GPU failed???

Hi everyone

I have a now some what old m860tu that has served me well for a while although now I think the GPU has died and just seeking clarification / advice on maybe a fix.

Basically my CMOS battery died and had to update date time manually for a while then one day the screen wouldn't turn on but it booted to windows (heard sound) and wouldn't work on an external monitor either. So I put a new CMOS battery in and tried to turn it on and same thing happened. Got a bit fed up and left it alone then a week or so later turned it on and it worked all be it for about 5 mins tops and then the screen froze with windows background hanging there lit up just nothing was happening. Turned off and on again but black screen again.

Left it again for a few days and it did the same thing worked ok for 5mins then became non responsive. No BSOD or random crashes.

Anyway from reading what I have searched for I think the GPU (9800m GTS) has died. Can't see how it could be anything else but open to trying other fixes? Looked at the 260m GTX upgrade although can't see any online that are MXM 2.1 as it's quite old probably. I take it one from a W860CU wouldn't work?

Also read about baking the GPU for 5 mins in 375F oven can bring them back to life as the solder has potentially gone? Worth a go perhaps but would need to be sure it was the GPU I guess!

I would just buy a new laptop however there was nothing wrong with it speed wise before the failure and does everything I need it to so if it could be fixed I'd obviously rather do that!

Thanks for any help you can provide

 

hi
if it is the graphics card you are very lucky its lasted this long. my 9800GT died after 2 years but luckily i was covered by warranty so got it replaced the same day with a 260gtx
if you can find a 260 from a w860cu then it should work.
i will have to turn my m860tu on to check all the service manuals.

strangely enough my cmos has also just died but i cant be bothered to change it. its only a bakup lappy for emails now so i just F1 on bootup after the bios beep.

while i check the manuals here a walkthrough of the oven trick The Oven Trick (repairing your broken video card with an oven) | Overclockers

 

here are the user manuals
when my 9800 died they put the 260 in within 10 minutes and just repasted and booted it up and there was nothing changed in the bios at all but its best to wait for someone like Meaker who is the expert on the various cards as the later 260 might have been a revised card and slightly different as it doesnt mention the mxm type II.

 

I'm not sure exactly what cards would work, but these days it looks like it's easier to get the quadro versions of the cards, eg 3600m do a little bit of reading, I am pretty sure they shipped with quadros but double check which ones would work.

 

Is it possible your gpy fan has died or is too blocked by dust to work? Have you ever cleaned it out? That could explain why it works for five minutes.

 

I have been reading quite a few posts and a few have mentioned quadro cards. Think the option was a 2700m but it can take a 3700m which is similar to a 280m gtx. Though will have to see what bios updates etc are required etc

Fan is still working, though you have made me think about re sitting it and cleaning and re pasting just to be sure!! If its still going on then I will assume its dodgy and try the bake method.

If that doesn't work then I guess I will probably end up with a quadro as the GeForce cards just don't appear to be available any more!

Thanks for the replies!

 

Well just a quick update I don't think my original pasting / heat sink seating skills were up to scratch first time around as I am writing this on my laptop after using it for the last hour or so with no crashes.

I did a nice thorough clean up and very carefully placed it all back together and screwed the heat sinks down in number order this time too.

Yeeeeeee ha!

 

Glad it worked out, but still keep an eye on those temps.

 

great news.

 

I am glad it was something easy to fix. BTW, some thermal paste gets old and doesn't work as well over time.