Help with 88M SLI!

I have a XPS M1730 with 2.4 Core2duo and 88M SLI. Yesterday I was just doing some regular browsing and I got a error saying that the driver stoppped responding. So, I installed 186.82 and removed the 19x.xx. When I rebooted, the screen repeatedly flashes red, green, blue, white, and black. I can't see Dell boot up logo or anything else. I tried it in another external display but it doesnot seem to work either. I opened the whole laptop and reseated the GPU and cleaned the vents. Still, its the same. Canyone anyone help me if the GPU is gone and I can get it fixed some place or any other help?

Thanks

 

Try posting this in the Dell Forum, maybe there are other XPS users who can help you.

 

i do think it might be that one of ur GPU's has died... try removing 1 of them and testing each individual one... it really looks like a dead GPU problem.. if this is the case , call dell or try ebay.. u can eaisly find 8800M GTX SLI's and 9800M GT and GTX SLI on ebay...

 

The 8800m GTX SLi in a Dell XPS M1730 is one giant card. I don't think he can detach them to try one GPU at a time.

Your issue sounds like a dead GPU (or both) as sean473 mentioned.

 

Any video or picture link to disassemble the GPU?

 

Yes, the 8800M GTX SLI is one big propriatary PCB board comprising twin 8800 cores. It's essentially like an 8800M "GX2" card. It's also not MXM.

The instructions are at Dell's to access the GPU. There are also numerous video tutorials at Youtube, so check it out too.

http://support.ap.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1730/en/sm/sysboard.htm#wp1032623

 

@SomeFormOFhuman

Thanks for the pic. I tried your link but it just tells how to take out the GPU but not to disassemble so that I can try one at a time. So, could you please post the youtube links? I tried but could not find the right keyword for the appropriate video.

Thanks

 

You cannot try them one at a time.

 

That seems to be the problem.. if u have warranty , contact dell... they might replace it for u.. otherwise start looking for Dell SLI on ebay.

 

Ummm I was thinking to to put this in oven as it was successful for many people. I just want to get rid of those fans and other parts but I dont know how to take those parts apart. So, can anyone post on how to tear those things apart?

Thanks

 

As mentioned before, you CANNOT try one at a time. The 2 cores are built onto the PCB as shown in the pic.

If you want to dissemble to the heatisnk and gain access to the PCB, you need a hexagon screwdriver to remove the heatspeader.

I shall assumed that you have successfully pulled the GPU out of the board. It shall look like this:



Now, with a machine head philips scewdriver, remove the 6 screws securing the fan, 3 on each side. With a little bit of careful force, wiggle the fan left and right, and it should pop up wards.



Then make sure to remove the black, yellow and red wires from the PCB that powers the fan, there are 2 to remove, left and right, so pull the wires gently or wiggle it out slowly and carefully.

Now this is the tricky part, you need a Torx screwdriver to remove the heatsink assembly including the spreader. A torx is a specially made star-shaped screwdriver; you can easily obtain form any hardware shop.

There are a total of 8 torx screws to unscrew, and the metal plate behind the board should fall off, releasing the heatsink assembly.

Your board should now look something like this:



After unscrewing the torx screws, to remove the assembly it's a little difficult as the thermal paste is in contact with the copper. You need to slowly pry it off left and right at the edges, and slowly with a little applied force.

That thing should eventually come right off and will look like this with your PCB exposed.



And there you have it, your exposed PCB with the 2 8800 cores.



There is a Dell DCSE manual that detailedly describes the process as well, but I think Dell took it off their site unfortunately.

 

Ok thanks for this wonderful detail!
Do you know if there is any video on youtube bychance?
Also if Im about to put this in oven, then will there be any problem to remove those plastics securing the chips on the opposite side of this given picture?

Thanks

 

I remember seeing a video on YouTube of a Dell service technician going through a step-by-step process. I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxSdDyC7vto

Edit2: Here's another one (with an awesome accent): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yklqhb7PRXY&feature=watch_response

 

Umm. I was not talking about how to open the laptop and take gpu out but how to open the gpu so that I can reach its core and put it in oven.
Anyway thanks for your effort. Any other help?

 

I believe your best bet in baking is to remove everything you can, anything else that is heat sensitive cover in something so as to shield it from some of the heat. I used aluminum foil on my xbox 360 mobo.

Also, maybe read some threads on baking as you really don't want to melt the board too much.

Good luck with your cooking ;-)

 

Ok now what?
I had my GF's M1730 with 87M SLI and today it went down with same problem.
I am totally confused whats going on?????
Just normal browsing and assignments stuff on this laptop and its gone....
On the 88m SLI, there were RGB color showing while booting but in this 87M, there is no display at all.
Before that night,it was working perfectly and I did a safe shutdown and today morning, this problem started. When I looked into the GPU, the fans were still and not moving. Any idea?
I am really depressed!!
Im feeling like my both legs are broken!

 

do u have warranty? If u do , u might make dell send u a M17x?

 

There's also a small possibility the mobo is broken. It's just hard to find out if you haven't spare parts to try.

 

Well, I have 2 M1730 and both broke after 2 days of the 1st one. So, I switched the GPU with each other and got no result. So, could it be that both of the mobo is broken?
I also got an extra mobo but I dont want operate on it if its not of use since both the GPUs died one me.
Any suggestions?