M15x GPU Thread: General Discussion on Upgrades, GPU Troubleshooting & Repairs

I had the same symptoms as you. It got progressively worse over the course of about 6 months, until it would crash on boot.

 

I thought it was the PSU, graphics card seating, card slot, etc. I tried everything before determining it was the gpu, because I didn't want it to be the gpu. I was at the buy a new card point, but I had heard of this, so I searched around for options. Found some info and tried it. When my gtx280 did it, it was no question. It's worth nothing when dead, it's either bake it or trash it. I can almost guarantee it's what the people in that ebay auction are doing.

 

Now it's already crashing on boot, and that only took me about a week.

I also didn't want to think that it's the gpu cause I also just bought it, and damn these things are expensive. I actually sending this card to one of those ebay auction ( eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices) to see if he can repair it (if he can't repair it I get a refund anyway), if not then I'll probably try your trick.

 

i don't really know of any stores that carry thermal pads. you can also try putting paste on the ram modules if pads aren't available. its kinda messy but should still work, if you can't find pads.

if the new ccc doesn't work try installing an older version of ccc that u know does work.

 

i installed those 11.5b modded drivers on svl7's thread and those worked, but the thing is, when i tried to play the BF3 beta, it said that i needed at least 11.8(i think) or higher in order to play. and do all i have to do is download the 11.9 drivers from the amd website and it should work? i was trying the 11.10 preview drivers

edit: also, if i put thermal paste between the ram and the pad, would that work? or should i remove the pads and just put paste on the ram?

 

you should still be able to play i think with those older driver. i'm using this one:
[AIO] AMD Catalyst 11.10 Preview (8.901.0) Win7.7z

if you do decide to use the paste method then do not put the pads on. also make sure the paste your using is non conductive.

 

im using ic diamond. would it work?

also. with those preview drivers. which setup file do i run? i go into the bin 64 folder and i see like 3 different setup files

 

icd should work, just run the setup application in the main folder.

 

ok im installing the driver right now. after that im gonna try to apply the paste. i'll see what happens to the temps once its all done

 

the thermal pads only affect the memory temp or all the temps are affected like core and shaders??thx

 

only memory, core and stuff is all seperate.

 

ok so after everything my temps were about high 50's when i started hwinfo64 after rebooting. i think that i can get the temps lower if i reapply the paste on the ram. should i just apply more on top of the existing paste or redo it? also, how should i spread it? what i did was use the tip of the ic diamond container to spread it out.

edit: actually idle temps are about 55. memIO is around mid 40's though which is good. havent checked the load temps though but i will soon. also. after installing the preview drivers, CCC still wont open up.

 

you shouldn't spread it, just do drops of paste: here is a link to what it should look like.

http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/913-ic-diamond-24-survey-results.html

 

it looks like they put on A LOT of paste on the ram. should i be putting that much on mine too?

 

The thing is, though, is he's doing the exact thing I told you about. It's hit or miss, he has nothing to lose if it doesn't work, he just sends it back, but it works with 90% of video cards. Your money, but I would try the bake first, and if that doesn't work, send it to him to let him bake it.

 

ok so i repasted and tried it the way with the drops on the ram. temps are about the same. when i try to play a game, after about 10 seconds in, my computer shuts down immediately and reboots. im guessing its because of the temps because hwinfo was reading well over 100 degrees. obviously this is not good, and i was thinking that i should undervolt? can it be done only by flashing or can i use a certain software? trixx doesnt let me lower to voltage because it wont let me go lower than 1100.

 

Well I'm just kinda nervous about doing these thing cause I'm kinda unlucky when I do this, in some way something just goes wrong. In any case I've send it to him and he said he's using a bga machine or something. So I think I'm just gonna see in a week if it works.

 

Well the best approach would be to re paste and apply the stock thermal pads (Since you couldn't find the new ones). The next thing is to buy yourself a a cooling pad and make sure the fan is big one with high RPM. Further more try to be as close as possible to the air conditioner. These steps would definitely let you take the full advantage of this Beast without under clocking..

 

My GTX 260M card is short circuit.. I mean as soon as I plug the adapter the blue ring light goes off. And when I plug the Adapter with GPU "not connected" the blue ring light wont go off.. Is this issue repairable with baking?

Not that my laptop is not Powering on at all

 

by using the thermal paste instead of the pads, it works better but still no good. even by browsing, the gpu will get too hot and my computer will shut down automatically. does a cooling pad make a huge difference in temps?

 

Hey guys! I'm also willing to buy a new gpu card.
(Have an m15x with i7 940xm and gtx260m)
I guess the 6970m will be my choice.
At first i wanted to buy one from Waresphere.com but their card seems not to be working well with m15x and then i saw this card:
ATI Mobility Radeon? HD 6970m GPU MXM 3.0 Type B | eBay should it be working normally? Has anyone tried it?

 

Is it not turning on at all? My card at least turned on (but showed artifact and then crashed a bit later)

 

yes it will work. its a clevo card

check here under clevo cards for more details

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...u-need-know-upgrading-problems-solutions.html

 

What fan speeds (RPM) are shown by HWiNFO64 in your M15x (Sensors tab/screen)?

 

Just wondering, are you suppose to put a thermal pad on top of GPU after applying thermal paste, or on the heatsink?

 

Attach to the bottom of the heatsink directly over the vram chips, but NOT over the core that you applied paste to. Just attach the new pads exactly where the old pads were.

 

haya guys this will be the first time that i re paste my GPU and i would like some tips and some general advice. The main issue i looking at is how you guys apply the paste (line,dot,or smear with plastic) and what are each advantages

 

i use the line method, i just get better temp doing so. spreading the paste may cause air pockets making run hotter.

 

it says about 8 and 30%when i just have hwinfo opened while browsing it gets to about in the 20's and the temps are in the 60's. when im watching videos in the browser, after about 3 seconds it shuts down because my temps spike up to more than 100 degrees!

 

^^ wrong thread....lol

 

it says about 8 and 30%when i just have hwinfo opened while browsing it gets to about in the 20's and the temps are in the 60's. when im watching videos in the browser, after about 3 seconds it shuts down because my temps spike up to more than 100 degrees!

 

haha yeah i was just about to change it.

 

These fan numbers. It sounds like one or more of your fans might not be working, or working properly.

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I read the part where it showed the fan rpm somewhere below the sharer,memio, and dispio. Not from where ur pointing at. Also its a bit too late for me to check because I already switched my 5850 back in until I can get some new pads for the 6970. I just played some battlefield 3 on my 5850 with 700/1050 and the max temp was 80 so I don't think it would be the fan anyways right?

 

Nope. Sounds like the fans are fine.

 

How do u keep ur gpu cool Rev? Using stock pads and what thermal paste?

 

I use MX-4 paste. Depending on the use and conditions, I sometimes also use HWINFO64 to implement a more aggressive fan scheme.

 

Just wondering if i need to do this also.

My temps have hit 91c while gaming clocked at 750/1050 is this about right?

 

Thats about 12 degrees higher then what i get @ 800/1100/1.05v, i use the pea size method and last time i pasted was 2 months ago, but i clean my vents about every week and a half, or so....

 

I have recently cleaned out my vents, how are you downvolting the GPU?

 

Its not down its up stock 3d volts are 1.0v, im using 1.05v

 

Whoooa i just got 114c after a repaste on furmark, better try again

What temps should my 720QM be sat at?? They are around 46c on idle

 

Huh i get the same results and the last paste appeared to be quite good.

The thermal pads don't look healthy as one is torn at the edges, i wonder if that could be an issue?

 

Which blue light are you talking about? I'm not sure I understand. On hte card? On the computer? Are you talking about the computer itself, or the video card?

 

I think he meant the ring on the adapter cable

 

just been doing some reading can you replace the thermal pads with arctic silver 5 aswell

 

Sound interesting.

I'm still having heat issues herem it's been over 100c several times and i have tried differant amounts of paste, maybe its this paste im not sure.

 

my 920xm sits at around 44c idle, i dont recommend running furmark longer the 2 minute, furmark will stress your gpu much more than any game will, the longer u run it the higher your temps WILL get. u have to give the paste a bit of time to set in and cure. i usually change my pads just about anytime i do a repaste, this could help u too. and no i would never consider putting paste instead of pads thats just to messy, oh and i believe that artic silver 5 might be a bit conductive u would want to use non conductive paste, if ur replacing paste for pads

 

I will look at getting some new pads soon.

I just re pasted again with a small amount and hit 98c in Furmark after 2 mins at stock levels, would you say this is ok or should i find a better paste?

The paste that Dell had in here was like a cream colour whereas the stuff i have is silver, if that makes a differance i have no idea.

 

i use mx4, if u just repasted give it some time to cure id say about 30 hrs. after this your temps should get a bit better