m15x 8800m GTX out-of-warranty repair/replacement

Hi all,

It appears that the 8800GTX on my m15x laptop has malfunctioned. Initially, my video started to produce strange colours and patterns then images started to become distorted. Now I am unable to view anything due to distortions and discoloration so I had to switch to the integrated graphics card in order to use my laptop. Video seems to be fine on this mode so it appears that my 8800GTX is indeed faulty...

My m15x notebook has just gone out of warranty and I didn't take up the warranty extension offer... I emailed Alienware tech support and they quoted over $1,000AUD for a replacement (upgrade to 9800GT as 8800GTX has been phased out according to them). I'm a bit shocked to find out how expensive this is but the m15x is basically useless to me without the main gfx working.

So.. I have come to you for some guidance.. I hope some of you can answer these questions for me.

1. Can my system be upgraded from 8800 to 9800?
2. Can I purchase the graphics card outside of Alienware and install it myself? If so, how difficult is it to change out the notebook gfx card?
3. Is there a big performance to be gained going from 8800 to 9800?

Thanks for reading..

Steve

 

lol the 8800 is the same card as a 9800 1% performance boost literally


yes you can get a new card and install it

look in the marketplace here

also its not to hard members here have done it and can help you

 

Try cooking your 8800GTX.

No, I'm serious. It really fixes it. I think it's pre-heat to 385F, put on a baking tray with the corners on balls of aluminium foil, and then cook for 8-10 minutes, turn off the oven and leave the door open to cool. Or something around those lines. I don't know where the guide on it is.

 

Evil is referring to doing this procedure. It has worked numerous times before, and if its already broken, it can't hurt to try it right?

 

Yeah, that's the one. Thanks Marvie, I couldn't remember the thread name or anything so couldn't search for it

 

I heard this only works for a little time, just enough to sell it as "working" on ebay...

 

Just repeat it if it dies again. I guess it's really very similar to the 'towel trick' for Xbox 360s that have the red ring of death. They both work on the same principles except the 'towel trick' can damage the Xbox by overheating the whole thing, whereas this only does it to the graphics card, so you really do have nothing to lose.

 

Thanks guys for responding. 'Cooking' method sounds extreme but interesting. I guess there's nothing left to lose for me. I might give it a go and see what happens.

I'm actually fed up with 'gaming' laptop. It was nice for a while but little issues really started to get annoying. Now with this problem, I seriously doubt I will consider going down this route again.

 

I have exactly the same issue - my 9800m GT failed after a year but is now out of warranty and the lovely people at Alienware want me to pay £400 for a replacement ... My gaming laptop is more-or-less useless without it but I don't want to spend another £400, on to top of the £1600 I orginally spent, for a graphics card that has known issues with its soldering. I asked them to replace it with a Radeon 3870 but they said they no longer stock those GPUs.

Any ideas?

 

Buy a used working one here in the For Sale section or on Ebay. They can be had for $250 or less. I hope this helps. God Bless

 

Reading all these issues with the 8800M GTX is making me paranoid. I've had mine for almost 2 years now, and everything's still running fine. Am I alone here? Any other users made it past the 2 year mark with their 8800m gtx / 9800m gt?

I would suggest getting the 3870 instead for the OP. Many members of this forum have replaced theirs with the 3870 without issues. It's also much, much cheaper.

 

I looked on ebay and nothing at all ... looked on the nbr market place and there's only one but it looks like there are lots of interested people. Googled for one and nothing came up at all ...

 

I have a couple month old GTx 260m for sale if you interest. Just took out from my laptop when I replace it with the 5870. Pm me if you interest.

 

Hey Cha,

How're things? My advice would be to look after your 8800GTX very carefully - it it goes you're pretty much screwed - like me!

 

Heya btgman, I'm doing ok. Sad to hear about your gpu biting the dust. Have you considered purchasing a 3870 instead? Heard it's a more reliable and cheaper alternative.

 

Yeah, I'm looking for one but they're impossible to find: Alienware UK say they don't stock them anymore, nothing on ebay ...

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alienware-M17x-...o_TV_Cards&hash=item414e83532e#ht_2583wt_1165


Give them a shoutout , they'll let it go for $375 I saw them put a Sale on it earlier but no one bit on it. You should have hit me up for parts, I had a fire sale on M15x parts about a week back, most m15x owners would tell ya, lol. I came across a fully spec'ed M15x and then just sold off all the parts on it to various people right here, lol. However I sadly realized today that I could have fixed the WHOLE system for about $95 and had a fully functional system, lol. Whatever at least I helped people on the forums with their issues and my m15x is running well. I ended up selling the spare 9800m Gt for $250.

Oh and Jdeluna your parts were packaged like this,





You should get it on Monday, hope you enjoy it

 

Thanks for the info. I'm not so keen on another 9800mGT though - especially a second hand one - my 9800 stopped working after 12 months and it was brand new. Would be a waste of £250 I reckon. I'd much prefer a new 3870 ...

 

Oh you can also go 4850 I reckon on these systems. Yea the 4850's are rare but it's an option. If you keep looking I bet you can find one, I run into them all the time and always wonder if I should get a spare for myself. The horror stories of the m15x are quite scary, but I always end up selling my spare parts to other users on the forums, cause I deem they need them more then I do as a spare, lol.

 

Can I use my 9800 heatsink with the 4850? Surely Alienware would sell me a 4850 direct? No need for ebay ...

 

You can try, I've seen 2 go for sale right here on the forums. THey were snatched up pretty quickly I think the prices on them were kinda high though, not really high, but high enough for them to not be considered by me. I like my 9800m GT and I switch out on my GPU often as to not burn it out. GEtting a SSD drive and having the 3-5 second boot up time is GreaT.

 

Thanks I can't wait to install the new LCD screen 1920 x 1200 !!!! God Bless

Was there ever an ATI 4850 that would fit and work in our older Alienware Area-51 M15X ?? I do not ever recall one being available. God Bless

 

I don't know, but I do know this the m17 or m17x the older one (Area -51) that is literally the same version of m15x that many of here have supported the 4850, and because of this I'm willing to venture that it will also work on our m15x. Again this is an extremely rare card, and a 2.1 MXM card but it should work nevertheless. I'm willing to put up $100 cash on this hunch of mine, lol.

Oh if you ever look to sell your Ripley Cover JDELUNA, PM me please I'm looking to move from Skull Cap to Ripley, even if it's somewhat broken on the hinges and I'll just take the Epoxy Route.

I just don't really want to pay this for it: http://cgi.ebay.com/Alienware-Area-...ultDomain_0&hash=item563aa69333#ht_3124wt_939

 

Yeah I have been eyeing that for the last 3 months, and in the beginning of the year they were selling for $20 each, then they slowly raised the price and now $200 Yeah.... they can keep it. God Bless

 

dttrans83, if you still have the 260m, i would like to buy it.
currently I have Alienware m9750 with 8800m GTX in it, however, it will not run @ full speed.
email me at [email protected]

 

I'm not sure that card would work for you, the connection type is different.

 

The m9750 doesnt work with the 8800 for the exact same reason a newer nvidia card wont. It has the wrong connections, the only compatible newer card is the HD3870 period.