Troubles Installing new 8600gt in FL90

Hi!

I'm new here, and my english is really poor, but I will try to explain my problem.

I have a Compal FL90, and I was having the typical problem with the 8600GT. I decided to change it for a new one, and I buyed one in ebay.

Today, It arrived to my home, and I installed it in the notebook. The notebook turn on, but it don't show the bios post. The screen is dark and sometimes the system restart.

I don't really now where is the problem. I think that ordering the same card, 8600gt, will be a good solución at low cost.

Can you help me?
Do I forgot something?
Do the notebook need a bios update before change the video card?

Thanks a lot.

 

if you order the exact same 8600M GT you need no bios update, but it will be hard to find that card and even if you find it, it will cost a least as much as a HD3650 DDR2 which would be your best choice anyway if you want the solution that costs the least ammount of money. However, in terms of price / performance gain, a HD4650 DDR2 would be a valid option, too.

 

I have this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/nVIDIA-Geforce-...emQQptZPCC_Video_TV_Cards?hash=item3ef9943791

It's the same chip as original, but has other memories.

Can be a bios trouble?

 

Sorry, I misread that you already bought and installed the card. This card will most likely not work. It seems to be a different card then the one that game with the Compal FL90. Although it is a 8600M GT it has to be one withouth a vbios. The original 8600M GT is also delivered with a blue board.

A bios update will unfortunetely not solve this issue :-/ Maybe you can return it and buy a HD 3650 DDR2 instead it's the same price.

 

The 8600gt that I buy is green.
I don't really understand why the 8600gt can't go in the laptop, It's a problem of the BIOS of the video card?

The 3650 doesn't have vbios?

Thanks for all Daniel

 

Yeah, the problem is the vbios on the 8600M GT you bought. It conflicts with the system bios as the original 8600M GT that came with the FL90 does not have any vbios but the vbios in integrated in the system bios.

Erasing that portion from the bios is not possible since there is not editor for this bios version openly available.

ATI cards work since the bios is smart enough to detect that the vbios stored in the bios is from a different manufacturer than the card and therefore the FL90 will use the vbios of the ATI. OR the ATI cards simply force the FL90 to use their vbios.

Altering the vbios of the 8600M GT in such a way that it does the same as the ATI cards will most likely not be possible since there are no such options available in the Nvidia vbios editors.

I'm sorry, but I think you simply cannot use that card :-( Compal did some weird thing by integrating the vbios in the bios...

 

Wow!

Really thanks for all Daniel.
I will try to import an ATI hd3650. But I'm scared now. I don't really know if I prefer to sell the FL90 in this conditions (to be disarmed) or take the risk ordering a new video card.

 

a hd3650 will work, and it is faster then the 8600m gt. Dont sell this great laptop, just repair it

 

All HD3650 MXM II will work in FL90?

 

Yes, athough I cannot guarantee that.

 

Hello everyone,

I hope I do not misbehave when posting to this older thread, but I have the exact same problem as the thread starter, so I just hop in.

I too have a Compal IFL90, NVidia 8600M GT 256MB went haywire some weeks ago, and I wanted not to dremel and screw around to much, and figured .... heck, I just get another NVidia 8600M GT and spare me the trouble (and the performance upgrade).

Bad choice as it seems, more so as I did google a lot, but just came across this discussion just now.

I got this card from ebay (512MB version):

nVidia GeForce 8600M GT 512MB MXM II

The seller told me it would be compatible ... so I hopped in and bought it. Dumb move?

I also tried the backing trick. But as I don't have an oven, I put it into my microwave for 10 minutes ... another dumb move? Naaah, I am kidding, hehe.

But maybe one can confirm that I got screwed with my new 8600M GT card. I may try sending it back, or just resell it if someone confirms that.

But then I need to get another card. Which one would be best, taken in account that I dont want to saw off, dremel off, hammer flat things? Or is "customizing" needed in either case, be it the ATI 3650, 4570 or 4650?

Performance is secondary, I just want my great laptop back, he's to good and young to die.

Thanks for any help

Cheers

 

Wahhh, I just found out that this is a dedicated Compal sub-forum. How on earth could I miss that when searching !?!?

Anyway, looking forward to some help by you guys. Thanks in advance!

 

Okay, looks like I am lucky. The guy I bought the card (NVidia 8600 GT) from is replacing it with a ATI 3650 DDR3. I hope it works out!

The 3650 DDR3 should work in a FL90, right? Install it (with a little help of dremel, maybe), and that's it, correct?

Thanks a lot!

 

the dremel should look like this on this link.

COMPAL IFL90 Upgrade page

or from this picture,

http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Pictures/IFL90_1.JPG

i am about to upgrade to a 4650 ddr2 when it comes so i very happy too. i thought it was coming this week but maybe next week then.