Aspire 6920G LCD issues (most issues ruled out)

[downloads]

That- I don't know, but since I have two and both show exactly the same "maze" I find that unlikely that both are faulty in the same way.
Unfortunately it's a CCFL LCD which requires an inverter and I don't have any other laptop with matching connectors to cross check with this particular one.

My friend mother's laptop can't be used for this as it requires quite a lot of disassembly with this model and it's slimly too much to ask.

[.NetRolller 3D]

It's definitely not the inverter - that is only responsible for the backlight. Inverter failure can't cause garbled image.

What happens if you wire up a completely different display (e.g. one of a different size) with the same connector? Preferably try a screen made by Chi Mei - their screens (though otherwise utter cr@p) are the best at decoding corrupted LVDS signals.

[downloads]

Technically I agree- it can't be an inverter but I'm running out of options.
New inverter and new GPU are the last options still on the table.

With GPU having been tested and an inverter being the only other common denominator I'm replacing it just to rule it out.
If it doesn't help I'll try to swap GPUs with a friend- mine works in his notebook- we'll see if his fails in mine.
If that happens I'm scrapping the whole thing- new GPU, new cable(s), new mobo, new inverter and new LCD and still the same thing?!
That would be impossible.

I have a LED backlit display with matching connector- not sure if it's supposed to work though.

[.NetRolller 3D]

I don't know, check the datasheets for both LCD panels.

[ajbutch123]

You could try both a bios and vbios flash and see if that solves your problem


Edit* if you get fed up with it, I would be happy to take the machine off your hands.

[downloads]

I've managed to solve this issue. And by solve I mean started troubleshooting process from the beginning again.

To remind you- I've had my MXM card tested in an identical notebook (it worked fine on every boot and performed fine under 3D testing routines) and it's been working fine on "my" notebook but only with an external screen
Taking that into consideration I concluded it's fine.

Since I've replaced everything else I decided to start from scratch and borrowed the card from a friend who tested mine earlier an gave him my MXM module to test.

Guess what- his module works fine with my notebook while mine does the same thing for him it does for me, even though it used to work fine when I asked him to test it.
It's the most expensive card replacement procedure in history

[.NetRolller 3D]

Hmm... I guess when he tested it before, he pulled the MXM heatsink screws tighter than in his new test. The extra pressure caused the cracked DDC bump to gain contact again. A reflow would likely help.

Moral of the story: Don't let the 9 in "GeForce 9500M GS" fool you - it's still a GeForce 8000-series card, with all the problems inherent in that series.

EDIT: Reading the specs of both, it appears that the 9500M GS is not merely another 8000-series card - it is a flat-out rebranded 8600M GT. NotebookCheck talks about "internal optimizations" - however, the differences seen in benchmarks are consistent with pairing the 8600M GT with a T5xxx/T7xxx-series CPU, vs. a T9xxx-series one for the 9500M GS.