X R2 motherboard cost?
Do you recommend having it installed or installing it yourself?
Who would install it?
How much would having it installed cost?
Where would one procure an M17X R2 motherboard?

Thank you all in advance.

 

I would find some one I could trust to run tests for me. like find some one with another MXM3b video card to start or maybe have some one test your cards.

edit- I have been seeing motherboards between 100-600$ ymmv. I have not seen that many which lead me to assume that the m17xr2 may be an OK computer. and price is greatly dictated by availability.

beyond that, it would be hard to tell.

but first, check out this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/623403-bsod-if-gpu-driver-installed.html

its coming down for this guy to being the master slot on the motherboard becoming lofty.
he reports that if he only put the a card into the slave slot, windows boots with the sounds. (no video since the ports are only connected to the master slot)

 

I'll try this out tonight. Thanks again kakureru, it seems you and turbod are the only ones who click on my threads XD

 

There is a motherboard on eBay for like $450. The thing that I've been seeing though, is that you can get a complete used R2 in the NBR Marketplace for cheap, then you would have many more spare parts. Whatever you do, DON'T throw away any of your GPUs. They may work perfectly in another mobo.

As for testing a mobo, you'd be hard pressed to be able to do it without actually having a 2nd known good one there to do a 1 for 1 swap with. That is what I plan on doing. I have had two 5870s that were just fine one minute, and then beeping and giving me blinking lights the next minute. They are robust cards, and have taken more abuse than I could dish out.

My problem is that I'm all out of GPUs. I have a 6990M on the way that cost me an arm and a leg, but I'm still going to slap it in to see if the laptop will boot. If it tells me that the brand new GPU is bad, I'm ordering a new mobo. Let me know if there is any testing I can do for you.

 

I really doubt its the GPU

 

Here's the thing though...I had a 6970M that crapped the bed a few weeks ago. Laptop froze while playing a 6 year old game, and then after a few reboot attempts, it started the whole beeping with blinking lights thing. Sent it out on warranty, and when they tested it, the GPU was fried. If my mobo was just a POS, they would have gotten the card and found out it was good. I really won't know until I try the 6990M.

 

were both of them fried at the same time?

 

No. The 6970 crapped out, then I got a cheap 5870 to tide me over until the warranty thing was figured out. The 5870 was working just fine, then one day my laptop went into a BSOD loop. It would not boot with a driver installed, Dell or ATI. So I used it in 'gimp' mode to do my homework, etc. After a Windows update forced me to reboot, it started the beeping and lights flashing thing. I stuck it in the slave slot, and it booted into Windows with a black screen. This morning it would not work in any slot. Could the 5870 actually be fried? Sure. I don't know where it has been, or who has done what to it. Don't know how many times it has been overheated, been zapped, VBIOS been flashed...nothing. But this 6990 coming in the mail is brand new. I think that will really tell the tale.

I'm not trying to hijack your thread Shae. Sorry.

 

wow that sucks. I hope my cards dont take a dump on me seemingly randomly

but I usually boost the fans a little bit when i use it for surfing

 

No problem, Turbod, your issues are very similar, and who knows, your experience may help me! I didnt have a chance to try just slave tonight, but I will try tomorrow afternoon. Good luck in your troubles, Turbod!

 

Yeah, you too.

Remember, while you're trying your card in the slave slot, if you have recently had an unexpected shut down, Windows will display that 'Start up Repair' screen, and it will hang there. You won't be able to see anything, but if you just wait a second, then hit the down arrow once followed by the enter key, you should boot.

To shut your computer down (hopefully it boots for you), hit CTRL+ALT+DELETE, then hit the down arrow six times, right arrow once, then hit enter. That will shut you down properly.

I had a few brews and decided to try one more time. I installed the GPU into the master slot, and I kid you not, when I pressed the card down, it sounded 'crunchy'. No boot. Beeps and blinking lights. I'll just have to wait until the new card gets here.

Good luck to you.

 

Okay, i tried just slave now, and it works, i can get into bios again. I cannot, however, boot, as it is still set to AHCI. It must be the master slot. Before I go order a new mobo, however, I am going to try both cards in every possible cofig to make sure they aren't borked. Do you think there is any kind of home fix one could apply to the slot? And how did I break it while cleaning?

EDIT: I may pull out my hd from my old laptop I've been using to see if it boots. Maybe that will work.

 

nah, most of these problems are heat fatigue, the rest are manufacturing imperfections.

unless your old laptop is also a m17x r2, that isnt going to go over well.
If I had not modded my bios, I would see what the button presses to set
the AHCI would be.

also for turbodtalon, I wonder if your slot is warped.
because the weight of the card actually allows the card to fall into position and stay there. I don't have to press anything, only add the retention screws.

 

Huh? You don't put the card in at like a 45° angle and then press the card down slightly?

You've really got me thinking now, actually. With the retention mod tightened fully down, the card is slightly 'bowed'. I did the retention mod quite early in the laptop's lifespan, so that could definitely be an issue. I just need to order a new motherboard and call it a day.

 

no, I inset the card at the angle and it glides down on its own. (slower than dropping it on the floor) and both cards are like that.

yes warping the card could damage the socket if its warped along the edge connector. the heat cool cycles can cause the pins to pop up from the motherboard. I bet if you press on the socket in the middle itl boot.

 

I haven't done the retention mod, but my cards don't slide in, and I don't think they ever have. I think, though, it takes more effort to put in the primary that the slave.

I'm currently looking into getting a motherboard from NotebooksRus.com, about $380, which is one of the lowest prices I've found. Does anyone know if they are reliable? It seems so, just would like some confirmation.

 

I Dont know.
but if you were desperate and have high hopes, maybe you can try one of those 150$ motherboard repair services. (keep in mind that I personally would avoid it due to various reasons)

I call dibbs on your old board

 

Okay, I'm ordering tonight, I'll update when it arrives. Dunno yet whether or not I will attempt to install it or just pay some repair company. Wish me luck!

 

Shae, I got my 6990M today. I put it in fully expecting trouble, and it booted just fine. Driver installed just fine too. As of right now, I have got no choice but to believe that I did indeed have two faulty 5870s in a row. I know the chances of that are slim, but everything is working as of this post. I've been playing Skyrim and running benchmarks. I am pleasantly confused.

Don't pay someone to install your motherboard. If you have taken your GPUs out and repasted your CPU, you've done most of the job already.

 

or maybe tis because your cards were warped?

 

My cards aren't warped at all, so it must be the motherboard, I think.

 

The cards don't stay warped. Once you relieve the pressure from the retention mod, they go back to normal.

 

well hope its not a gremlin that isn't simply waiting to leap out at you when your least suspecting it