Sager NP8150 Fix advice

Hi guys, I was hoping for some advice on what to do regarding fixing (if I even should) my Sager NP8150. It's 4.5 years old, so if this is the end of the road for it that's fine. If this is not the best place to go to for advice on repairs, I would appreciate someone pointing me in the right direction.

I had a 6990m in the notebook that ran obscenely hot (i.e. >100C) often, with cleaning of fans and changing thermal paste doing little to resolve the problem. It was just a fireball.

One day the comp crashed and refused to display anything when booted normally. When booted in safe mode, it would display various graphical artifacts, such as thin, horizontal green lines about 1cm long staggered all over the display. There were also a couple thick vertical lines that were present during the early part of the boot, but which disappeared when the desktop was displayed.

My question is, can I fix this? And if I can, is it worth it?

I suspected the GPU finally gave in, but my impression was that it was the integrated GPU that was used in safe mode, and that since the graphical abnormalities were not resolved in safe mode, the problem was deeper than just my discrete GPU.

I attempted to reformat the notebook twice, but it still displays nothing when booted up normally, and the graphical abnormalities remain when booted in safe mode.

Does anyone have advice on what to do, or where else I could post this question for help?

It would be great if it was just the discrete GPU as I could throw in another GPU (maybe even a 7970 after flashing the BIOS). If it is anything more than that, I suspect it is not worth it to fix as the notebook is almost 5 years old.

Thanks for all your help and advice!

 

Erm, the NP series (using a NP8170 here) do not have an integrated GPU; whatever you see there is just the discrete GPU.

This means looks like you gonna change the 6990M (which is infamous here for heating issues)

I personally don't think it is worth cos the GPU will cost quite a bit; may as well top up a bit more for a new laptop?

 

definitely the dgpu, since the igpu is nonfunctional in the HM series laptops. ure only getting image output in safe mode because the dgpu isnt as taxed as in regular boot with all drivers and programs running in the background.

u could always bake the card, but thats only a temporary solution at best. swapping the dgpu vs. buying a new machine is a decision that should be based on your financial situation and desire to keep the current machine
a new mxm gpu would set you back anywhere between 200-500 bucks, whereas a new machine (mid to highend) would cost you more like 1500-3000 depending on specs.

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk

 

Note that Pascal/Polaris is around the corner too, which can impact your decision to get a new laptop (dGPU won't be affected though cos they can hold their prices well)

 

Thank you both very much for your insight.

Certainly learning that the igpu is non-functional, and that the dgpu can still function in safe mode while being fried otherwise, was extremely helpful.

It looks like ill probably just wait for a new system in the next year or so. Unless I can get my hands on a 7970m on the cheap it seems like a waste of money for something ill replace soon. Just hurts to see something that cost me so much go to waste because one part failed.

Thanks again!

 

It is a shame. The 6990M has earned a bad rap for its high failure rate, and it always pains me when I see yet another victim.

 

Performance was nice for its time though.

Could always try taking it to the muffin man and baking it

Or perhaps an inhouse bake would make or sense.

 

The problem with that is that it may render it non bootable at all. It's worth keeping an eye out for a cheaper card.