Gpu fried? Need help

[FalconX]

Hello

I have a gateway p-172xFX and having some video issues. keep in mind this laptop sits on a laptop cooler since I received it in 2008 and the cooler is a Zalman which blows air up. The issue Started a few days ago when playing WoW. The game started to pixilate during a heavy graphic scene and then froze. I thought might be a glitch so restarted and happen again the next day. I looked at nvidia site and noticed a new driver, installed an played WoW again and same issue but this time I couldn't recover. The computer still turns on but now there is "video noise" during boot and you can tell there are display issues even with safe mode. Device manger states there is a issue with nvidia gpu 8800 GTS. The driver is intstalled. Tried to reinstall latest and older driver but no fix.

Can this be fixed? Is there a sticky?

How can I trouble shoot to pinpoint the exact cause?

I read on posts that there are issues with thermal paste. is this easy to replace?

Will "baking" MB work? If so can someone link specific instructions

I appreciate any help I can get, thanks in advance

[ownasaur]

Most likely the video chip is loose and needs a reball. You could try baking it and if it works afterwards just look for a reball specialist to do a more permanent fix to it. I did it to my P-6831FX and it has been working fine ever since.

Read this for more info P-6860FX 8800M GTS dying/dead?

[FalconX]

Hello

Just wanted to give you a update on my situation with my computer. I tried something that I read on the link on the previous post. The link stated that if I cover the gpu exhaust with tape and let it run for about half a day and then let it cool it should reflow the gpu chip and would be able to restart the computer. So far so good , it worked. I will try some gaming and see I that works.

Based on my situation I purchased a new HP Envy 17 3d because I thought my comp was dead. May return it now....

In any case I would recommend trying this method before baking or any other method. Non invasive and easy as cake.

Is this a know issue with this computer ? If so anyone want to start a thread to get a count of people that have the same issue and possibly bringing it to gateway as a know defect?

Sorry for any grammatical errors, used iPhone 4s Siri to type
Thanks