M9750 - Is it time to call it a day?

Hi,
I've had my M9750 for 3.5 years now and whilst I have had a few issues (not being able to run the 7950GTX's in SLI without BSOD, Wireless card died recently and the power supply packed up) I have been very happy with it.
Its been on pretty constantly for the last 3.5 years (switched off at night) but yesterday I'd put it to sleep whilst I took a phone call...It wouldn't wake back up so I held down the power button and restarted it but some weird colours flashed up on the screen before the alien head post screen (which was fine), then when I got the message about f11 to respawn etc there were some white pixel artefacts around that writing on the screen, then I get the little progress bar on the bottom (vista home premium) but I get a kind of green or red grid / pattern appear on the screen..I get hard drive access for a couple of seconds and then it just stops and does nothing else. I tried disconnecting the SLI cable and that didn't help, I've now removed the parent 7950gtx and thats the same...I don't know if this is a graphics card issue or something equally serious. Can anyone help me diagnose the problem...Can I repair it for a reasonable cost or is it best to call it a day and sell of the parts...I do have a T7600 in there. Any thoughts / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Timmo

 

I forgot to add that I tried respawning to no avail and when I go int the BIOS setup I get a pattern of blue / black dots all over the screen in about 20 columns that change colour along with the colour changing marquee at the top of the bios screen. Something really isn't very happy...

 

When in the BIOS screens I get those dots all over the place but if I leave it for a while..and start selecting the different screens, all of the artefacts disappear and the screen looks normal..
I am assuming that it is not driver related as its playing up before the drivers are being loaded and I've never flashed my BIOS or anything...Just to make sure and rule out anything operating system related I am reinstalling a clone using clonezilla that I took back in Feb to see if that has any effect..

 

Reinstalling the clone made no difference so I've tried taking out and reseating the Ram and the Daughter video card but I still have the same problem..
I have actually realised the after the green progress bar comes up and the initial hard drive activity, the hard drive activity does carry on even though the screen has gone totally dead by then..I don't know anything about the inverter or the screen in terms of troubleshooting and fault finding but could one of these be the problem or is it more likely to be a duff video card?
Appreciate any thoughts or ideas.
Thanks
Timmo

 

OK..Just something else that I have tried after reseating the daughter card. I plugged in an external monitor to try and rule out anything LCD / Inverter related and I get the exact same problem on the external screen...Does this mean that the problem is definitely the video card or could it b something else that I am missing...I know replacement cards are hard to come by but is it worth trying to source a new card or call it quits..Any thoughts very welcome or anything else I should try.
Thanks
Timmo

 

it sounds like a card to me. you might want to look up or google the oven treatment to repair the cards.

 

Well I suppose I have nothing to lose if its definitely the card..its funny because the Live CD interface for clonezilla seemed to display perfectly with no artefacts or funny colours or patterns etc...
Thanks for the suggestion.
Cheers
Timmo

 

Very similar to my M9750 with 2x8800GT's that a few months ago did similar to yours, I had it 3.5 years also. If it works in safe mode then you can pretty much nail it on your cards being fried. I've had limited success with cooking/reflowing. It's back up & running but suffers response issues.

 

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the safe mode..I am just trying that as I type and low and behold...it boots up in safe mode although I still have these strange little red squares all over it....
What have you done with yours now?

Whats the cheapest video card that I can replace the 7950GTX with just to get it going again?

Or Should I just sell of the parts and put them towards a new laptop...

Thanks for that idea..its deffo the card then.
Cheers
Timmo

 

just a slight correction..the little red squares have gone now...they were there on the log on screen but have since gone...
I know I could try the bake trick but thats only going to b a short term fix isn't it. The second card had packed up within about a year of having the laptop and it runs so hot anyway....

 

a FX 3700M works.


A 9800M might and is a better option since its a bit cooler. Or a 8700M but its slow compared to 7950 gtx

 

Hi,
Thanks for that info regarding other cards..I've just baked the 7950GTX in the oven and I am now back up and running so very happy and relieved...I know it may not last forever but at least its working for now...great fix.
Cheers
Timmo

 

I was the first to try a 3700M, and while it was massively fast compared to anything else on here, it went out after a month or two. Couldv'e been the card, but oh well. 3870's can be found reasonably and kill 7950GTX SLI.

 

Hi,
When you say that 3870s can be found reasonably can you give me an idea of price...unfortunately the bake technique only lasted for an hour or so and then died again so I am back to square one.....

 

Usually its $200 on fleebay...


I just sold 2 of them for $125 each on here...

 

If you search ebay for ATI 3870, you'll find them from 170-300 but I have a Master and a Slave I'd be willing to sell you. Which one do you need?

Here's a ebay link for a slave:

Alienware M17 R1 ATI M88 XT HD 3870 512MB Slave R1 Card | eBay

Here's one for a master:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alienware-M15X-...279?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2564c3a0f7

You could buy 2 slave's and flash one to a master or buy from me

 

Hi,
So are those the links to the cards you are actually selling?
What I need to know for certain is that those 3870s are straightforward replacement for the 7950GTX? I am guessing I'll need to find new drivers but that should be pretty simple.
Will I be able to run at the full resolution 1900x1200 is it? I had a lot of trouble with heat from the 7950s...will these run cooler. hotter or the same?
I've not been running in SLI for a long time as the parent card must have go fried. How would a single 3807 compare to one 7950 or the 2x 7950s?
Even if I can just get the laptop up and running again it would be great, I don't need to be playing all the latest games or anything..I just haven't decided whether its worth getting a replacement video card or a new laptop..
If you can help me out with the questions above then it will certainly make my decision easier.
Thanks
Timmo

 

A single 3870 is about 10% faster than 7950GTX SLI. 3870 CF is way faster, and a 3700M kills all of it. I could play MW2 at high details, no AA at 1080p on an external monitor w/a single 3870.

 

But will I be able to run at the same resolution and will the 3870 get too hot?

I take it that if I just want the one card then the simplest way is to just buy the slave or have they changed the nomenclature on these...I currently have the parent and daughter cards with the daughter being the "primary" card...is the slave the primary card with the 3870s also?
Anyone running one of these in an m9750?
Thanks
Timmo

 

just get 1 3870 card... CF has driver issues...

you will need a master card, it will go were the "parent" nvidia card does.

 

Those 2 ebay link's aren't mine as I was just showing you current ebay prices.

As I don't have a M9750, I can't speak for the installation but it should just be replacing the card's and redoing the thermal paste on the core and putting thermal pad's on the GPUs' memory banks. Not to mention cleaning off the old paste off the cards and heatsink. You will need to remove the NVIDIA drivers though as their not compatible with the ATI cards. Also not sure if your SLI cable will work as a CF cable.

The 3870 run at 1900 x 1200 on my M17 so it should do the same for yours.

I'm running CF 3870's with no issues but let me know if you want a 3870 and we can work something out.

$120 replacement video card is better than the cost of a new laptop.

 

I actually have the exact same problem as TimmoUK. The description perfectly fits my case, even the date that it happened is similar.

It is mentioned on Mxm-Upgrade.com that there is the possibility of a vendor lock that prevents the use of parts from other manufacturers. Is that the case with the m9750? I'm thinking about getting quadro fx1600m from ebay but it was pulled from a hp machine? Also the seller on ebay states that it only works for hp an no else, is that true?
HP NVIDIA QUADRO FX1600M 451377 001 Graphics Card 512MB | eBay

Another option might be to turn the parent card to a daugter card by flashing the bios, does anyone have experience with that?

 

Well I've let the dust settle for a while and bought a cheapish Samsung laptop to tide me over but unsurprisingly its not a patch on my M9750...I've looked on e bay for video cards and I do find some 7950s and 3870s but they all seem to be "Manufacturer Refurbished" or something like that and I guess after baking mine in the oven and it working for a few hours before giving up the ghost again I am just concerned about wasting money on a second hand card that will do the same..Is there any "New" card that I could buy that wuld get me up and running..I don't even mind if its not that brilliant as long as I can run it at the 1900x 1200 resolution that I love...Any thoughts or suggestions?
Cheers
Timmo

 

Well I've let the dust settle for a while and bought a cheapish Samsung laptop to tide me over but unsurprisingly its not a patch on my M9750...I've looked on e bay for video cards and I do find some 7950s and 3870s but they all seem to be "Manufacturer Refurbished" or something like that and I guess after baking mine in the oven and it working for a few hours before giving up the ghost again I am just concerned about wasting money on a second hand card that will do the same..Is there any "New" card that I could buy that wuld get me up and running..I don't even mind if its not that brilliant as long as I can run it at the 1900x 1200 resolution that I love...Any thoughts or suggestions?
Cheers
Timmo

 

Just pick up a 3870.. They don't fail like that.

 

OK - hopefully the final question or 2 then:
If I just want one 3870 then do I need a primary or slave card? I know the Nvidia cards are classed as Parent and daughter with the daughter being main card. How does the classification for the 3870s work? Do I need the master or slave - I'm guessing master but would like to know for sure.
Also, where will I be able to locate a driver to use?
Once I have those answered I just need to locate a 3870....
Thanks
Timmo

 

Is this what I'm after:

Alienware M15X ATI Radeon M88 HD 3870 512MB Master Card | eBay

Anyone any experience of this e bay seller? Is it the master card I need? Where will I be able to find drivers?
Thanks
Timmo

 

That is thr card you need. Drivers are on the AMD website.

 

Fingers crossed - I've just ordered one....

 

Well I am happy to report that the card works perfectly...I installed the drivers and hey presto...seems to run nice and cool when it isn't being taxed too hard...I'm so glad I took the plunge and have my M9750 up and running again Thanks for the advice everyone. Very much appreciated.
Cheers
Timmo