Laptop Graphics Card Question

[synth]

Sooo, my HP G42-476TX's dedicated graphics (Radeon HD 6370M) is broken, kept getting no displays and fuzzy screen and random hangs. Its out of warranty and a friend of mine told me he knows a guy who can either fix it or replace it if it cant be repaired anymore for about 100 to 115 USD. Anyway, my question iss, would it be worth it to get it fixed or replaced? And is that even possible? Lastly, is it even safe? Thanks guys.

 

[ToxicXGL]

Really its up to you whether what's worth it or not. It depends on how much the laptop is, how much do you care, and are you willing to spend the 100-115 to repairs the video card. If you think its time for an upgrade get a new laptop or desktop of you feel you can still get a few more years out of this laptop repair it. If this was me I would just grab a new laptop

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Depends from what is the issue. If it's just because the laptop has crappy heat management systems that allowed components in some spots to melt the solder and break free from the board (or at least interrupting contacts with it) then it's doable.

This is relatively common issue for graphic chips in a laptop, so it does make some sense.

Fixing them is called reflowing, and can be done relatively easily if they guy has a hot air reworking station, or a reflow oven. And is a technician, or is otherwise able to solder smd components like a pro.

Some ninjas manage to pull this off with a common heat gun and a ton of luck.

The price for reflowing in (honest) laptop repair shops is around that. The cost of replacement depends (he needs to fetch a new motherboard and replace the whole thing). Make sure the 100-115 bucks are the max he wants, and not just the cost of reflowing alone.

Also knowing this guy before handing him the laptop is a good idea. If you see madness glittering in his eyes, a heat gun in the background and you meet in his garage, RUN!


Other than that, it's down to how much you want to save the current laptop, or how much you don't have the cash to get a new one.

Btw, if this guy saves your laptop, invest 30$ in a good laptop cooling pad with a very big fan (the bigger it is the more silent it is), to help the anemic heat management system of that laptop to handle the heat.

 

[pebbly]

Hi synth, I had great success using the baking method http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/76034-repairing-laptop-graphics-card.html the laptop is still in weekly use with no problems with the gfx

 

[bobafetthotmail]

^the above can be dangerous depending on how good your oven is, too much heat in the wrong place and heavy components fall off/move when they are upside down. Then you will need someone with smd component soldering skills.

 

[alphanumeric]

If the dedicated video card is modular and just plugs into a motherboard header it may be an easy swap. Some are and some aren't. If you can hunt up a service manual for your model you may get a better idea of what it requires to replace or fix it.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Here's a good HP maintenance site.

 

[Faladu]

Odds are the fix is replacing the motherboard, with CPU/GPU and all, if it's old, well it's cheap parts now, and not something a typical user would do themselves.

Dig up the laptop repair info and see the situation.