Graphics card replacement-Is it mission impossible? Tech support truly needed here..thank you

Gentlemen,

Truly need some tech support here as the topic stated.

My laptop computer has this problem, see youtube below:

vertical line screen problem - YouTube

Also, the laptop abruptly shuts down itself often and device manager cannot detect the Nvidia graphics card's driver, showing a genetic driver instead.

The sony VAIO hardware diagnostic software pointed video card error. Both memory and CPU tests result showing--passed. And I bought 2 samsung SSD to replace 2 old HDDs. Laptop has intel RAID and set as RAID-0 for performance. Original OS was Vista Ultimate 32 bits, now is Windows7 Pro 64 bits using ISO clean installation-laptop is 64 bits capable. Ran malwarebytes and other aniti virus ensured it is not affected.

The graphics video card is Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT-512MB-DDR2, problem is, it is soldered on the motherboard. I tried using hair dyer method, did not work. I have not tried the oven-baking method as I am not comfortable nor professional enough to take the whole laptop apart, and professional reballing cannot solve the problem IF the card itself is dying-that I was told.

Under this circumstance, i bet most people will say it's no-go, and 3 Nvidia guys I asked said the same thing, especially the GeForce 8600M GT is something Nvidia had pain(s)/ lawsuits before.

But then, I saw this:

Laptop External Graphics Independent Card Dock ExpressCard&MINI PCI-E&NGFF EXP | eBay

If I truly want to replace the existing graphics card, which graphics card/ brand(s) would you Pros recommend me? Reason I ask here is that I heard the other Nvidia card will also needs the video-Bios which i don't have. I heard that ATI cards that does not have this issue. Second reason is Sony sold VAIO some time ago and they no longer offer any Bios /drivers update.

If the above external graphics card dock method will not work, can the graphics card be straightly replaced when I send the laptop out for professional reballing? ...(using a card recommended by you guys as replacement as I sent out my laptop for professional reballing and have him physically take out the nvidia card before reballing)

Thank you in advance.

My laptop spec:

Sony VAIO VGN-AR770U CTO-customized-to-order

Intel 2.6 Ghz/ 4GB RAM/ 250 GB x 2 Samsung SSD/ Intel RAID set as RAID 0

Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card-512 MB-DDR2

 

I don't think you can replace (with measurable degree of success) a soldered GPU with a different one.
Even MXM GPU's of newer generation have a hard time working on compatible slots due to lack of BIOS support... never-mind de-soldering a GPU and replacing it with another one (and in that instance, you'd need to find either a better GPU on a same/similar motherboard that might potentially work, desolder it, and then solder everything back onto your old motherabord, which is tricky at best and doesn't guarantee anything).

Have you considered buying yourself a new laptop?

8600m GT is notorious for its failures due to bad soldering from factory.

The 'easiest' solution is to disassemble the laptop and shove the motherboard into the oven and see if that repairs the problem... in many cases this DID work, but only temporarily before failing again.

My advice would be to think about getting yourself a new laptop.
Possibly one of the new Ryzen 2500u or 2700u variety and just shove one of those SSD's into it.

As for the external GPU dock... it might work, but I honestly have no experience in that area to offer a conclusive reply.
The problem with this solution is that you lose portability and will need an external screen/monitor to display everything properly.

 

To be brutally honest, i don't think it is worth repairing that laptop. It will cost you a lot to get a professional to replace the GPU. If you really want to fix it - find a cheap motherboard on eBay and replace it, but ONLY if you can find it cheaply. If it costs too much just replace the laptop. All BGA GPUs will fail eventually, and those old nVidia ones are notoriously bad for it. Even the "fixed" ones are still crap.

The Core 2 Duo wll be a bottleneck for any modern GPU that you put in there, its not worth using an eGPU with it. Instead of that spend the money on a good used laptop from eBay if you want something cheap to replace it.

 

And I thought I was the only one left running an 8600M GT derivative (FX 570M)

Don’t bother repairing that computer. The fact that the 8600M GT, a notoriously unreliable card has lasted you 10 years is a feat in and of itself. Time for an upgrade!


That being said, if the laptop has some sentimental value to you, you could try dumping no clean liquid flux around the GPU BGA and let it seep under there, then take a heat gun to it and let it reflow and hope for the best.

 

what is the verdict on putting PCBs in the oven for reflow? While I have heard of people doing this for years, I have recently heard people suggest using toaster ovens that will not be used for food to avoid possibly contaminating food which makes a certain amount of sense from a cautious standpoint

 

It won't fix the issue, but it might temporarily bring life back to something. Temporary being the operative word. I would only use it as a last resort if i didn't have a spare GPU.

 

I'm sorry i wasn't asking from the perspective of it working or not I've seen enough examples of it working I'm asking from a food safety perspective lol

 

In that case probably not unless you heat it to an excessive amount, the only real hazard is the fumes that are released. If you use a baking tray anything that melts will be collected in that so you will not contaminate your oven.

 

First of all, thank you for yr replies....

@Deks:
Yeah I do have 2 other computers: Sony VAIO flip and a Dell desk top.

@Arrrrbol:
Yeah you hit the point, i do have special feeling, I fought many battles with this laptop, while some others would most likely think it's insane trying to keep this old piece alive, but yeah, i am trying.

@Raidriar: I don't have a heat-gun and most likely will have someone professional and knowledge-able enough to perform that. That's why I mentioned about reballing.

Yeah, I found a few used motherboard -same model laptop from ebay, problem is those have bad graphics card as sellers stated. As I mentioned, other hardwares of my laptop are still good.

I also saw this from youtube:



At the same time, a few others on youtube stating it does not work, as I noticed some guys are selling that deck as used, so I am trying to collect some knowledge here in what situation it may/ or may not works.

Another thing is how to set "new" graphics card so that I can use? I can't find the menu...Any suggestions? Thank you all,....

 

Yeah...I guess there are still GeForce 8600M GT still kicking....

And yeah,....another guy on youtube also mentioned about the food safety issue regarding the baking method. My concern is that there are many parts plastic or other materials that may not withstand the heat....if I miss one or 2....it's over....that's what i am worry.

 

The problem is not on the interposer pcb to mobo solder, but the interposer to gpu die solder, the 8600m and many others failed due to the transition to lead free solder, a reflow will kinda fix it, and even a reball is temporary, because the problem is not really in the solder balls between the interposer and the motherboard.

You have to tear it all down, and remove the battery, on the Sony's the BIOS/CMOS battery is usually soldered, if you put it into the oven it will go bang.

It might be a better idea to get a cheapo/used toaster grill/pizza oven, if you are in the US you can find then for peanuts, lots of people used those to make reflow ovens using a simple thermo-couple and a TRIAC to make a PID controller to control the temperature, you will need a thermocouple so you can more or less follow a reflow profile or you will be doing things totally blind.

And buy some flux, because reflowing it without flux might introduce even more cracked solder balls due to oxidation and leave it in an even worse state.

All parts on the pcb can handle 240ºC for 15-20 seconds without deforming/degradation, more than that and you will start to melt the connectors, cpu socket, boil the caps, etc..

 

@senso:

Thanks for yr reply. Just would like to follow up on yr suggestions, can you tell me more about -
1. thermo-couple?
2. TRIAC?
3. PID controller?
And, yr last paragrapgh--pcb can handle 240C for 15-20 seconds?? did you mean 15-20 minutes instead??

Thanks ....

 

Also,....anyone can recommend a good repair shop that perhaps can help me to either oven-baking/ reflow/ or reballing in Los Angeles, California zip code nearby 91101...please. ...(of course will pay $ to repair guy/ repair shop for that job )

Thank you all.

 

you could try finding a "maker space" or "fab lab" near you to see if there is anyone who can help you reflow

 

Repairing something like this, from that generation, is simply not worth it from the cost/performance/obsolescence factor, as even a $1,000 slim laptop will destroy anything from that era. But it is excellent as a learning tool. I would only attempt this if you were getting into electrical engineering and design. Soldering such small traces without the right equipment is NOT easy!

 

Required viewing for those who think ovens are a wonderful way to fix dead BGA CPUs & GPUs:



Stick to using your oven for baking cakes!

 

@Chance Jackson: Thank you Sir, I will go there and search. And thank you for yr reply.

@Falkentyne: Yeah, I hear you,...I am not that comfortable doing this by myself, that's why I am seeking professional help. Back in the old days, this Sony costed me over $3000, one of Sony 's model they put SSD inside their laptops, when 9/10 people did'nt even heard about SSDs, and Blu Rays RW drive, yeah, read + write drive with combo of dvd/ cd-rw,...Intel RAID technology....I was upset when they put in Nvidia 8600M GT...could not understand why they did it...still beats me these days.
Thanks for yr reply.

@RampantGorilla: I saw that video before,...i guess it's all coming down to how bad the graphics card is, if it's dead already instead of dying....there is truly nothing much people can do....+ the execution,....guy like me....not professional enough and i may missing a part or 2 that need to be taken out, that's why i am seeking help. Thanks for yr reply and reminder.

2 more questions:

Which graphics card would you ALL recommend?

I heard that Nvidia may have the video-bios issue but AMD does not have this video-bios issue--is that true? Thanks

 

Don't bother and get a new laptop. Even a Core i3 will run circles around your old laptop. New laptops tend to be a lot thinner and lighter, MUCH faster even for everyday tasks and tend to comes with decent FHD IPS screens. If you're really insistent on not spending money on a new laptop, consider buying an old Ivy Bridge or Broadwell Thinkpad off eBay.

If you want suggestions for a new laptop head over to this forum section and complete the form stickied at the the top.

 

I do have other laptop & desktop, but truly would like to keep this special one running for a little more while, if i can,....hope you all can understand,...thanks,...

 

It's dead ... pay your respects to a faithful beast and move on. I had a look on ebay for a replacement motherboard for your laptop and I found nothing. Replacing the GPU may not even fix the problem and will probably cost in excess of $200 + the cost of a new GPU. Repair shops who do this kind of thing are few and far between and they do not offer their services cheap. For the money that it will cost to repair your laptop you could just easily buy a new one.