G73JH, Odd behaviour, before dying?!

hiya guys,

Just putting this out there because it's been the weirdest evening for my G73JH.

The last few days i have been getting grey screens, (i'm on chas's vbios before you jump and go VBIOS issue!) but only when the screensaver or the screen dimming is activated.

it also just restarts if i load up an intensive game like battlefield 2 or left for dead 2, but on everquest it was fine.

the temps on idle were 48c for the GPU, and 41c for the 720QM, so temps weren't an issue.

Then today, i put in a bluray movie, (Batman the Dark Knight for those interested) and the system froze, but not the freeze where pressing and holding the power button fixes it, i had to unplug the system and pull the battery out to turn it off.

When i turned it back on however...

I don't get anything on screen, the keyboard backlight does nothing, the caps lock and num lock light are always on, as are the lights in the top left corner of the machine.

I've tried the reset button under the laptop, and with/without battery, nothing changes the state.

I also have noticed the stomach churning smell of electronics that have become too hot. it doesn't smell good.

Any ideas before it goes to the G73 place in the sky, after passing the gates of RMA hell?

I was very surprised the system just did this, i was one of the lucky ones with a relatively stable system. she's still in warranty thankfully, but it's a shame!

Sio

 

Doesn't sound good at all. Based on what you describe, RMA hell is where you are headed.

 

Firstly remove the battery and AC adaptor and leave it for a while then put it back together and see if it turns on.

If not sounds like something has fried, remember that even if your GPU idles at a normal temp under full load this may be a different matter entirely the symptoms you mention to sound as if something is overheating. It could also be that something has become dislodged ie a thermal pad or degraded.

Have you made an attempt to repaste yourself?

RMA seems likely

 

it was repasted and cleaned out about 2 months ago, and was given a clean bill of health.

I haven't done anything too strenuous on the machine either, i don't have time for long time gaming.

Everquest 2 is more cpu intensive than gpu, but yea, when i loaded up the gpu it really wasn't happy.

Ok thanks for the tips, i've taken out the battery and will see if it comes back to life.

I've also just started the RMA procedure.

Sigh.

 

Battery + AC adaptor and hold down the power button for 30 seconds to discharge it. Doubt it will work but worth a shot. If no lights come on at all and the brick light is on and not blue something has burnt out or failed. Could even be the PSU. You have checked most of the things that it could be in your initial post tbh.

Keep the post updated with your progress be interested to know what it is.

Good luck!

 

If you smell that ozone smell of "magic smoke" you can take it apart and look for visual damage.

Try taking out the RAM sticks one at a time to see if you can get it to boot. You can also try taking out the hard drives.

Beyond that you may have a problem with your motherboard or GPU, or a problem with one of the board connectors shorting.

 

If you RMA it, Have it sent to Newark/Freemont CA....

They do good work..

That is basicaly Silcon Valley and they pay people better than the other RMA centers...

 

The ontario centre is rock solid. I think the sticksville USA one was manned by wookies, though.

 

ah i wish i could get it rma'ed to the decent places, but mine is going to glasgow, UK.

I have had dealings with them before, they are a bit inept at times, but overall they are quite helpful and give me daily updates.

update on board.

It seems the GPU has failed, due to solder dripping onto it from the motherboard. I've not opened it up more than that due to the warranty, but groceries was right, shorted out motherboard.

It still powers on, but i get no display/post/flashing lights, the hard drives power up, but thats as far as she goes.

The hot electronics smell has lessened a bit, but yea, seems solder has melted off the mobo! O_O

 

Solder melted?! Pics or it didn't happen. That is... hard to believe.

 

Yeah I gotta see this too solder should not be melting till about 180-190oC minimum on a motherboard for soft lead-free.

Although this is Asus I suppose they could have been using wall plaster for bond knowing them! Again I wouldn't put it past the 5870M reaching this point either

 

ugh i don't want to have to take the back off again, but if i must i will. the area where it has melted is on the motherboard above where the 'housing' for the GPU is. well it looks like solder blobs anyway, i didn't take the gpu out to confirm it, but it looks shiney and there is like a drip on the board above.

It is unusual yes for solder to melt in a board, but not unheard of. if a component was failing it could quite easily get over 100c.

I had a power board on a dell do just that a few years back, one of the voltage regulators got so hot it fused to the heatsink rail it was screwed to. it was a power board fail that one was.

This could also however be flux or something they've used to glue something in, i did get it serviced at an asus centre. (it just 'looked' like solder when i shone a torch in there.)

i'm not touching it to see because of the warranty, i've had a love/hate relationship with this machine, and tbh, when i get it back i'm done. (3rd RMA now).

Thank god for the hp being so stable.

if you don't think it's solder, then i'm open to suggestions guys!, it's quite solid when i poked it with a screwdriver lol

 

I think its more to the fact that we want to see melted components than not actually believing you

 

When you turn it on now, it still smells bad or it was just that one time? Noticed anything from the fans?

Have you tried removing the hard drives/ram/etc. and then turning it on?

and... you said you had 48C idle for your gpu? lol I wish I had those temps

 

well, it comes on, but no fans until 5-10 mins being on.

The smell is still there, but is only noticiable when the fans start.

The keyboard numlock and caps lock lights are on, but no light on display/backlight or anything else.

system doesn't do anything else.

taken out hdd's and ram sticks, the ones i can get to without taking her apart, but no change.

 

Sounds like what happens to PS3's when they YLoD..

The GPU solder melts/deteriorates. and the GPU becomes detached.

A temporary fix for the PS3 is to take it apart and try to reflow the solder with a heatgun. Usually works.

But obviously this isn't a PS3 lol.

 

solder melting? sounds like a nightmare

 

well, she's gone into the abyss that is the RMA cavern.

I will keep you posted on what transpires with the resolution etc.

Thanks for all your advice though guys

 

Well got her back from RMA today.

New motherboard, GPU, Screen, Screen bezel, and LCD LVDS cable.

The board is a different colour than it was before, which i found interesting.

but shes running 42c on CPU idle, and 44c on gpu, so i'm really happy!

The board is being looked at by asus apparently according to the repair shop, they had to send it to taiwan!

I'll update if they bother to respond to me about what could have happened.

Thanks for your replies.

(This was 9 days in RMA, UK repair, so am impressed!)