Huge Problems M860tu

Hi Guys. I'm really hoping someone can help me with this. This is the biggest problem Ive ever encountered. Recently the computer has gotten slower probably due to all of the junk that stocks up over the months & years. I usually do a reformat of the system every now and again and it was about time for it again.

So I was plying EVE online when the graphics just failed and I had to restart. Same thing happened again once I tried playing the game. But something else happened as well. * see the pictures.

I reformatted the comp , fresh install, reinstalled the drivers for everything but still the same problem. The video drivers actually made it worse, as I'm typing now I'm in safe mode with networking. I cant install the video drivers now in a fresh install, it jsut takes me to a black screen during the installation.

The problem is even in BIOS where the letter and numbers are just all messed up. I don't know if this is a BIOS Virus or a hardware malfunction. I don't now which one to hope for. Frankly I have no idea what this is.

I'm thinking of doing a BIOS update which Ive never done before cause I really don't want to brick my laptop here.

What do you think can be the problem_

Thanks for any inputs guys.

 

What are the current specs on the laptop? From the video symptoms, it sounds like your video card is failing. If that's the case, you may need to start looking around for a replacement if you wish to fix this laptop as opposed to buying new.

 

as mentioned that does look like the start of the end of your graphics card.
if its a 9800GT then get ready to change as theres been hundreds die over the last 2 years, mine included. your next option will be a 260gtx me thinks.

the attached pic is when you know your card has died and theres only 2 option. the baking method which will maybe give it a few more months of life or a new card.

 

Lol, why do you always suggest the gtx 260m? Thats stupid because they're like 600$ and not widely available, and theres a good chance people will take your advice and buy the MXM 3.0 Dell/alienware version which is INCOMPATIBLE

Baking the card isn't the best option because its not often permanent.

So, that said, there are pretty much countless options for video card replacements if you don't care about performance too much. The best option for price and performance is an HP quadro FX card. At the moment, you will not have to make a performance compromise unless you had a gtx 260m - the best available is the fx 3700m and you're very lucky, there is one for only 89$:
488125-001 HP nVidia Quadro FX3700M Graphics Card | eBay
Note that you have to test it within 15 days of receiving it and they are untested but will take returns. If it doesn't work, there are many more for about 200$. Note that Dell cards will not work.

You should hook up a desktop monitor to confirm the issues are with your video card. However from the looks of it you would have to have 2 separate issues if it wasn't your video card. The scrambled text could be your BIOS, and the lines on the screen could be a bad LCD or cable. So in this case I think you should hope its the video card.

Here are some cheap older cards:
NVIDIA 8600M MXM-III(HE) 512M DDR3 VIDEOCARD G84 975 A2 | eBay
nVidia GF Go7800 A2 512MB DDR3 MXM III Video Card | eBay

 

waow thanks a lot for the response. I will take you advise and test it on a dual monitor.

To me it seems very strange that a graphical error should cause scrambled text inside the BIOS? It prints out hearts and symbols Ive never seen before so it seems might suspicious. You can see from the BIOS picture that I run a 9800M GT and I have seriosuly old version of BIOS, the one that came with actually.

So should I try to update the BIOS aswell or will that just make things worse?

Cause I'm a bit disappointed if she gives up on me after just 3,5 years considering how much she cost and that it is a Clevo model. And of course I did take good care of her as well.

Hm what more would I need if I'm going to replace the graphic card? any cooling aid or substance? What to do and what not to do when replacing Graphic card.

And thanks again for the fast response!

 

Well you'd power it off completely, remove the battery, and yes you need some thermal paste like arctic silver 5.

The scrambled text is strange but it happens. In fact it means something even more low level has gone wrong on the graphics card, because text and ASCII symbols are very simple basic operation for a graphics card.

Yes you could try to update the BIOS/EC, there is a thread here, its a little tricky with the m860tu. I don't think the BIOS would suddenly become corrupt like that for no reason and without other issues.

 

well testing a dual screen is out of the questions since I have no drivers I cant switch monitor, all I can do basically is change resolution but thats it.

So that leaves testing a BIOS update.

On the graphical card topic, which graphic card would you recommend for me, from low price to high price?

And I dont really like brands like HP, dell and such, they can be very cheap and you never know what quality you get. But I will take your advice since you know a lot more than I do. Thanks^^

 

as im not such an expert like you i only know about the 260 as that is what was replaced for me under warranty.
i will leave the recommendations upto you from now on.

 

well I guess this is the guide to go for when updating BIOS, however I did read that m860tu is the only exception where you have to install previous BIOS installation before installing to the latest?

Also is it a greater risk that the BIOS might fail due to the corrupting video card? cause I seriously dont want to brick my laptop and having to invest in a whole new one. I guess it would be safer to purchase a new video card since its probably faulty anyway and install that, and if there still is any problem I will update the BIOS, it might be safer that way.

But you mentioned its a bit tricky for the m860tu, can you give any advice on how to do it?
I have downloaded all the files from all the versions for a BIOS update according to that thread. I have not emailed clevo requesting for a BIOS update, altough they do recommend that, but I trust the people here and the fiels given in those threads.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/556299-clevo-bios-older-models.html

 

*bump

anyone?

 

I agree with Niff on this one. It's a rare card. Unlike the Alienware variant, there is a different shape to the M860ETU / M860TU / NP8662 card and thus it's a pretty hard card to find. What you *MAY* want to do if you still have warranty left (ie: a 3 year warranty and it was an early 2009 or later purchase) is to contact your reseller and see what can be done. The 9800m GT, as stated here and elsewhere was NOTORIOUS for dying; the GTX 260m staved death off better. Try RJTech as they seem to have some in stock. But the best option is to see if your computer is still under warranty and work with the reseller you bought from (assuming they are sager or clevo - allowed) to rectify the solution.

Otherwise, the link in the previous paragraph will take you to the card you need.

Jason

 

Hm so how will I know which card is compatible with my laptop if there different shapes to them? Is there any serial number I can check or anything like that?

I dont think I have the warrently left since it was a late 2008 purchase around october or september I think. Been checking my mail.

The website site seems to be undergoing reconstruction atm but I have emailed them aswell. But I doubt they will know anything.

But like I said, If I am to buy a new gpu how will I know if it is compatible with my laptop ( version or whatever it is ^^ )

there must be 1000 of available cards out there if these cards have been failing the past 2 years.

 

There are a lot, but they're in 260m's. Your best bet would then to be to buy one from RJ and work from there to replace the 9800m GT with.

 

i got mine in september 2008 so yours is the original m860tu and not the revision. not sure if theres much difference.
this is from the user manual but it doesnt mention the 9800GT but im sure the 9800gt was a rebadged 8800
NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
512MB GDDR3 Video RAM On Board
Supports PCI-Express * 16
MS DirectX® 10.0 compatible
MXM Type-II
Supports HDCP