Area-51 m15x dead 8800m GTX. Best course of action?

Hey all, got a query regarding my Area-51 m15x. Got it as a birthday present three years ago, was pretty chuffed, certainly one of the best computers I have had.

However, after three years of intensive usage, the stock 8800m GTX has tanked. Originally started out as some persistent display artifacts, I managed to temporarily fix it with a re-seat, however the problem has returned with a vengeance.
The laptop will boot fine, however it will give nothing on the display, another re-seat did not yield any favourable results.

I am now considering either retiring the old horse, replacing the GPU from mxm-upgrade.com, or trying to bake the GPU using Rob41's guide.

What would you guys recommend? The system is fully-specced besides the GPU, with the exception of Turbo RAM and the HDD. It would make for some convenient mobile power.

Any help would be appreciated.

-Benfclark-

 

mxm upgrade is really expensive. Maybe a 8800m from ebay? they are a bit cheaper

or maybe the best option, a 3870 mobility (if you can find one) - bit slower but uses less power and won't fail like all 8X00/9X00 do eventually

 

I thought that too. I looked on eBay just now and found one, although it says it's for the m17x the form factor seems identical, might go for it.

Will look into the 3870 too, I hear the 'being forced to use outdated drivers because of the dual-gpu' is not an issue with the AMD gpus?

 

Yeah, you can just use the latest amd drivers!

 

Well it appears to be a choice between:

Slightly better GPU with grossly outdated drivers
Slightly worse GPU with whatever drivers are newest.

What would you guys recommend? Of course this is all dependent on availability of the 3870...

 

I'd get an 3870. Better drivers (i heard some games are just unplayble with the old nvidia drivers) and any 8800m will die eventually. You'd have to get an 260/280m to be safe but gl finding one of those

 

My own experience tells me that would seem the better option. I'll sit tight and use the Intel until a 3870 pops up. Thanks for your advice

EDIT: I also have a little problem with the keyboard, the thing works fine, but the top-left corner bends up a little, is this a problem?

 

The keyboard has a metal (aluminum) backing that you should be able to bend back if it's impinging on your screen. Just push the 4 tabs in on the top of the keyboard to remove it and give it a little bit of persuasion to get it somewhat in line - it won't take much.

As far as video cards, I too had a problem with the 8800MGTXs (ran in SLI) and eventually bought a GTX280M from another NBR member. With fan control being the only problem, I'm finding out that the single 280M is our performing my old SLI config. You can peruse these forums and find that some of the FX3700Ms can be flashed to act like a 280M and those are around eBay although I don't know what your budget is.

 

Don't worry, I've found a suitable GPU and discovered the cause of the flexing after removing the keyboard. Turns out it was a cable that had flexed over onto the metal board underneath that part of the keyboard. All fixed now.

 

would you care to disclose which graphics card you eventually went with as I'm having a similar issue.

 

Check out his signature

 

oh thanks for that

Though it would seem those cards are more expensive than the 8800 woe!

 

I have seen them pop on ebay for ~$150

 

I'd like to know if the OP was able to use the original heatsink from the 8800gtx with the 3870 or if that needed replacing to effect the change?