Dell Inspiron n5010 Video Card/Motherboard replacement/upgrade help?

Hi, I have a Inspiron n5010 Laptop with these specs-

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
Inspiron N5010
Intel (R) Core i5 CPU M460 @ 2.53GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5 GHz
4096 MB RAM
DirectX 11

Intel (R) HD Graphics (Core i5)
DAC Type: Internal
1696 MB
1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Generic PnP Monitor


Lately, my laptop screen has been randomly going all white, my computer doesn't actually freeze, everything still functions normally and when I tilt my laptop screen forward slightly it goes back to normal. (Sometimes I have to hold it forward though otherwise it will go all white). I haven't gotten it diagnosed by a professional or anything but from a quick google search I think this is a problem with my motherboard or LCD screen.

So, question 1: Do you think this is a problem with my motherboard or screen or something else?

I am also pretty sure my video card is attached to my motherboard and can't be replaced without replacing the motherboard as well. So I'm wondering if it is a problem with my motherboard and I have to get the motherboard replaced, is it worth it/possible to upgrade my video card while the motherboard is being replaced? As I stated above I have Intel(R) HD Graphics and I can't run a lot of the games I want to play like Battlefield 3, and I was wondering if there are other video cards that are compatible with my model and I could actually upgrade the video card. My laptop may or not be on warranty (I've had it for over a year now?), but if it costs like under $300 to to get fixed and the new video card I do do that since I am stuck with this computer for at least another few years still.

 

If it is an issue remedied by an mechanical intervention then we can safely say it is the screen or some plug for the screen. It cannot be the GPU because it is integrated on the CPU. You would need to replace the CPU and not the motherboard if the IGP happened to be causing the issues.

The GPU you have is an Intel HD 3000 so unless someone on here says you can upgrade to an Ivy Bridge CPU and take advantage of Intel's HD 4000 IGP you are out of luck in terms of upgrading your graphics.

I would reinstall your graphics drivers and if that does not solve the problem assume it is the screen or a loose or dying cable.

 

Ok, thanks for the info. I have already tried re-installing and updating all of my graphics drivers so I think it either is the screen or a loose cable.

Would you know how would I go about upgrading to an Ivy Bridge CPU or finding out if it is possible at all?

 

Yep, I would call Dell up if you can or perhaps disassemble the laptop yourself.

Well I believe you have a socket 988 mobo and the i5 3360M would be your fastest upgradeable option for an i5 Ivy Bridge. Otherwise, you could go for an i7 3720QM which supports the same socket. The question is however, if your BIOS will support it.

Otherwise you could upgrade your Mobo to one that has the integrated Radeon 5650 chip but that will probably be too expensive. A CPU upgrade would be quite expensive as well. Either one would probably be at least $250. So your best bet is simply getting your issue resolved and then waiting a year or two to get a new laptop.

 

N5010 is generation 1 Arrandale, the GPU is on the CPU die. Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge will NOT work. It could be RAM, the CPU or the motherboard. Test with a known good RAM and Core i3/i5.

 

IGPs have been on CPU dies for most laptop chips anyway so I don't see how that merits SB and IB unable to work. I also don't see how the CPU and RAM can be temporarily fixed by tilting the screen forward?

 

My point was you can't stick SB/IB into a N5010, it's not compatible. It could be a scrunched LVDS cable, requires you to strip the whole unit apart.