The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    HELP! Fried 6970m

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Ninefingers, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. Ninefingers

    Ninefingers Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    P1110456.JPG P1110455.JPG

    Hello, as you can see in the above photos, this little transistor thingy (technical term!) is burnt out, needless to say the card doesn't work. :(

    Can anyone tell me what this piece is exactly and if it can be fixed at all? :confused:
     
  2. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Capacitors... cheap and easy to replace. Though not sure if that's the only thing which is defective. They usually don't just brake, there might be something else wrong.
     
  3. Ninefingers

    Ninefingers Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    A Dell Vostro power adapter (19.5V 4.62A) was plugged in when the m15x was running low on battery. It went pop.
     
  4. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    101
    Messages:
    812
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Um thats a 90watt adapter if im not mistaken, no where near enough power for that laptop.
     
  5. Ninefingers

    Ninefingers Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes it is, the guy next to me at work uses it for his Vostro! It'll keep the m15x alive, but it won't charge the battery.

    Whatever it did, it blew that capacitor...any ideas where I might send it to be fixed? General electrician?
     
  6. SeraphSix

    SeraphSix Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    There's a difference between being able to power it and being able to supply enough power to run the laptop at full capacity. Usually, though, the hardware will throttle back to be in line with whatever is plugged in (e.g. - 12V car adapter).

    Honestly, I don't think getting replacement parts will fix it. Usually in the case of something like this, the failed part causes others to fail and they may not be visibly apparent. I would order a new card. :(