How do you fix a faulty Nvidia gpu?

[Gary500]

I have to keep reflowing (using a hairdryer) my GPU on my Dell XPS m1530 for it to work. It sometimes randomly gets a black screen or purple artifacting. Can anyone suggest a more permanent fix? Should I replace the thermal compound or do I have to get a new motherboard?

Thanks in advance.

[Sam_A_1992]

If its anything like reflowing a ps3, the only permanent fix is to have the gpu reballed, basically redo the solder joints that attaches it to the mobo.

[xxgokouxx]

You should have replaced the thermal compound when you took the laptop apart to do the reflow, that is why it keeps happening

A better fix for it is to purchase a laptop cooler, these are aluminum underbodies are from my personal experience, very helpful in dissipating heat from the laptop. I have never taken my xps m1330 apart for a reflow while using this. I played many games on my XPS and put a lot of usage time on it also. The only time I took it apart was to fix a unsoldered fuse when my charger wouldn't charge my laptop and a faulty webcam cable.

If it's any consolation, the laptop was purchased in 2008, and it's now 2012.

[Gary500]

^^Thanks for the reply guys. Which thermal compound do you recommend? And which laptop cooler should I get that isn't too expensive? Thanks again.

[Commander Wolf]

As mentioned, the only real fix is to reball the thing. Better cooling can lengthen the time between reflows, but it's definitely not going to fix anything permanently.

[Gary500]

But reballing is expensive and I don't know who offers it as a service..any suggestions?

[xxgokouxx]

Agreed on the reball thing. Where are you located? I've posted this many times, and I still stand by my statement, the cheap antec laptop cooler works extremely well!

It pretty much looks like this:

Antec Notebook Cooler Cooling System NOTEBOOKCOOLER

I've used it on my m1330 for the longest time, and never once have I run into a problem with the laptop's GPU As for thermal paste, what have you done as far as putting the heatsink back together? Do you just put it back without cleaning and reapplying thermal paste? That is most likely the problem why if that's what is going on.

To fix this, just purchase any reputable heatsink compound, I believe MX-3 or MX-5 is very good for your application, since I read that it's non-conductive (someone correct me here if i'm wrong?). Also, read the tips on applying the thermal paste, and if you haven't considered doing hte copper mod, people claim it helps in lowering temps (I haven't done it nor will I ever probably). Give it a go!

[Gary500]

Alright, I'll try that, thanks.

[Tsunade_Hime]

But reballing is expensive and I don't know who offers it as a service..any suggestions?

Professional reballing services range from like 100-150. Also it depends on how badly melted your GPU is, if it bubbling, the likely chances of it getting reballed + replacing the solder is unlikely, you'd need a new GPU at that point. Easiest solution is to sell the M1530, because any i3/i5 Sandy or Ivy Bridge notebook will easily annihilate the M1530 for performance, even the Ivy Bridge IGP HD 4000 = 5650 Mobility, which is light years faster than the 8600M GT offered in the M1530. HD 3000 = 8600M GT performance, but in a much lower power consumption chip, and it scales with faster RAM and overall is a better GPU (my X220's HD 3000 benches better than my Vostro 1500's 8600M GT).

[Commander Wolf]

Professional reballing services range from like 100-150. Also it depends on how badly melted your GPU is, if it bubbling, the likely chances of it getting reballed + replacing the solder is unlikely, you'd need a new GPU at that point. Easiest solution is to sell the M1530, because any i3/i5 Sandy or Ivy Bridge notebook will easily annihilate the M1530 for performance, even the Ivy Bridge IGP HD 4000 = 5650 Mobility, which is light years faster than the 8600M GT offered in the M1530. HD 3000 = 8600M GT performance, but in a much lower power consumption chip, and it scales with faster RAM and overall is a better GPU (my X220's HD 3000 benches better than my Vostro 1500's 8600M GT).

I agree (10 char).