How do you fix a faulty Nvidia gpu?

I have to keep reflowing (using a hairdryer) my GPU on my Dell XPS m1530 for it to work. It sometimes randomly gets a black screen or purple artifacting. Can anyone suggest a more permanent fix? Should I replace the thermal compound or do I have to get a new motherboard?

Thanks in advance.

 

If its anything like reflowing a ps3, the only permanent fix is to have the gpu reballed, basically redo the solder joints that attaches it to the mobo.

 

You should have replaced the thermal compound when you took the laptop apart to do the reflow, that is why it keeps happening

A better fix for it is to purchase a laptop cooler, these are aluminum underbodies are from my personal experience, very helpful in dissipating heat from the laptop. I have never taken my xps m1330 apart for a reflow while using this. I played many games on my XPS and put a lot of usage time on it also. The only time I took it apart was to fix a unsoldered fuse when my charger wouldn't charge my laptop and a faulty webcam cable.

If it's any consolation, the laptop was purchased in 2008, and it's now 2012.

 

^^Thanks for the reply guys. Which thermal compound do you recommend? And which laptop cooler should I get that isn't too expensive? Thanks again.

 

As mentioned, the only real fix is to reball the thing. Better cooling can lengthen the time between reflows, but it's definitely not going to fix anything permanently.

 

But reballing is expensive and I don't know who offers it as a service..any suggestions?

 

Agreed on the reball thing. Where are you located? I've posted this many times, and I still stand by my statement, the cheap antec laptop cooler works extremely well!

It pretty much looks like this:

Antec Notebook Cooler Cooling System NOTEBOOKCOOLER

I've used it on my m1330 for the longest time, and never once have I run into a problem with the laptop's GPU As for thermal paste, what have you done as far as putting the heatsink back together? Do you just put it back without cleaning and reapplying thermal paste? That is most likely the problem why if that's what is going on.

To fix this, just purchase any reputable heatsink compound, I believe MX-3 or MX-5 is very good for your application, since I read that it's non-conductive (someone correct me here if i'm wrong?). Also, read the tips on applying the thermal paste, and if you haven't considered doing hte copper mod, people claim it helps in lowering temps (I haven't done it nor will I ever probably). Give it a go!

 

Alright, I'll try that, thanks.

 

Professional reballing services range from like 100-150. Also it depends on how badly melted your GPU is, if it bubbling, the likely chances of it getting reballed + replacing the solder is unlikely, you'd need a new GPU at that point. Easiest solution is to sell the M1530, because any i3/i5 Sandy or Ivy Bridge notebook will easily annihilate the M1530 for performance, even the Ivy Bridge IGP HD 4000 = 5650 Mobility, which is light years faster than the 8600M GT offered in the M1530. HD 3000 = 8600M GT performance, but in a much lower power consumption chip, and it scales with faster RAM and overall is a better GPU (my X220's HD 3000 benches better than my Vostro 1500's 8600M GT).

 

I agree (10 char).

 

Wow, the 8600 is that bad? Damn, any recommendations? Do the new Dell XPS 15s suffer from any gpu issues?

 

Yes 8600M GT is pretty awful, the M1530 and M1330 have terrible cooling designs, a tiny 6" piece of copper for a 35 watt dual core and a 20 watt dGPU. My Vostro 1500 easily has 10" heatpipe for the CPU alone and a 12" heatpipe for the GPU, hence I don't run into the heat issues with my 8600M GT, plus mine also removable.

The current generation doesn't have the BGA issues anymore, but I still wouldn't pull the trigger on one, business laptops are the way to go, check out Dell's Latitude or Lenovo ThinkPad. Optimus can be quite the headache to deal with, especially if you work with Photoshop.

 

I used to run a 8400m GS lol a few years ago, i could just about get 10fps with all settings low on oblivion

 

I'm proud to say I max @ 96 when running Furmark and 82-ish when gaming, idling @ 40-ish just hit 45 today heh

But yeah.. I've my trouble with the 8600M GT.. but after lots of throttling and fixes, voltage changes I've managed to hold it under control by overclocking and undervolting my CPU (slightly) and locked it @ 2.6GHz

 

I've had no problems with my M1330 besides the CFL bulbs going bad (i refuse to buy a new screen) and battery died 2 weeks after warranty went out.

 

M1530 ..........My condolences to you sir, I once also owned that steaming pile of devil poo, it was the off-spring of poor design by Dell and faulty manufacturing by Nvidia. The only fix for that thing is to throw it up against the wall and be done with it .