The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    weird motherboard failure

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by LuckyST, Jan 19, 2009.

  1. LuckyST

    LuckyST Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have a hp nx9420... and I have a problem.

    the computer stalls every time I try installing the graphic card drivers, but the computer works perfectly normal when working in VGA safe mode.

    After taking it to service, they diagnosed a motherboard failure, while the graphic card is still functioning.

    could anyone care to try to give some science behind this?

    how can a motherboard be the guilty party when it comes to graphic card drivers?!!
     
    LuckyST, Jan 19, 2009
    #1
  2. PCDude2143

    PCDude2143 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    The following messages are educated guesses. I am not 100% sure if I'm right.

    In VGA safe mode, as far as I'm aware, the graphics card (or at least the graphics processor) is bypassed completely. All graphics are drawn by the CPU. This is usually called "software mode". Basically, the computer isn't actually using the processing capabilities of the GPU until the drivers are installed. But if the mobo isn't properly communicating with the GPU, when the drivers try to use it, it gets stuck.

    So even though VGA safe mode works, it only works because the GPU is not actually being utilized.
     
    PCDude2143, Jan 19, 2009
    #2
  3. LuckyST

    LuckyST Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I understand that much, but it's really a funky 1 in a million failure.

    The GPU was tested on other sistem and it functions properly... I find it hard to grasp that only the part of the mbo that did malfunction is the one that is required for the accelerator applications.

    the PC works even in normal mode (giving me full 1400x1050 resolution @32 bit), using the default windows VGA graphic card drivers, but as soon as the ATI drivers are installed it goes black.

    really funky, and really pissing me off... since it's a 450$ repair.
     
    LuckyST, Jan 20, 2009
    #3
  4. LuckyST

    LuckyST Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    anybody know of a good 3d graphic card emulator?
     
    LuckyST, Jan 24, 2009
    #4