M15x bricked, help!

Hi, I was using the OCCT tool mentioned by Johnny in the 6790m thread and running the GPU test purely out of interest, ran for a couple of minutes and then the laptop shutdown, then blue ring on the power supply has gone out and the laptop will no longer power on (even though the battery is in) I've tried power drain a couple of times to no avail.

Now when I turn the power supply off and on at the wall, the blue ring will light up but when I plug it into the laptop it goes out again.

Does anyone know what I might of damaged and if it is fixable? Possibly a fuse or something?

We have some other Dell power supplies at the office that have the same plug size but are 19.5V @ 9.23A (m15x one is 19.5V @ 7.7A) What would happen if I try plugging the 9.23A power supply in? Will it work.

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the situation!

 

The bigger powersupply will work but I am afraid that your problem is motherboard related.

Considering the power supply light goes out when you plugged it in this means you have damaged capacitors and vregs (voltage regulators).

This is precisely what happened to my last laptop. Basically the power supply detects a short circuit and shuts off immediately.

There are companies that can do motherboard repair out there. If you are in the UK I recommend "Trilogic UK" I sent it to them and they fixed it within 24 hours and at a much lower cost than if I had ordered a new motherboard.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the help KoI, I'm in New Zealand so sending to the UK is out of the question really.

The laptop made some electrical "ticking" sounds when it shutdown which made me think it was a fuse or something...a fried motherboard makes sense...damnit!

I'll look into replacing the motherboard, does anyone have any recommendations on where to get those? I'll start searching

 

DELL ALIENWARE M15 M15X MOTHERBOARD 0G5VT 00G5VT CN-00G5VT 40GAB3900-A400 G5VT | eBay

Can some confirm this is the part I'm looking for?

 

It looks about right but ouch it is costly!

 

I don't see why Dell wouldn't fix this...assuming it is under warranty of course...

 

I'm a year out of my warranty unfortunately

I have found this: Dell 0G5VT Alienware M15X Motherboard ~ Perfect Condition ~ No Alienfx | eBay

I don't really care about AlienFX, so this might be a cost effective option

 

There is a thread here dealing with the bad update and the AlienFX, believe there is a way to flash the MB.

There are a couple threads on this, just use the search tab and type in AlienFX not working.

Good luck!

 

That sucks! The board must have had a weak vreg. It's good that boards are at least still available though. When my W870CU died, the only option available was a whole new system; it's still sitting in my closet.

 

$75 is a bargain, snap it up! $200 isn't worth the lights and if it is fixable even more so!

I agree Johnny. I really hope the M15x doesn't have vreg problems like the W860/70 and perhaps 80! We clevo migrants have a reason for being here...the M15x had until now seemingly proven reliability and build quality! I still haven't used prime 95 to test OCs on my 920xm yet due to my experiences with the w860cu I had..

 

Yeah $75 is a good deal, he won't ship internationally though...so I'll try to presaude him otherwise or I guess I'll stump up for a new one, luckily my m15x is also my work laptop so they'll cover the cost.

 

There's been too much testing to think it's a unit-wide issue. I think this is an isolated case. Guys have been running Furmark + Prime with no problems.

 

Luckily when I try to run OCCT, the GPU tab is greyed out, so I can't test it. Oh well sorry for your lost. I was actually thinking about the 'circuit in the oven' method, but when I think again it's not about solder issues.

 

You need to update your DirectX runtimes.

 

Sweet, the guy is happy to ship to New Zealand...should be a good experience changing out the motherboard.

 

Nice! Don't forget, you can do other things while it's apart if you want. The optical HDD and keyboard fix come to mind.

 

Tell me more about the keyboard fix.

 

Info here.

 

Ah cool, thanks...that is annoying

 

Ahh... I know someone that will be happy to see that fix. thx

 

I didn't even use pliers, just my fingers.

 

Yeah, the pliers looked a little scary. LOL

 

New motherboard ordered and on its way...hopefully this fixes it!

 

New mobo hath arrived, time to begin the deconstruction!

 

Grats, don't forget GPU pics

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk

 

I got some GPU pics for you.....laptop still doesn't turn on though >.>

When I plug the PSU in the blue ring goes out still

 

Could it be something wrong with the PSU?

Furthermore, when I plug the PSU into the socket in the motherboard I took out, the ring says on. So something connected to the motherboard is shorting out.....which could be anything really right?

 

Pics attached here Kumquat

 

That's a lot of pads o.o thanks for the pics though +rep. As for mobo I have no experience with that >.< hopefully svl or someone else will drop by though!

 

I'm thinking maybe if I go around removing components one at a time I'll eventually located the one that is causing the problem. Am I correct in this assumption?

 

You exchanged the mobo and there's still the same issue? Did you try a different PSU?

 

Yes exchanged the mobo for a new one. Same issue.

I'm using the same PSU. The only other Dell ones I have here are a 4.28A and a 9.23A one.

 

Well, try the 9.23A PSU if it has the same voltage.

 

Yep same voltage. I plug it in at the light on the PSU goes out, laptop won't turn on.

 

It seems as if something's causing a short in the system. Do you have another GPU to test it?

 

Yeah I do, check that next you reckon? God it'd suck if it was my 6790...I just got that baby running nicely!

 

Since your system failed during the OCCT GPU test and we already ruled out the PSU... unfortunately yes, I think it's the GPU.

 

Ok cool, I'll give it a go then

 

OOHH this seems very bad, buying an new mobo and still same issue , you could have done some testings to find it was the culprit, but can you return the new mobo to the seller?
if I were you il be taking out the mobo completely and install a part at a time and see which one causes that problem.

 

Well I just put my old 260m back in and the blue ring doesn't go out :\ Currently backing up my HD on another laptop so I'll wait til that is done and then see if it fires up....sure looks like it could be the card though :\

 

Ok, turns on now with the old card in...but no BIOS screen or anything, just blank screen :O Hmmmm.

 

yes then the card is gone, mite be living in hell or heaven ,
try removing all the thermal pads clean the die and remove the thermal pad on the other side and see if you get it work?

 

The fans spool up and are running etc, just the screen is staying blank.

New mobo, old 260m, no short on the PSU...hmm what else could be damaged.

 

re-seat the rams it will make it work.

 

Thanks, ok loading into windows now.........!!!!

Wow, some learning experience that was...oh well I've got a spare motherboard now I can sell and use the proceeds to go towards a new video card!

 

nice to hear, have you fully assembed the laptop, if its still not I would say , reinstall 6970m without thermal pads and see if the light goes, if its, then reinstall thermal pads and install the heatsink and turn the screw for the level best you can, and see if it works, because with 6970m the heatsink should apply some pressure to make contact the die with pcb, so with high pressure your 6970m has some chances of working.

 

ok I tried to put the 6970m back in, light goes on the PSU as soon as it plug it in.

Now back to the 260m

 

where did you buy the hd 6970m>? can you ask for an replacement from the seller?

 

I bought it from the marketplace here, I can't really ask for a replacement...I'm just not stress testing a card ever again!

 

Hopefully your card will be repairable, or better yet not damaged at all!