Mission Impossible Or What? Sony VAIO/ Graphics Card/ Enable dual cards/

Mission Impossible Or What? Sony VAIO/ Graphics Card/ Enable dual cards/

I have a old sony vaio VGN-AR770, which uses Nvidia GeForce GT 8600M video graphics card, that according to hardware diagnostic, has error. The screen shows artifacts, lines and randomly shuts down (see photos).

I have eliminated other reasons such as overheating and applied thermal paste.

Searching online and they all say the graphics card is dying and it cannot be replaced as it is soldered onto the motherboard.

I then found a external video graphics card + blu ray player+ docking station Sony VGP-PRZ20B, originally not specific for my laptop, but works compatible with VGN-series models according to Sony.

I tried to install the drivers for the VGP-PRZ20B from sony VPC-Z and SVZ series laptop(s), although the installation says completed, but somehow it is NOT detected.

I tried the AMD website for drivers ( HD-7670M and HD-6650M), same thing, NOT detected.

Then I read about a posting here on this forum, regarding the SLI mode (for Nvidia) / CrossFire mode (for AMD graphics card) must be enabled in order to have a dual video cards. Or work on BIOS to change the graphics switching policy from dynamic to static. ….whatever the approach will work?

See link:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/how-to-modify-nvidia-drivers-for-vaio.553738/page-13

Since my Nvidia GeForce 8600M is dying, I am wondering is there a way I can enable the CrossFire mode so that my laptop can detect the external VGP-PRZ20B-that has AMD card inside, then disable the GeForce 8600M, so this way, I can use the VGP-PRZ20B as a substitute instead?

...Or is this “Mission Impossible” since my laptop does NOT have a physical button to switch from stamina to speed, nor my BIOs advanced menu has option to select graphics card.

Thank you in advance.

Here are the specs of my Sony VAIO VGN-AR770

Original OS Vista 32 bits (now windows 7 Pro 64 bits, clean installation)

Intel Core2Dual 2.6 GHz

RAM 4GB

USB 3.0 ports added thru PC express card slot.

Hard drive: Samsung SSD x2 Evo, with Intel RAID running RAID 0.

 

It is only compatible with the vaio Z series.

 

@ Danishblunt :

Thanks for yr reply.....And...Oooh...then, ...

Is there a way that I can enable SLI mode (for Nvidia's card) / CrossFire mode ( for AMD's card ) and try to connect other external graphics card to substitute the existing GeForce 8600M?

Will the VGP-PRZ20B works with my another sony flip (2 in1 ) laptop SVF15N25CXS?...., it's a sony Z series. I bought the PRZ20B from ebay not long ago....

 

You could use GDC Beast, however chances are you will likely need a custom BIOS that allows it to work.

 

@Danishblunt :

Can you tell me about how do I go by getting a custom BIOS ? Thanks.

I saw some guys on youtube, i think they are using the pci express card slot and disable the wifi, then connecting a desktop video graphics card externally, is it what you are referring to--the GDC Beast ?

 

Well you usually contact people like me.

They don't disable the wifi, they replace the wifi card for the external GPU. This method is only recommendable if you do not plan on using your notebook as an notebook but instead as a desktop.

That being said, I would personally just finally say goodbye to that notebook. It's so bad in any way shape or form that a used notebook would be way more beneficial.

 

@Danishblunt :

Well, I do have 2 other computers. I still have some "feelings" for this old babe. As it is still kicking, but i sure know and realize the cost$ and effort part that goes in the equation.

Can you tell me something about :

1. how to get custom BIOS
2. which video graphics card will work with the existing motherboard, processor.
3. the power supply needed to support graphics card you recommended.

By any chance are you located in Los Angeles? What's yr fee/ charge to help setting up something like this?

Thank you,

 

1.) Well depending on what type of BIOS you have it can get easy/hard. I recently had a customer where the BIOS was protected, which made the whole process more difficult. He had to send his notebook to me so I could desolder his BIOS chip, connect it with a hardware programmer and reflash it. If you're lucky you could get away with a simple modded BIOS flash if the system allows for such a thing.

2.) Basicially any card will work, tho do pascal card tend to be a little annoying at times.

3.) You could use any old PSU from a desktop with 250W or more.

I am located in Denmark, so I wouldn't recommend sending it to me, since it wouldn't be worth the price u'd have to pay for the shipping alone. The biggest issue here is also that I cannot even recommend a replacement motherboard or GPU, since these GPU's sadly die on you. You would be much better of just getting a used notebook instead, the money which you would have to spend for GDC Beast + GPU + PSU would already be money which you could use on a much superior notebook.

I really know how you feel about the whole sentimental thing, I have my compaq armada M700 as well, but unlike yours it's not build to die

nGreedia did a major "oopsie" on the 8xxx and 9xxx series.

 

@Danishblunt :

Wow...Today I just met a guy from Danmark thru internet ! I've been in many parts of Italy, France and Swiss, I wanted to go to Copenhagen but the tour did not stop there,...still on my dream-list !

Thanks for your time....

Dickson,
from Los Angeles,

 

If you need help finding a new used system, you're welcome to ask me about it. I do have quite the knowledge about many systems. So you don't do the mistake again, since sadly after the whole 8xxx GTX and 9xxx GTX there are still systems that have AMD cards that die and even other systems that have components that are basicially designed to die.

other than that you can dissassemble your system and heatgun your graphicscard, if you're lucky you can get away with heatgunning it every month while being able to use it. It's not a permanent fix but it's better than nothing.

 

@Danishblunt :

I will sure keep you as "my advisor". And I truly appreciated not only yr time, and straight-forward-no-nonsense replies. Difficult to find these days.

Yeah, heard about the heat-gun, oven-baking method or even reballing, and i agree with you, it's not a permanent fix, and cost$ can adding it up fast.

When this babe past, i most likely will get a traditional desktop tower instead, i don't like apple i-xxxxx,...and i don't like other tablets as all these are too thin, and their over-heating problem, and lack of replacement ability.

Call me old fashion, but i believed there are good reasons why they made desktop tower the way it was before....

Thanks again, Happy New Year...