DELL XPS15Z Black screen problem

Hello guys,

I've got XPS15Z without HDD, Battery, Power adapter in non working condition. I would like to repair this laptop it and use it for myself as replacement for my old Precision M6300 which is too bulky and heavy.
XPS have I7 (2nd gen) 2640m CPU and Nvidia GT 525M GPU.
If I turn it on, the screen stay black. Display test ("D"Key + Power "on") works.
If I disconnect CMOS Battery for a while and start Laptop it beeps (code five). But after restart without to disconnect CMOS there are no beeps anymore.
Beeps comes only after disconnecting CMOS. May be it is a normal process?
I tested CMOS battery. 3V . It is O.K.

I already tried to reflow GPU via heatgun (245°C peak for 60 sec.) No changes.
The GPU is nVIDIA N12P-GS-A1
I would like to ask technicians out there, is GPU faulty and must be be replaced, or could it be something else?
I'm able to order and resold GPU.
Would you recommend me to replace this GPU for better one? Or GT525M is the only choice for this mainboard?

I shoot short movie, please have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUIcWkq8Cy8

Thanks

 

I think your right on the money with the GPU being faulty, you can buy a reball kit with the BGA Package and the balls pretty cheap on ebay. The only thing i could think of if you know the LCD itself is not faulty would be the LCD cable connecting it to the motherboard. If not, deffinatly the GPU.

Also, i know the XPS 15 comes with a 545m also, but i'm not sure if it would be compatible with your model. If the Vbios is stored in the normal system Bios you would have to either flash a modded bios (Good luck) or else it would probably not post/video output.

 

Hello republicofsam, thanks for reply.

I hope LCD itself is not faulty. As you could see in my video it pass LCD test. But you could be right with LCD cable, which is obviously Achilles'heel in DELL's XPS series.
On the other hand, is it known, that screen test pass with faulty LCD cable? Or passed LCD test is no evidence for cable condition?

Thanks

 

FYI a heat gun is really hard on the circuit gun is doesn't necessarily properly reflow or re flow at all unless done right, or at the very least with pre heater to keep the whole board warm while while performing the re flow.

This why i tend to bake in the oven versus versus an SMD station and proper pre heater. less twisting and warping in the bad way though it does warp a little it's not what a heat gun does to a room temp board which is bad. sometime the only fix is re-ball. also any thing that needsa re flow usually mean the cooling system isn't doing it's job right and needs modified to do so.

i'm saying all this assuming you tested with an external monitor because if you didn't and you tried a re flow that's a big no no

 

HI, before reflowing process mainboard was dismantled and preheated (5min) So, that is fine.
External monitor could not be checked, as I got this laptop without HDD. So there is no OS which can control HDMI signal.

I think, there are two points to check:
1. If screen test ("D"+"Power ON") in no 100% evidence for working LCD cable to replace it first.
2. Replace GPU.

If I wrong please share your suggestion.

I would like to ask technicians here if I can replace GPU chip for better one?
Service Tag 8s8c3s1. It should be GT525M on board, but according internet GPU chip code nVIDIA N12P-GS-A1 belongs to GT540M
So, which information is correct?

Can I replace GPU for GTX580M which according nvidia belongs to same product family:
GeForce GT 525M | Performance | GeForce

 

No the 525M is soldered onto the motherboard, GTX 580M is an MXM card.

 

I see, GTX belongs to MXM, but how about GT555M or better GT755M.

Anyway, most important for me now, is to get confirmation for my presumption about faulty cable / GPU .

I would be very thankful if somebody can give me advice in this issue.

Thank you very much.

 

555M is soldered too, but those are all BGA soldered, and possibly use different vRAM. I wouldn't even attempt to upgrade the GPU, people should know full well, 98% of laptop GPU's are NOT upgradable or require a decent amount of headaches to overcome.

 

Thank you Tsunade_Hime.

I'll stay on original configuration.
It was small mistake in GPU code. It is not Nvidia N12P-GS-A1 its N12P-GE-A1.

However, I would like to know if my presumption about faulty cable / GPU is correct .

I would be very thankful if somebody can give me advice in this issue.

Thank you very much.

 

idk about you but, i just switch on the external and go into the bios by doing that i know there is video output on motherboard. basically you don't need an os to do a basic check on a lot of laptops but, not all laptops are the same.

also i keep the board heated during the entire process with pancake griddle and little balls i made form aluminum foil. any pre heating is better than no preheating but, constant steady pre heating is the best.

 

I can not go into the bios because of black screen.

 

usually there is a key shortcut on the keyboard utilizing the "fn" this should let you use the bios on an external screen if the mobo isn't dead.

 

Hi. This is an interesting point.
Will it also work without HDD via HDMI?

Thank you very much.

I just tried (Fn) while start laptop.

Something definitely happens. Some kind polyphonic tones comes out followed by 1+3 beep. While beeping Caps lock key blinking. Laptop was connected on Panasonic plasma via HDMI.
Plasma screen stood black.

 

Was the correct Panasonic HDMI input selected before turning on the notebook?

 

I checked it again. Connection is correct.

Small correction. After kind polyphonic melody it comes 1+3+1 beeps.
So: Polyphonic, than 1+3+1beeps, Polyphonic, than 1+3+1 beeps, Polyphonic, than 1+3+1 beeps, ...

1-3-1 code in non bios start mode means RAM problem. But there are no beeps while normal start.

I'm confused now.

 

Nobody who can help me?

 

Have you tried in the Dell Inspiron and studio forum?


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