AMD Radeon HD 7600M Series 2.7 GB Suddenly stopped responding problem

[Zenakuism]

Hi, I've suddenly encountered a very uncomfortable problem yesterday about my Video Card and I absolutely have no idea where to go on from here.

>Was playing a new game, Unholy Heights. Had to install Microsoft XNA Framework Redistributable 4.0 to get it working.
>Playing on bed, used a pillow to soften laptop on lap.
>Spent Maybe 2-3 hours. Noticed the laptop is really hot. Removed the pillow and let it breathe.
>A few hours later (1-2h) Sudden green pixels appear. Then something like this happened, but was pink

>Restarted the laptop. This happened.

Then notification pops up saying AMD Driver managed to recover. Then Pic #1 after a couple of seconds then I had to manually shut it down.
>Was slightly ok. Although if I watch a video, green pixels show up. If I play a game for more than 5 minutes, Pic #1 happens.
>Annoyed. Went to Safe Mode. Rollback AMD Display Driver. Restart.
>Actually got worse. Can't boot normally now. Went back to Safe mode and uninstalled AMD Driver.
>Now on normal mode, using standard VGA.

Everytime I'm using the AMD Driver. That happens. Not sure why. Maybe a loose connection? Appreciate all help.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome Zena now for starters as you know resting the laptop on a pillow was about daftest thing you could have done as you blocked any air entry into the machine. Now it could be that you have cooked the motherboard as the GPU is served by the same heatpipes that run from the CPU too.

Now worst case scenario is the GPU chip is fried and the CPU too. What model Toshiba have you got??
Just to give you a rough idea of what is inside I have snipped a couple of pics from site I use. What you can do about well I suppose let the thing cool completely first the try again but I wouldn't be holding my breath

 

[Zenakuism]

Damn. That sounds bad. I have the Toshiba Satellite L850-B211

Satellite L850-B211 | Satellite L850 series | Satellite | Computers | Middle East English Toshiba

 

[Zenakuism]

New problem. Left it with my cousin with the hope of him fixing it. Just came back and it's actually worse now. It doesn't even work now! >.< ahhhh I'm so pissed. Anyways, everytime I turn it on now. Just nothing. Black screen. The numlock and capslock light up sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. I asked him what he did and he said he opened it up to see the status of the graphics card. I think he may have disconnected some wires? Hopefully it's just disconnected wires.

 

[Zenakuism]

Current Status:

It boots up normally, sometimes it doesn't boot up at all. But the lines come later after 5-10 seconds have passed.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well Zena the GPU that is fried (in my opinion) is actually fixed to the board unlike the CPU which you can take out and replace. So I am sorry but it looks like new motheboard or a new macine

 

[Zenakuism]

Hi ICit, well that's a bummer. Lesson learned then >.> oh and by the way, I just recently came from a Toshiba service store here and they told me that it's the LCD that's busted? HOPEFULLY it's the LCD but I don't know man, I think this guy is just trying to squeeze some cash from me because he's referring me to a buddy of his who has a business of laptop replacement thingy, I'm not really sure. I'm not that really familiar with it so yeah, his buddy told me that the LCD costs like P15,000, $347.95 in American Dollars, but he was willing to give it to me for P6,000, $139.18. Find it sketchy though, I'ma try it with an LCD monitor.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hi ICit, well that's a bummer. Lesson learned then >.> oh and by the way, I just recently came from a Toshiba service store here and they told me that it's the LCD that's busted? HOPEFULLY it's the LCD but I don't know man, I think this guy is just trying to squeeze some cash from me because he's referring me to a buddy of his who has a business of laptop replacement thingy, I'm not really sure. I'm not that really familiar with it so yeah, his buddy told me that the LCD costs like P15,000, $347.95 in American Dollars, but he was willing to give it to me for P6,000, $139.18. Find it sketchy though, I'ma try it with an LCD monitor.

Good thinking Zena it should show you if the GPU is fried. The CPU's usually have a fail safe system where they will auto shut down when they get nearer the max operating temp but GPU's I am not sure. Just make sure you keep the receipts for that other screen for a return as I still not convinced it is the screen as it does not go bad as a general rule.
There are some pixel testing software around but see how that plug in works first if it is the sane then it is pretty certain the laptop one has gone south.

 

[Zenakuism]

Well, looks like it's not the LCD. I tried it with a friend's monitor and it's the same with mine. Completely blank. Oh, sometimes I turn on my laptop when it's been off for quite a long time, and it actually turns on! But then this happens

By the way, just an idea. What if I took out my GPU, could my laptop run on standard VGA? Just a wild idea. All of this started when I re-installed the display drivers.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry Zena as I think I mentioned earlier the GPU is fixed into the motherboard the CPU you can swap out as it is retained only by that plate in the pic I sent but here it is again only maybe a bit clearer.

 

[Faladu]

I'd upgrade to a better laptop NOW and rig the current HD up to the new one via adapter to transfer files over.

SATA to USB most likely.

Or if strapped, find a used replacement all-in-1 motherboard/CPU/GPU, but that could still be a better start on a new one.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well as previous poster says may as well do it mate cos nothing is going to put that GPU right.

Just have to be aware Zena of what you are resting the machine on even your lap can be hazardous.

If you take my advice I would also think about that filter I mentioned over the air intake opening doesn't need to be fine but fine enough to catch the lint and heavier particulates.

 

[RoasterMen]

HD 7670M, get that GPU replaced (depends on the laptop's motherboard)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

HD 7670M, get that GPU replaced (depends on the laptop's motherboard)

Yep Roaster but mate that is going to cost more than a new machine at current shop rates out here at least - if you can find someone willing to do it??

 

[Zenakuism]

A friend of mine suggested I should try "reflowing" the GPU. Basically, he used a hair dryer to heat up the GPU (?) No idea what he means.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

A friend of mine suggested I should try "reflowing" the GPU. Basically, he used a hair dryer to heat up the GPU (?) No idea what he means.

Hmm sounds like you ought to rub it with leg of frog and snake oil

I have an idea that years ago when I was into building dedicated electronic stuff one could revive some of those old NAND gate IC's with similar methods but this is a totally different kettle of fish Zena.

I suppose you could shop around for another motherboard but you still have to strip the old one out and get it back in. The chances of getting a used motherboard that would nay good is fairly slim

 

[Zenakuism]

Hey its me again. After deciding to accept that fixing this laptop would be like buying a new one, I recently tinkered/opened it and looked at it's insides myself. Cleaned the thermal paste and applied some pressure on the gpu (just hoping it's something) . And it booted again! Still a 50-50 though. But at least it's not like the last time where it strange color lines pop-up while booting. I booted up nomally and it loaded like it should but upon reaching the desktop, it blacks out. Probably the GPU. Went to safe mode uninstalled the Display driver, normal booted again and it worked. After 1 minute though, auto shutsown because of the super hot GPU. I noticed that the GPU heats up REALLY fast, like 2 seconds. And I mean REALLY hot. Hoping for your opinions and insights

The fan also goes super fast. Don't know if it's normal speed but. Yeah. I find it fast.

 

[Zenakuism]

My laptop now

Insides

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Zena before you replaced the cooler system - the plate and heatpipe structure (cooler system) did you apply any new thermal compound? This is a material that "fills" the microscopic gaps between the chip and heatsink surfaces by conducting the heat through it from the chip surface and the heatsink surface where the two different surfaces mate together. I know they look smooth but in fact do not have a totally complete surface contact.
If not mate that is why the GPU is cooking and in hindsight now we know this it probably means that when you originally "cooked" the machines the thermal compound (it is a bit like form of grease for want of a better description) got so hot it in all probability flowed out of that contact point to a thickness that allowed those microscopic gaps between the GPU chip and the heatsink.
Now what you must do as soon as is to strip it down again remove the cooler system - clean the GPU and CPU chips (cores) and then the cooler plates using a good cleaning preparation and apply new compound to both surfaces chips and plates. I use a vinyl gloved finger to lightly spread the new compound over the entire surface and them on each chip place a small blob of thermal compound about the size of a half grain of rice.
Reattach the cooler system taking care not to over tighten the holding screws. When the machine starts up again the heat will "bleed" that small blob out over the chip surface. But you must take care not to put too much on to it will make a real mess.
Now cleaning I use the Arctic cleaning kit which you first clean any residue from the four surfaces (GPU & CPU & heatsinks) then "prime" it with the other solution then apply the compound and Arctic Silver will probably be the best to use.

Arctic Silver Incorporated - ArctiClean & Arctic Silver Incorporated - Arctic Silver 5

Any problems please post back you just might be in luck.

 

[Zenakuism]

At my last post, I was running it disassembled, no thermal paste. Figured that since it's working fine now, I'm just gonna reassemble it and put it away for a while till I have the time to buy a thermal paste. Turned it on again to see if it's still working as hoped before I went out to buy some, aaaand ot's back to black screen x.x clicked the power button, HD works, fan works. Click the power button once and shuts off (not a good sign normally I hold it down for 3 secs or more to shut it down). Just an update. On my way to buy some paste. Hopefully it's just nothing. Really appreciate the time you're putting to help me out Icit Thanks.