X32 ATi M16 GPU Fail - swing fantasies

[fasteez]

Hi,

my gpu is going south (horizontal lines popping randomly), it was usable until tonight, now the screen turns into a color palette matrix remake after the slightest VGA utilisation (text mode ala linux seems stable) so I'd say it's the memory chip saying goodbye. (ironically it broke after I tried to underclock gpu/mem in NHC, to lower heat, to avoid such failures.)

I was about to receive a x31 mainboard that doesnt boot but I think the gpu is working, I've read the threads on the T4x gpu reflow too, so I can't help but wonder if there's a slightly infinitesimal chance to pop off the current gpu in order to 'flow' the other one in place. *ahh thinkpad fetichism...*

ps : depending on OS/Driver I have a feeling it's possible to almost not use video ram (linux/kde seemed to survive a bit longer than windows xp and all it's gpu hardware acceleration treats), any guru for a confirmation ?

[Harryc]

Remove the keyboard but leave it's ribbon cable connected. Power up the machine and apply direct pressure to the GPU (it will have a big ATI on it). Do the symptoms change?

[fasteez]

Just tried it after reading the idea on some gamer board, applying pressure with the back of a screwdriver handle, but :

- the gpu was less capricious, no fullscreen failure only few lines on the top of screen, I couldn't notice improvements but i'm not sure it was useless either. I'll keep trying few more times. Those bugs are acting like ninjas.

- there's that metal plate above the NB/GPU that requires to remove more pieces which felt cumbersome so I tried to weight on many points; using mainboard pictures to guess the gpu location. Again I may disassemble the laptop further to be sure.

I also read that swapping bga is and will stay a layman dream until better days; even though one can buy radeon 7500 chip on ebay for 15 bucks ! if only ... ^__^ (mayyybe .. a little candle heat reflow)

[Harryc]

Well, if it's a matter of a reflow or reball, there is an outfit in the UK that does that. It's owner is a member here - poshgeordie. You can contact him for advice. That is why I wanted you to try this test. If pressure does not work, it could well be a video RAM problem, in which case a reflow is useless. If you can see the screen well enough, you can also try running PC-doctor diagnostics on the GPU.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52871
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 44202.html

[fasteez]

Oh Allmighty, just what I was looking for (I always forget those programs, i guess my memory is failing too -_-)

update 1 :

The gpu start going mad again so I booted Windows in VGA mode.
To my great surprise the windows version of PCDoctor test switched windows on the ATI driver and ran a full screen 3D scene (opengl or directx) perfectly.

I then tried the 'DOS' version, but I can't really draw conclusion out of it. The video tests run quite fast and I don't know the desired output, sometimes i can grasp some tests that looks ok (good gradients, perfect lines) but sometimes it look scrambled.. but again I dont know if it's on purpose. So even though pcdoctor says PASSED everywhere; i'm still suspicious. I can't run the tests on the netbook i'm using for comparison.

Ending note, the memory tests kinda freeze as soon as they start, strange considering I've run a full memtest just two days ago without any error. I used 2 different sodimm modules .. don't know if a memory subsystem conflict can cause such display bugs.

[fasteez]

Weird, I just spent few hours under VGA-locked windows XP, thinking the small amount of video ram needed to hold the framebuffer explained why there was no gpu crash.
I then scratched an itch and burned a Linux Mint 9 live cd, ran it with default options (1024x768, some kind hardware acceleration) and to my surprise .. no garbage appeared, even while playing flash, or fullscreen .mov/.flv videos.. crazy.
The "only" difference with the windows setup is that I use NHC to undervolt the cpu slightly ( my previous parameters were too aggressive, causing the unstability I mentioned on some other topics ).. I thought that was it.. undervolting may conflict with GPU memory causing storage inconsistencies. NOT. Being back under Xp without NHC undervolting options, cpu around 42C, gpu aroung 39C and my little lines popping around.

The conclusion here : Linux has an "advantage" in hardware support, it may run better on failing chipsets! lol

to be continued.. (under Mint9, which btw is quite impressive)

[plympton]

The conclusion here : Linux has an "advantage" in hardware support, it may run better on failing chipsets! lol

to be continued.. (under Mint9, which btw is quite impressive)

I would conclude that you might have a failed XP install, and a wipe-and-reload could solve all your problems.

-Dan

[Tasurinchi]

The conclusion here : Linux has an "advantage" in hardware support, it may run better on failing chipsets! lol

to be continued.. (under Mint9, which btw is quite impressive)

I would conclude that you might have a failed XP install, and a wipe-and-reload could solve all your problems.

-Dan

I think the same. While I also like Mint9 and the newest Ubuntu distros, I had trouble with Linux and their support of the Radeon Cards with my ex-X31 (which has the same GPU as X32 IIRC) so I went back to Win7, which worked with no flaws.

Anyway, if it's working with Linux just keep it, but if you need to go back to any MS OS then a clean install should be no problem...

My 0,02 cents...

Cheers

[fasteez]

Wow, you seriously think there's a breakage in xp. I'm trying every possible ideas so time will tell.

@Tasurinchi: what drivers did you put under Win7 ? the hacked ati drivers are really working ? or is it the generic Win7 VGA driver ?

Thanks

[Tasurinchi]

@Tasurinchi: what drivers did you put under Win7 ? the hacked ati drivers are really working ? or is it the generic Win7 VGA driver ?

I didn't use hacked drivers, but downloaded the lenovo ones from their site. You can find the details here

[fasteez]

I didn't use hacked drivers, but downloaded the lenovo ones from their site. You can find the details here

haha crazy.. I've never heard of this procedure, it's a exciting news, thanks.

[fasteez]

To my great surprise, Win7 + ATi win2k drivers ran fine. I'm speechless as it really seems the issue was a software problem (a persistent gpu setting side effect from NHC maybe..) . I'm gonna try other tests just in case.

Thanks y'all

ps : I kinda owe you big time.. I was almost about to send this to reflow u_u, again thanks