M11x R1 - fried gpu?

hello,

I recently picked up a used Alienware M11x R1. It was full of spyware and other crap so did not think too much of it when the gaphics wouldn't switch in windows. But now when I have done a clean re install of windows and installed all drivers from dell I still have issues.

First, if I switch in bios from switchable to discrete only the computer won't boot at all. Does not even get to the Alien at startup and beeps alot. No video but the fans and lights go of as normal. Is this a dead giveaway that the GPU is fried? I had to do a bios recovery that I found on this site. Thanks alot for that! Saved me completely since it was a brick without it.

Now when I boot up with the integrated graphics again and try to switch with fn+f6 the "increased performance" windows pops up and the screen flickers but the window won't go away. It stays for a few minutes until it automatically goes back to "power save". During that time the GT335m is recognized in the device manager. Sometimes it says it's working properly but mostly it's code 43 error. Also, while it tries to switch I can hear a clicking sound. Almost as if it tries to start but can't?

So, if this is indeed a fried discrete gpu. Could I somehow disable the GT335 completely. Will this cause issues down the road for me if I keep use it with intel integrated only?

I did read somewhere about someone that had similar issues on the R1 and he left it on doing something intensive overnight and when he came back it was really hot but the discrete gpu was back working again (possibly an accidental reflow?) Is this something that would be safe-ish to do? And does anyone have any suggestions for how to this? Tried a stability test that maxes cpu but that didn't cause it to get too hot. I suppose I could try the heatgun reflow but would be a shame to ruin the board completely since the integrated still works on this.

Lastly, it has some hinge issues so dell will send out a technician next week to replace those and the lcd I think. I assume this is entirely unrelated and I won't get any help there? Would ofc be very happy to hear someone say different!

Well, thanks for reading all this and I'd appreciate any comments at all on this as I am not quite sure what to do here.

 

Not sure if it is a fried GPU, but using the heat gun would not harm it. At least from my experience with heating up GPUs it hasn't lol.

 

You asked if you can turn it off completely. I believe you can. I can't check myself (a buddy is borrowing it), but I think you can turn it to integrated only.

 

hehe, well I was thinking since the GPU is on the mainboard? I'd need to get the entire board out. Cover up everything but the gpu and then target only the gpu? What I fear is that I might damage the parts that are still working fine? Normally you would do this procedure on a laptop with a single graphics card that is useless without a successful re flow anyhow so damaging other parts isn't an issue? I mean right now I do have a working laptop with crappy intel graphics but if I mess up the reflow and burn the mainboard I have a complete paperweight.

Thanks I would appreciate that. Haven't found anyway yet to do this. It's easy the other way around.

 

Yes, to replace the video card you need the whole motherboard.
No, the tech won't help you with that cuz it's totally unrelated.

It may be fixed by performing a power drain (press and hold the power button without AC adapter nor battery connected for 30 seconds).
Also loading the BIOS defaults with F9 on the BIOS screen might help or even updating the BIOS.