Inspiron e1705 video card issues

I have an Inspiron e1705 (still covered under warranty - bought new from Dell two years ago) that I just bought a refurbished 7950 GTX for. After going through a couple replacement 7900 GS cards, I could never get the drivers (tried nVidia, Dell, and laptopvideo2go) to work. I got the classic 5300:0119 Video Card memory error in Diagnostics testing, so Dell told me it was a hardware error, and the card needed replacing (this was when I was using a 256 mb 7900 gs). So they replaced it. I started it up, flashed the video card driver BIOS, restarted, and the screen had lines up and down it, most prominent during the default black screens. The drivers didn't install properly, and simply scrolling through screens (windows/internet explorer windows with objects in them such as pictures/objects) would be an arduous task, and would lag the whole screen.

I ended up getting Dell to replace my card a few times, and I sold the replacements to save up enough money to buy a 512 mb 7950 GTX, as my friend with an XPS m1710 uses it, and is able to play WoW perfectly (I should have mentioned I'm a longtime DoD: Source gamer, and this was the most powerful task the card had rendering, which the ole 7900 did well for a year, but then finally puttered out). ANYWAYS - I bought the card off eBay from a guy who got the part from Dell. I know this card isn't bad hardware wise. It's on the very laptop I'm typing in this forum on right now. But it's running on VGA/default computer drivers, not the adequate drivers to allow me to do anything other than surf the web. I can't get the drivers from the web to install - like I said, I tried nvidia.com, Dell.com, and laptopvideo2go.com. None will work upon reboot, and the screen has the lines/artifacts up and down the screen. The screen goes completely black on reboot after Windows 'loads' before the admin/password window. I usually restart it in safe mode and uninstall the nvidia drivers from control panel at this point, reboot once more, then continue use the computer in this state [and this state now] where it renders graphics very slothfully without its proper drivers.

I have even had the computer returned to Dell's factory in Texas once, to have them personally install a new 7900 gs (about a month ago). They returned it as per their agreement "working". So, I have to assume everything in my computer is working fine hardware wise, and I am resistant to believe (despite the numerous threads I've pulled up on google as well as this site, that the GPU is screwed up on the card) the problem is with the card. I should also add that I thought the BIOS could be the wrong version, and I upped it from A06 to A09, but all that did was make my wireless USB adapter more reliable, haha. I also bought a 150 W (sold to me as a 130 W) AC adapter in preparation for my new card and my upping my RAM from 1 gig (2 - 512 sticks stock to 2 - 1 gig sticks Kingston RAM). After upgrading the system BIOS to that version and plugging in my 150 W adapter (versus the stock Inspiron 90 W one), this did not make one difference on the video card driver installation.

I should also add that I have read the following threads in regards to helping me try to find a fix for my problem, but to no avail (I also had an fx2500 card at one point too but had the exact same problem - returned it and used that money to finally buy this 7950 GTX I have in the computer now):

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Case-S...ard-of-a-Dell-Inspiron-E1705-9400.4187.0.html

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach...here+to+buy+7950+GTX&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach...+overclock+a+fx+2500&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2369440#post2369440



Now, bear in mind I have done the mod to the chassis to allow the second heat sink to fit my computer, where I cut the two small metallic walls for the left side radiator. If it makes anyone feel better, I paid $285 for the 7950 GTX.

My question is, what do I do now? I have voided the warranty, so should I try and get my motherboard replaced? Is this problem even fixable? I know several people have faced the same issue as me to some degree with this line of Dell laptops/cards/drivers, but I have yet to find a definitive answer.

 

This is one of those "replace the motherboard" problems, isn't it?

 

There's no way no one has something to say about this...

 

I'm running out of excuses to give Dell for replacing my motherboard. They keep wanting to give me drivers for the video card (already tried). Does anyone have an error code or 'silver bullet' so-to-say that will get them to replace my motherboard?

 

dude, where did you get the 7900gs replacements???
cheers

 

Just an update for those browsing this thread, Dell is replacing my entire system. I'll just switch out my harddrive (unless they send me a better one) and my video card and I'll be good to go. After complaining hardcore for two hours online in Dell chat, had a supervisor call me (after I refused to let a technician come over to do the motherboard replacement) and offered to send me a refurb model equivalent or upgrade for my entire system.

 

Well, for those browsing the thread, here's an update: I'm apparently getting an XPS 1730. It's supposed to ship any day now. They're sending me a 120 gig 7200 harddrive too. I still wanna' switch out the video card, 'cuz they're only sending a 256 mb 8700 I think.

 

haha Yea- good question,You said you sold the video cards they sent you but you have to give the old ones back so how is this possible?They don't just keep sending you parts because you gave them the right error code,They make you send the old video card back.

 

Upon getting the 7900 GS replacement from Dell, I bought a 7950 GTX (512 mb) off eBay. This put me in a position to sell the now inferior card, and switch it out with the 7900. Now my problem is that I have the XPS 1730, which is amazing in every respect, except the damn thing also came with an 8700 GT (256 mb), which I wanted to switch out with my 7950 GTX. I have a really freakin' robust screw on the keyboard that I stripped trying to get out, so now I can't even dissect the computer. From looking at the heat sink for the card through the vents on the bottom, it looks like one long one jutting out from the middle of the computer, as opposed to two relatively symmetrical and equal sized sinks on either side of the 7950 card.

Does anyone know if a 7950 GTX is even able to fit into an XPS 1730? Do I need to do any mods?

 

hankaaron57,

Same problem with my E1705 i guess, Dell replaced the card (it was a 7800) with a new 7800..the new one worked fine for lets say about 20 days. after which i see polygons and multicolored dots on the display, especially when i play games (older ones offcourse, like FEAR, not Crysis) and high resolution video files (my display resol is 1920x1200). So had a chat with a dell tech, now waiting for a solution..lets see what happens, wether i get a new system or one more replacement card..Anything would be fine as long as the system works..I like this system a lot, eventho i recently purchased a new XPS M1530..

 

It's the motherboard. The motherboard just roasts under the video card. All e1705's are plagued by this. Opt for a new computer. Complain, cuss on the chat. It's not pretty, but you have to be a real pain if you want Dell to just send you a new computer entirely. That's how I went from a ****ty 2-year old Inspiron to a refurbished XPS 1730. Granted I'm not satisfied with the video cards in that either, but it's a definite improvement, and worth double the old Inspiron.

 

well they said they were going to replace the video card, lets see what happens..i had to take camera snapshots of the garbled display when using media center for them to believe it was a real issue..otherwise they would use Dell connect to access my system and find there was nothing faulty..will post the pics here soon..

 

here are the pics

 

Just like mine. I've had my E1705 for about 2 years now and have had 4 video cards replaced. 3 in the last 1.5 months. Even though I have had this laptop for about 2 years, I've only been able to use it for around 1 year since for the last 8 months I was travelling for work and couldn't get the video card replaced in time so I had to purchase a new Dell XPS M1530 laptop and now that the E1705 is working, the M1530 is just sitting pretty. Not happy at all.

 

Same thing happened to mine. Had the card *and* keyboard replaced. Not happy.

 

I have a friend with this problem but it happened a few months out of warranty and he just left it there for about a year and now it is about a year out of warranty and still sits there unusable. Doesn't boot into Windows and has weird marks all over the screen when in BIOS. Video card is probably messed up and I bet anything that Dell will refused to repair it even though these video cards are probably defects.

 

It's the motherboard - trust me. As I said, I had the video card replaced about four times in the computer's lifetime, and after the last two replacements, after failing to install the Dell nVidia drivers, I realized it was the motherboard. Best bet is to look up a motherboard error code on google and give that to them at Dell. Chances are they won't have new/refurb Inspiron motherboards lying around, which means you get a current inspiron or XPS system. That's how it works, and that's what I'd recommend you shoot for. Getting a new video card does not solve the problem.

 

Well i finally got a new video card and everything seems to be goin on fine with the system for now..I have installed I8fangui on the system this time around..So the 2nd fan ie the one that cools the GPU is always running at full blast now..the difference is clearly visible..earlier on the GPU would be around 78C 5 mins from starting the system, then slowly climb to 83C in about 15 mins..now with I8fangui its stays around 68C for most of the time..
hankaaron, i dont think that this is a motherboard issue, cause Dell replaced the motherboard and fans on my system the first time i had a problem, they replaced the GPU after they realized that the problem was still there..then after about 2 months the new GPU dies..So now they replaced the GPU again for the 2nd time..hope I8fangui keeps my system ticking..I do have another 2yrs of warranty tho just in case the GPU fails again..If does one more time i am going for a new system..

 

Frankly i believe the problem with the system is the design, they should have had a bigger fan for the GPU and a better vent system..the new Inspiron 1720 has a better design..