Help with broken d900t (k-tron, gophn are you there?)

Hi to all!
I just came across a cheap d900t and couldn't resist.
the previous owner removed cpu and ram so till now I couldn't make any test. He told me he turned it off and the day after it wouldn't turn on anymore.
What test could I do once I have ram and cpu to see if the videocard or the mainboard are busted?
I've found very cheap d900k mainboards on ebay and it could be worth a try, as dual core would be a nice add to a beast like that and someone on this forum says they can be easily swapped others say not beacuse of screw posts. What's the real story?
Thanks in advance to everybody,and sorry to K tron or Gophn to have mentioned them in the subject but they seem the real Clevo gurus round here.
Cheers
Rcboyit

 

How about me?! If you are able to install windows and boot up all the way then you motherboard should be fine. To confirm the video cards are working, simply run the 3dmark. BTW I think D900 K supports AMD only?

 

sorry man!
I've found most of posts by those two guys that's why I put them only!
Anyway the laptop won't boot, he told me it. it doesn't even post or display bios.
hi 900k is for amd cpus but it supports dual core. so a slong as they are phisically identical it should wotk fine
thanks

 

If D900K does support Intel, and that's a big if, it's only limited to P-4. Here are what I've found:
D900T -> P-4
D900K -> AMD
Regarding the motherboard, I wouldn't be surprised if it's busted, it was a well known issue of D900 back to the day.

 

when you turn on the laptop if the lights are on, Hdd etc. and dislpay stay black like when the laptop is off this si definitely the video card

 

Im sorry, the other members of this forum can probably help you a lot better than I can but that doesnt mean I dont feel rejected...

 

if the CPU is seated correctly, and the RAM is installed... the system should power on.

if the video is not coming on, then you might need to remove the vidocard module (under the left palm rest area) and examine it.
- clean out the fans and vents thoroughly with compressed air and Q-tips
- and probably re-apply thermal compound.

then resecure the videocard module back onto the motherboard and see if the system POSTs.

And yes the D900K supports up to AMD X2 / FX-60 (Dual-core)... Socket 939.

the D900T is stuck with single-core LGA775 Pentium 4 CPUs.

 

I just got the laptop and made some tests.
According to what GanGstaOne says my videocard is broken. The leds turn on, the fans start too and it doesn't shut off unless I press the power button.
Right??? Can I be sure that I won't have to buy a new mainboard too???
I hoped it was the mainboard so that I had an excuse to swap mine with a d900k.
I'll keep on looking for a card.
Does anybody here as a card to sell?
My mainboard is rev 5.2a so what card could I buy? There is a 6800 ultra installed (and according to some forums it shouldn't work with revision 5.2).
Thanks to everydoby and sorry if someone felt rejected...I apologize! ;-)

 

When my D900K didnt want to power up, it was either out of pure coincidence or the motherboard was dead.
Sometimes I would plug my power cord in and my machine would turn on for a good 2 seconds, and instantly shut off. This continued to happen for months on my first motherboard. It required me to remove the power adaptor, and start on battery. When the bios image appeared, I would plug the ac power cord in and everything worked.
Try that and see if that helps,

You can try cleaning the vents, but seriously the system will run for a good 5 minutes before the fans need to come on.

You should try reseating the graphics card. The graphics card is under the front left part of the palmrest. You need to remove 4 screws to access the card, and than another 4 screws to remove the graphics card.
Reinstall all of the simple things like graphics and memory and try again.

If the system still does not boot, try powering it up with one memory card at a time. Try different slots, because one card or one slot could be problematic resulting in a failed boot.

Their are other ways to test whether its your graphics card or your motherboard.
If the motherboard is dead, the system will not get hot. To test, remove the main battery. PLug in the ac power adaptor. Remove the cpu heatsink. Touch the cpu with one or two fingers, with your other arm power the system on. If the cpu is getting hot, your motherboard works. If the processor stays cool, the motherboard is dead.
You will know when the cpu gets warm, its not a mild warmth, it gets hot pretty fast. Dont worry, you will not destroy your processor.
Simply when it gets hot, unplug the system and it will instantly shut off.

If the motherboard works, and nothing powers up, their is either a connectivity issue or a failed piece of hardware.

If the cpu doesnt get hot, the motherboard is dead, or the dc jack on the back of the laptop is loose causing the system not to come on. These are very easy to check.

However back to connectivity. A shorted cable, like the sound cable on my laptop got caught in one of my fans, and sheared the cable, that cable caused my system not to boot. After unplugging the speaker, the system fired right up.

Check for all connections, the speakers, audio DJ ribbon cable, LCD cables, system power cables and so forth.
When everything is properly connected try powering up again.
If the system still does not go, than its your graphics card

Good luck,

K-TRON

 

Well K-Tron thanks for this exhaustive answer! It should be a sticky for those who are looking for busted parts in their boards!
I'll try the cpu test without the heatsink and let you know the results.
Anyway I just got a second chance offer for this card
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270351826092
It's for a different Clevo laptop but it has the same dual socket connector that there's in the d900 series. do you think it would work in mine? it seems just a matter of changing the cooler with the one I have. I don't think clevo changed the electronical design too.

 

Actually I think that card could work

Here is a picture of the standard D900K/D900T graphics cards.
Please ignore the picture Nirvana posted, that is a D900C which uses MXM cards. The D900T/K use proprietary Clevo cards.


You will need to install your heatsink onto this card if you were to buy it.

Please double check with Gophn to see if it will work, I think it will work fine

K-TRON

 

epic fail me
But I still right about he need the case or heatsink for the D900K

 

Thanks K-Tron
I was sure Nirvana posted the wrong image. But I have too few posts to argue with Nirvana that has more than 5000!
Mine heatsink anyway looks like this
http://i16.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/39/01/d5ba_1.JPG
and not like the one you posted.
For that price the 7900 seems like a good deal too. Isn't it?
I hope Gophn will have another look at my thread and let me know what he thinks about compatibility issues.

 

you have the old 6800 heatsink.
The 7800GTX and newer all used the same heatsinks that I posted. You can use the cooler you have, but if you note temperatures over 75C, you should buy the proper cooler for the card. I can give you the model of the cooler I have

K-TRON

 

Ok I've seen many 2nd generation coolers on ebay so I think they are quite easy to find.
The doubt remains......will that card work?
Gophn where are you? We need your help!

 

that 7900GTX module looks like its compatible with the D900T/K motherboards.

you just will probably need to switch the heatsink assembly with the D900T/K one instead... and apply thermal compound.

Note: you have to make sure your D900T has a newer motherboard revision to fully support the Geforce 7M cards.

 

Ok thanks Gophn!
My mainboard is rev 5.2a
do you think it will work or do I need the v6.x?
Thanks again

 

its probably not going to work properly or at all.

you need at least a 6.x revision for full and safe support.

Looks like you are going to be stuck with Geforce Go 6800's.

its available at sites like www.ztronics.com

 

What rating is your power supply?
Do you have the 180watt or the 220watt version?
The 180watt is 20V at 9A, and the 220watt is 20V at 11A

The fastest your board supports is the 7800GTX. You need a revision 6 board to run the 7900GTX, 7950GTX/Quadro FX2500M

K-TRON

 

Well....this is not a good news...
What about the d900k boards? Ztronics have them for a very low price and says nothing about different revisions and different cards supported.
I could swap mine for a d900k.
What you think?

 

The D900K boards will run that card without a problem.
However if you want to switch to the AMD platform, you need a socket 939 processor and PC3200sodimm memory.
Revision 4.x boards support harddrives up to SATA 150, Revision 5.X boards support SATA 150 and SATA 300 harddrives.

The 7900GTX may work in your current system, however you will need the 220 watt power adaptor

K-TRON

 

K-TRON I am curious would that be possible to put a D900C board on his D900T/K?

 

I can answer you too as I already searched for that!
It's not possible as they have completely different layout.
D900t and d900k share the same layout instead so it would be possible to swap the boards.

 

LOL I was thinking to build a hybrid D900. Guess not.

 

Definitely will not work, nothing would lineup. You could deco a D901C if you wanted to look like a D900T/K. I am mot sure one could hack the dj screen thing on the front of the d900k on the d901c

K-TRON

 

I made the cpu test and indeed it get's hot. th vrm close the cpu socket gets even hotter!
I was talking to another technician and he told me that if the lcd backlight doesn't turn the it's the mainboard being broken and not the vga. what do you think? my situation is this:
- leds turn on
- cpu get's hot
- lcd backlight remains off
- fans do not start rotating
audio dj or whatever it's called dosn't work too. if I press the audio dj power button nothing happens.
thanks to everybody who's helping me!
have a nice we

 

1) Did you apply thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink?
2) Regarding the LCD, try to connect your laptop to an external monitor.

It does seems like your mobo is broken.

 

The screen will not come on if the graphics card is dead. I really think your problem is just your graphics card.

Where are you located?
I could test your graphics card for you

Gophn would probably be willing to test to. He is in California. I am in New York

K-TRON