BSOD while playing any source engine games

shotgunthoughts, I would check with the company you bought the Laptop from and first make sure it can be replaced. Many laptops can't be replaced without a whole lot of work. Many are soldered in. If it can be fairly easily replaced, I would see if they may work out some way for you to try a new card, rather than buying one. Are you sure your Power Brick is working properly?

I'm much more familiar with desktops than Laptops. But, Unless you have a Piece of software with drivers that conflict with your Graphics driver, it is normally the drivers, the card, the Power supply or the Motherboard.

I imagine you have, but if you Google Source Games such as the ones you are playing, you will find numerous problems exactly the same as you are having. A lot of times it is just the game being poorly coded. I have had that happen to me several times. It was simply the game crashing. When a game crashes, naturally the Graphics drivers crash too.

Try this, but I wouldn't completely disable it in device Manager at first. It should take the Nvidia Graphics out of the equation. Sure, you won't get near the performance you had, but you may find out whether it is the card or not.

First set the integrated graphics as preferred .....

1. Open Nvidia control panel.
2. Click on "Manage 3D settings".
3. Click on the button below "Preferred Graphics Processor"
4. Change it to "Integrated graphics"from the drop down menu.
   This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 772x284. This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 772x284.
5. Apply it.

Now restart the computer.


Now, disable nvidia graphics card in the device manager.

1. Click on the start button.
2. Type Device Manager in the search bar.
3. Click on the resulting link. The Device Manager window will open.
4. The third one should be "Display Adapter". Expand it by clicking on the "►" in front of it. Your nvidia card name will be shown.
5. Right click on it. Choose "Disable" in the context menu.
6. A dialog will appear with some scary words. Dont be afraid. Click on "Yes" .
7. Restart the computer.

Hopefully the nvidia display is out of use now, and so there will not be any further chance of graphics switching.


Let us know how the computer is running after doing it.