How to: Replace your broken (8600M GT) graphics card (in the [I]FL90)

[Dr.Colossos]

Sorry, I did another quick search, could not find anything.

I am sure it is just a rebrand, so maybe try to find out something about the laptop.

If oyu don't find out anything, give it a try. Good luck!

[ksts]

Hi...again!!!!
You had right about the rebrand.
I search the motherboards serial in internet (VESTEL 14MB02-4 22/03/2007).
I found that the VESTEL's notebook are the same with the ALTEC (rebrand).

Intel's Santa Rosa Platform is Alive on Vestel Notebook at CeBIT
(2nd pic is the same with mine but without the fingerprint).

[Dr.Colossos]

You mean that one -> http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/21318.jpg

That's the same as a ONE 6500 (also a rebrand)

See here -> one C 6500 | eBay

More german stuff here -> Test One C6537 Notebook - Notebookcheck.com Tests

I do not know who actually built this, could be a Compal white book, but I do not know.

As far as I know, it should work with an ATI card. But of course, no guarantee at all!

But as this also came with an Nvidia 8400/8600, there are sure tons of people with the same problem, so you should be abel to find more info with that.

Good luck

[snot]

Hi

I can get a Sony Vaio VGN-NW21ZF with an HD4570 inside. I was wondering if I can use that card to replace my broken 8600M GT in my FL90. I'm not sure if the 4570 inside that Sony is an MXM II card though. Any help?

Thanks in advance

[Dr.Colossos]

All I can tell you is that the FL90 works with am ATI 4570 MXM II.

I got one from mxm-upgrade.com and it worked.

I will not work with any 4570 (e.g. Toshiba) as these are "locked" to Toshiba models.

The same might be true for Sony.

I can also not tell you if that Sony laptop you are referring to has an MXM II card.

Good luck

[nipennem]

Recently looked at these instructions and bought an ATI card (VG.86M06.004, should be a Radeon 3650 DDR2 model).
Problem is it came with a bracket much like the original bracket on the compal card with screw holes instead.

Bracket is glued to the card:


Compare with original bracket, detached from 8600M GT:


The original bracket was easy to remove because I didn't care about the card, and because i could just push it out as explained in the first post by Dr.Colossos. I have no idea how to *safely* remove the new one so that I can attach the heatsink to this card. I can barely get my fingernails under the metal part, and I'm afraid of damaging it. I've been thinking about different ways to lock the heatsink on, but the only obvious way to do that is with screws from the bottom and nuts on the top. The screws need a very flat head or the graphics card will bend too much as it is screwed to the motherboard. Any advice on removing the backplate or alternatives for attaching the heatsink?

[Dr.Colossos]

As you pointed out, it's glued. I normally remove them now with my heat gun - a hair blower/dryer or anything that gets warm air will do just as well.

For my heat gun, I circle over the bracket for about 30 seconds to make the glue "melt", then I take a flat screwdriver and try to lift it.

This works quite well.

Good luck

[nipennem]

It's off! I also managed to get the yellow glue off the original board and stuck it on the new one, then put the old bracket.

For some reason the heatsink seems to fit this card without modification. I've cleaned everything up and applied new thermal compound. I'm hoping to test it tonight.

[Dr.Colossos]

Nice.

You don't need to glue, but maybe you need to plastic for insulation.

Some heat sinks need work, others don't.

If it works, keep an eye on temps for the first couple of days.

Good luck!

[nipennem]

Laptop is back to life although still in intensive care -- i've followed your instructions to not reassemble everything yet.

I've been measuring CPU temperaturs with a linux boot CD. They went from 44 (boot) up to 51-52 (idle) and 65 max. under load. Fan seems to kick in at or just above 52. I haven't used this laptop for almost one year, so I'm wondering whether this is normal for an FL90?

I still have to measure GPU temperatures. I'm installing Windows 7 right now, as the original laptop disk had already found its use elsewhere.

EDIT: installed Windows 7 + ATI drivers. lowest "experience index" is for Aero = 5.2. During FurMark burn-in test the card reached a max temp. of 85°C. CPU never even hit 70. I think this is good enough.