Inspiron 1520 constantly crashing but only when battery powered.

Inspiron 1520
2GB RAM
Nvidia 8600M GT 256mb

When my laptop is battery powered, the GPU is constantly crashing - screen blacks out, display driver crash error, artifacts all over the screen - all of which requires a hard reset.

I've upgraded/downgraded and tried multiple driver versions, reformatted a few times, replaced the battery, and ruled out the RAM, HDD, and CPU with stress tests. The GPU also seems to pass furmark just fine (it wasn't able to run 3dmark though, not sure if related). Temps all seem normal and fans are cleaned/not particularly loud.

I know the 8600M GTs have been known to have overheating issues but I remember asking Dell CS a few years back and they assured me my model wasn't affected.

So given the above, what do you think it could be? What part should I replace? GPU? mobo?

 

Artifacts all over the screen is a sign of a bad GPU. I would go ahead and replace the GPU.

 

It only happens when I am on battery though. Does that still point to the GPU?

 

I would say so, yes. Apparently the lower voltage while on battery compared to the power supply is enough to cause issues with your GPU.

 

Dell didn't list the 1520 among the models that got a 1-year supplemental warranty for free due to GPU failures, although it did list the 1420 with the 8400 GS (which was an option for the 1520 as well). But all GeForce 8's made in the time of the 1520 were affected in hardware - it was a design flaw on nVIDIA's part. My suspicion is that the 1520 wasn't included because its cooling system was generally adequate to prevent the high number of failures that were affecting some other models (for both Dell and other manufacturers).

And yeah, it does sound like this is a GPU hardware issue. ktriebol may well be right that the lower voltage is the reason you're only seeing it on battery.

It is possible to replace just the GPU on the 1520. You'll have to find an 8600M GT, or an 8400 GS if you're willing to accept the downgrade, that was designed for the 1520, as a general-purpose, non-Dell one won't work, as the 1520 has proprietary connections on the GPU.

However, there is at least one alternative that might save you some dough. You could try to bake your GPU for fun and profit. This is rather risky, as it could fry your GPU completely and render it unusable, and you might not be the sort that likes to bake electronics in the same oven you bake cookies in. And if you still had a warranty, it'd void it. I'd only do it as a last resort, and indeed that's why I've never done it - my 8600M GT is still working just fine (knock on wood). But if you were going to throw in the towel anyway, it's worth at least considering.

As I recall from some years back, it may also be possible to flash the video BIOS so that it uses a higher voltage, including on battery. But I can't remember what software you'd use for that, or the process. Might be possible to find out with some determined searching and the blessings of the Google gods. Edit: Found it. It's NiBiTor. Note that this is also potentially dangerous, and could render your GPU unusable if things go wrong. I've never used this, either.

One final option, you could try underclocking your GPU (including the 2D and low power 3D settings) using RivaTuner, and see if that helps. It's a long shot, but kicking the clocks down to their minimums might just be enough to avoid the need to buy a replacement GPU for long enough that you don't need to in the end. I have messed around with RivaTuner, and while you probably can mess things up with it, it'll be more difficult to cause lasting issues.

 

Thanks guys for the feedback.

I'll probably give the baking thing a shot considering it's essentially dead either way.

Does it make sense to go for the 8400 GS if the laptop is going to be on permanent web surfing duty? I know both were affected by the overheating issue but I'd assume the step down model would at least run a little bit cooler.

 

If you do bake it, post back with how it went, temperatures and time, and so forth. I imagine you won't be the last one to try it on an 8600M GT. I'd go with that before NiBiTor, too.

If it's just for web surfing these days, the 8400 GS probably does make sense. From what I understand, it's a certain part of the GPU going past a certain temperature and back that weakens it. So if the 8400 GS were going past that temperature, but less past, it would probably still be just as bad. However, if it stayed below that temperature, it may indeed last longer. On the 1420, it was going past that temperature, going by Dell extending the warranty on that one (and IIRC on the XPS 1330 as well). The 1520's larger chassis and cooling may help. Although I wouldn't be on it.

But the main reason I might go with the 8400 GS in your position is if it were less expensive in the first place. I have no idea what the going price for these GPUs for 1520s are these days. But why spend more if it's just for web surfing duty, and there's no guarantee on how long it will last anyway?

 

New 8600GTs are out there for 15$ [ link].

I have baked 9800 GT SLI on m1730 and Quadro FX 1500M on an HP. Both time success. These chips were also from the Nvidia bad batch (9800GT was a rebranded 8800, still 8 series). I can tell you what I learned as I spend at least a week researching different methods.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Dismantle the GPU so that there is no plastics or plastic cover on it. I havent dismantled a 8600GT but from what I see there is something plastic on the back of it - you have to get it out.

Get aluminum folio and make legs for the GPU so that it stands above the surface of whatever pan or metal base you are using. 1-2 cm are enough but be extra careful that the whole GPU is leveled. If it is not standing perpendicular to the surface when the components heat up they may slide - you dont want that.

Use the screw holes as points where to fix the "legs". The GPU ship has to be on top (there were a lot of discussions here, however this is the general consensus).

When you are done fiddling around with GPU positioning put the board in the oven. Wait 9 mins and turn the oven off. Wait 1 min and slightly open the door (2-3cm) so that hot air can come out. Wait 10 min and open it more. Repeat until wide opened and wait at least 30 min before moving the GPU - it has to cool down completely.

The reason for this is to prevent the chip from cooling down too fast. The solder may micro crack if it cools down too fast.

Good luck and let us know if it worked