How to remove graphics card? Clevo D900K

You may have read a previous thread of mine about the fans in my notebook not coming on at all unless I use
FN+F2. Well I have gotten used to leaving them on now, but I now face a new problem.

Recently while using the laptop the screen just all of a sudden starts to pixelate up with random colours, the only way to get the screen back to normal is to restart the laptop.

I found that the screen pixelates up when the machine is knocked slightly even when typing on the keyboard. I have narrowed the problem down to the gfx card. I think it has a poor connection to the mobo.

I therefore went to re-seat the gfx card, but I cannot see how it is attached to the motherboard.
I removed the heatsink and it appears to be sat in a metal tin which fixes to the heatsink i just removed.
There is no physical connection I can see, so I am assuming it is attached somehow underneath.

Can anyone who owns a D900k give me any help on how to remove the gfx card so i can re-seat it?

Thank you.

 

its easy.

The four screws need to be unscrewed, and the entire videocard module & heatsink fan should be come out together... usually if you have a 7800GTX or newer.

These heat sinks are categorized by having curved edges in the fan area. The fan itself is larger that its 31-D90TN-201 / 202 counterparts. Each of the four screws is spring-loaded, but they cannot be removed since they are attached to the heat sink. A plastic strap is located across the heat sink which is to be used to pull it out from the system's video compartment.


Video Module Removal

For the 31-D90TN-204 / 205 / 206 heat sink:

1. Unplug the cable that is used to power the heat sink/fan bundle from its motherboard connector.

2. Remove the four screws by following the sequence described on the yellow label you will find on the heat sink. The numbers on the corners of the yellow label indicate the correct removal sequence. Alienware recommends unscrewing them half a turn at a time and repeating the sequence several times rather than taking each screw out immediately. This prevents the application of excessive force on the computer components.

NOTE: These four screws remove the entire heat sink and video card as an integrated module. For the D90TN-204 / 205 / 206 versions, do not attempt to separate the heat sink assembly from the video card.

3. Once all four screws have been fully loosened, gently apply upward pressure using the plastic ribbon handle to remove the heat sink/video module. You can use a slight rocking motion to gently loosen the module from the underlying connectors.

 

Another thing, you might not need to clean out the easily clogged vents and fans.

Use a flashlight, q-tips, and compress air (cans/compressor).

 

Ok thats weird cos I did follow those instructions of undoing those 4 screws, but when i gently pulled the plastic strap it just took the heatsink off the gfx card, exposing the gfx card. That process left the gfx card still attached to the motherboard.

Never mind the tabs at the side of the heatsink weren't properly fastened so it didn't pull the card with it, ive fastened them now and it worked, cheers, ill clean and apply some more heat sink compound to the chip.

Thank you

 

You can use a slight rocking motion to gently loosen the module from the underlying connectors.

I highly recommend to re-apply a thermal grease (like Arctic Silver) after cleaning off the old stuff.

 

cheers Gophn,

I've pulled it out and cleaned off the connections, and now my laptop is working perfectly again, ill add some arctic on the chip now (It's the one I use too).

Thanks again.

 

glad its still good.

make sure to take care of it... mainly the dust in the vents.

 

My 7900 is pixelated as soon as you start up..

The previous card got so hot it... It took off connection 4...
So now I can't screw it on...

Any ideas to fix the card..

I am going to just buy a new D900C...

Anybody need any parts??

I have the dual core fx60 2.6ghz, 2gb of memory..
2x 7200rpm 100gb sata drives and also the dvd burner

joe

 

you system is still high-end.

if you are experiencing artifacts, its usually due to overheats.

if its not too late (meaning permanent damage), you should clean out the vents and fan thoroughly.
- open the panel of the videocard module
- use a flashlight to look for dust clogs in the vents
- use Q-tips and compressed to flush it all out.
- and maybe re-apply thermal grease (like Arctic Silver) on the GPU.

If its too late, then you can still get the 7950GTX module to max out that notebook's videocard capability.
- contact your vendor to order it
- or go to RJtech to order it