HOW TO: repair your dead graphics card in your alienware!

[raad11]

Man, so glad I found this thread. My 8700m died a couple months ago, was mad beyond belief, out of warranty. 8 minutes at 385 and I am typing this message on my 9750! Thanks so much, what a wacky buy interesting fix.

Mine was all but dead, wouldn't boot up except in safe mode, and had nasty colored lines and dots all over the screen. After it cooled off, popped it back in, and booted up normally, ran some 3d games, and everything is working flawlessly. I am so happy!

Did you try repairing the 8700M?

[mr_fro2000]

How many people have fixed 8800Ms this way? And how 'dead' were your cards?

mine was an 8800m gtx and it was in semi-bad shape. when i played games, the minute i booted up, the whole screen would freeze, go black and I'd have to restart my computer.

When not running games, it would work for like 20 min and then start artifacting and stuff... then the screen would go black and i'd have to restart.

Luckily for me, i have integrated gfx as well, so i was still able to use the laptop while i was 'fixing' things...

[Rob41]

Did you try repairing the 8700M?

Yes, he did. In the oven.

[ComputerMD82]

I came across this the other day and wish I had found it sooner, I had a 7900GTX that was dead, ended up selling it on ebay as is.

I wonder if this would work with a dead network switch if I pulled the board out?

Linksys EG008W v1

It lasted me 6 years before it died. Might try it just for the hell of it.

[Rob41]

Bassically, it repairs microfractures in solder.

If you're certain you've got a dead board then there is nothing to loose.

[ComputerMD82]

I've tried a different power supply and that wasn't the problem. As you've said I've got nothing to lose. If it doesn't work I spend $50 lol

I'll let you know!

[didymus03]

Just another success story post: My 8800m gtx in my M15x was crashing withing minutes of turning on the computer no matter what I was doing. After over a month of trying different things and unsuccessfuly haggling with Alienware (my warranty was out but I had some leverage) I decided to go ahead and try baking the card. Voila! I haven't had a single crash since doing it several weeks ago.

[EviLCorsaiR]

Off topic: I actually wonder if this would work with a board from an Xbox 360 that's got the red ring of death. Could be worth a try.

On topic: I wouldn't cook an entire board off something, that could cause damage to other working components (although, if it's dead it's probably worth a shot)

[XRod]

Off topic: I actually wonder if this would work with a board from an Xbox 360 that's got the red ring of death. Could be worth a try.

On topic: I wouldn't cook an entire board off something, that could cause damage to other working components (although, if it's dead it's probably worth a shot)

Hey EviL, people were trying "similar" fixes like the Hairdryer and towel wrap fix which is basically heating up the components to create the same type of fix....

[Iron Eagle]

How long has this 'fix' lasted for everyone? Has anyone's fixed card stopped working again?

My card is still alive and kicking... that would be about two months now.