Hardware Replace graphic card on laptop

[Ritsuki]

Hi,

My laptop's graphic card is broken, and I want to know if it's possible to buy another one (I've never seen a shop who sells graphic cards for laptops) and if it's difficult to install it (compared to a desktop PC by example)

Thanks in advance

 

[Fat D]

Most laptops do not have a dedicated card, the GPU is usually integrated on the motherboard. Even if you were to somehow find a replacement, you would probably break more stuff by trying to install it (BGA soldering is not that easy) than you fix by replacing.

 

[Coto]

And also, you must find the correct BIOS for your motherboard having a unique VROM bios inside, and a way to flash BIOS itself.

So it´s -not impossible- but if you ever succeed re-soldering the very *very* same VGA chip you´d probably need to reflash bios

 

[Bunie]

Also, not to insult your computer skills. But its unlikely your "Laptops graphics card is broken". its part of the board. your screen could be broken, the cable could be loose, etc. But part of the board failing and your PC still starting up? No. Lol its possible but i dont think so.

 

[Bunie]

Most Laptops have a Video out port (VGA) on the side. Try plugging in a moniter to it (Close the lid.)

Meaning... Plug VGA Moniter, turn on laptop, close lid before windows begins to boot.

Or just plug it in and close lid. (Unless your laptops set to sleep in such a scenario, then do the bootup method above.)

 

[kylehaas]

Also, to elaborate on what Bunie said, you should check your keyboard function keys for a "SWITCH MAIN DISPLAY" function. That will disable output to the laptops monitor and only allow for signal for an external monitor. If nothing comes up on an external monitor, you're screwed. Also, keep in mind that if you see BIOS messages, your video is probably fine. Make sure you have the right drivers installed.

 

[Ritsuki]

I'm not confident enough in my computer skills to say that you're wrong, but since my laptop works "normally" when I uninstall the drivers, and that both the screen and the motherboard works, I suppose that the graphic card is not integrated in the MB (which is not that rare for "recent" laptops I think)

EDIT : By the way the card is a nVidia 8600M GS and the laptop is a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xi2528