Is my GPU missing? W230SS

Hi,

I'm sure I'm just paranoid here- but I just received my new laptop and I can't seem to detect the GPU it comes with (GTX 860M). I've tried Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 (with all updates). I've installed the Intel Drivers first (I believe it has got the Intel 4600 too) but still nothing.

When I try to install the Nvidia drivers- it says it can't be detected.

All drivers are from Clevo's official site.

It isn't listed in the device manager. I installed CPUID's "PC-Wizard" and it can't find it.

Am I going crazy?

Is there a Hardware detector that can tell me if it's in there without physically opening it up?

Thanks
__________________

 

Please help- I'm beginning to worry they forgot to install the GPU!

 

Try downloading Nvidia Inspector and see if it picks it up. Or alternately, boot up the computer and get into the BIOS (I think by pressing F2). It should appear there if I'm not mistaken.

One of those "Other Devices" might be it. You may need to open it up and physically reconnect the card. I remember having some trouble at first with optimus but I don't remember what I did to get my card set up.

 

Sounds like an optimus issue I am almost sure your card is that PCI device but nvidia driver can't detect it because the igpu is being used

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Nvidia inspect didn't find anything (came up blank)
The 860m was not listed when I pressed "F2"
I tried manually installing both "Other Devices" with Nvidia drivers but they wouldn't update.

If it's an Optimus issue how can I address it?

 

It looks like the driver version you are installing are the brand new 340.52 which are more updated the ones directly from Clevo's site. Try installing them directly from the drivers disc that came with the computer.

 

Thanks for your help but I already tried those drivers on the CD (Nvidia 332.66).

I beginning to get concerned here- please advise me if you can

 

It MUST be something in the Bios- I just put in a new Hard drive, and a new version of Windows, and it just won't get detected.

Is it likely/possible that the manufacturer had a custom bios on it when building, forgot to enable the NV card, then re-flashed it with the stock bios?

 

Unlikely since no variation of the machine is shipped without a GPU.

The GPU is soldered into the motherboard so it can't be forgotten. However if drivers don't install under any circumstances for the GPU then the chip could be faulty.

 

What's the PCI device and the Unknown Device? If you open them and go to details you should be able to get their hardware IDs, tell us and figure out what they are. Did you already install the general Intel chipset drivers?

 

The intel chipset was the first item I installed. Then the Intel VGA drivers. I've done this process on both W7 & W8.1...

Here are the HW ID's- attached in image

 

You've got your Realtek ethernet adaptor on the left and you've got your ACPI device on the right that controls airplane mode in Windows 8.

If you've already tried reinstalling twice, I think your Nvidia GPU is busted. In Optimus it's supposed to always be listed in Device Manager even when it's not being used.

You can try GPU-z. It should list the Nvidia GPU if it can be detected even if the drives are not installed.

 

Really!? Oh no- how is that possible!? GPU-Z didn't find it.

Could it just be that when built, that had a custom BIOS on and disabled the video card. Then when they put the stock bios on they forget to re-enable it?

 

Oops, I think I just saw your post on Whirlpool. Regarding anything to do with the BIOS, I think it might be your best bet to check with HIDEvolution support to see if there's anything they might suggest for you to try.

Only thing you could try is just go into bios and reset defaults or something like that. Other than that it does sound like something is definitely wrong.

 

A custom system bios would never disable it, no point.

 

@ycon were you able to fix this issue? I'm having the same problem.

Yesterday I was playing Shadow of Mordor for a while and everything was fine. Before shutting down the computer, I upgraded my nVIDIA driver to the latest available (I guess it was one or two versions before 344.75, not sure). Today when I turned my PC back on, everything felt strangely slow. When I checked what was going on, I noticed that my dGPU wasn't recognized anymore, and I was using the Intel.

I tried messing with the BIOS settings (I'm on PremaMod), but nothing seemed to work. It doesn't even appear on the Device Manager list on Windows 8.1 64 bits, neither on Ubuntu 14.04. It's as if it disappeared.

Googling around, I found other people with the same problem with the NP7338 at https://forums.geforce.com/default/...force-gtx-860m-driver-issues-details-inside-/

Any ideas?

 

Did you have any luck solving this? I have a W230ST and I lost the dGPU today. It's just... gone. I got a few video related BSOD's while trying to install Logitech software for a new mouse and when I checked Device Manager the 765M was nowhere to be found. No yellow triangles, nothing. After a few reboots it now freezes shortly after it gets to the desktop unless I have the dGPU disabled in BIOS. I'm running Prema's latest.

 

That does sound like a faulty chip.

 

no- had to return the laptop

 

Damn. I'm obviously going to try a few things, but if I can't fix this I'm 0 for 2 with Clevo. I was a huge proponent, but I'm starting to lose the faith. I'm super careful about monitoring temps; I undervolt my CPUs, I clean my heatsinks, and I keep my machines elevated to help them stay cool. The 9800GT in my m860tu lasted 2.5 years. This w230st shipped to me almost exactly 2 years ago. Ugh.

Can I put a w230sd motherboard into this chassis? Am I safe to assume all of the other components (4800mq, heatsink) will fit? If so, what kind of money am I looking at for the part?

 

Yes, it would work. Won't be cheap though; $425 on rjtech (SD not yet available). Could ask a quote from your reseller, might be a fair bit cheaper. Would guess $250 is the minimum (onboard gpu makes it expensive).

Spoiler: cheaper alternative ...

... is to buy only the 765M or, perhaps, the 860M BGA chip. The as-of-yet-unavailable 960M would be N16P-GX-A1, but it uses different memory arrangement (a bridge too far?). Take gpu along with motherboard to store with rework station. Local shop asks $60 for bga swap, so total ~$125. Could also ask for a contingent fee reball-only first, with any luck it's just solder connection gone poor. Buying a new gpu is a bit of a gamble; there's a (small) chance it's not the chip, but vram or mb's power supply to the chip that's faulty. With the 860M it'll also require replacing a few resistors near the chip to make it identify properly. Could match visually with photos of an SS motherboard for reference. The 765M would be a simple 'drop'-in, but you'd have to find one first ...

Strike that, this is Clevo; Service Manual helpfully lists the resistors you need:

Spoiler: Clevo W230ST, SS and SD - gpu resistors

So R568, R581 and R548 -> replace with 4.99 kΩ and R564 with 49.9 kΩ smd resistor. Might as well have the rework shop do that. Considering to tinker with those resistors too, btw; have better use for a Quadro K2200M. Need its vbios though ... did find one, but have to earn 15 reputation points first (in Japanese ... ).

Also ... tried reflashing the vbios? Long shot, but still ...

 

W230st Mainboard cost 393$
W230ss Mainboard cost 393$
W230sd Mainboard cost 393$

Gesendet von meinem SM-G920F mit Tapatalk

 

Costs will vary depending on where you are.

 

For anyone who may find this later, I was able to get it working again. Turns out the issue is in the software. As soon as the old drivers are removed, such as during a clean install, the machine hangs. Upon reboot, it doesn't try to install generic drivers and it hangs just after getting to the desktop. I could avoid it by disabling the dGPU in BIOS, but then you can't load drivers because it essentially doesn't exist. The trick was to leave it in auto in BIOS and boot into safe mode - that allowed the card to remain powered but didn't attempt to use it. Now I could install the video drivers. Reboot, and install the whole nvidia driver package over the top, without doing a clean install. Last item was to enable the HDMI audio in the playback devices dialogue by right clicking and selecting 'show disabled devices.'

I have NO clue what caused the issue in the first place, but the everything appears to be functioning as it should now.