Double Check Me on This. Please

[Mushin]

I have an HP Pavilion dv2500 with an Nvidia grapics chip. I have seen these before and I am aware of the nvidia chip issues but there is where I need a double check..

In all past instances the computer would display no video and have boot problems. This computer is different.

The PC LCD displays as just a very light gray possibly white screen that then fades to darker blotchy gray from left to right.

The PC will boot to Windows as evident from the Windows startup sounds playing after a moment.

The PC will display fine to a monitor that is hooked up when you use the FN key combinations to switch to the VGA port. This works for POST as well.

I am thinking that this is a screen problem only and not necessarily the Nvidia chipset problem but I am not sure. Can anyone shed some light on this. The reason I am questioning myself is all our past HP/Nvidia issues had no display at all.

Thanks
Phil

 

[computersnmore]

HP No Video

Usually... If you have video on external VGA port and not on LCD it is the inverter, CCFL, or LCD.
If I read this correctly it seems you get Video on LCD then fades to black. If I were you I would Test inverter under load....

 

[PC Ops]

It's not the Nvidia chip (this time )
If an external screen works fine then it must be something else like the inverter, internal cables, lcd, etc.

 

[xxsilk109xx]

Sounds to me like the screen is bad, if the external monitor is working, then its not a problem with the chip.

do you have another screen to test it with? most of the connections are the same I have found.

 

[Mushin]

Thanks for the info and doublechecking my logic. I was under the same impression that it is screen only related and not the chip because of the actual video output to the VGA out on the computer.

Time to let the customer know their options.

 

[14049752]

I agree that it's probably the screen.....


BUT...those of you ruling out the nvidia defect based on external video... You can't do that. External video can appear to be normal, it all depends on exactly how the problem manifests itself.

 

[Mushin]

Why exactly do you say that?

As I understand the nvidia problem. The video chip either burns up or melts the sodar this braking a circuit path or more... This is again as I understand it localized to the chip location thus a reball or reflow can "repair" repair the issue. The result is the total loss of video.

With the VGA out working the video chip is functional and sending a signal so I would be confused as to how the nvidia issue could manifest a different way.

Do you have any infromation that would help us to understant what your mean or how this can be? I really want to know the details.

 

[14049752]

The way the nvidia chip "fails" is that the solder that connects it to the board cracks/loses connection. When the failure happens, it doesn't necessarily happen on every chip the same way...it's kind of a case by case basis as to which connection is broken. Not only that, the heat generated by the chip isn't even uniformly distributed (there are pictures somewhere, I don't care to look it up right now)

Not every pin in the layout has the same level of importance...so one may affect the signal to the lcd panel, but not to the external monitor.

Beyond that, I have multiple cases I've worked on where external works and internal does not...and it's a result of the nvidia failure. On certain HPs, for example, the problem can manifest in strange ways like the video works fine but the wireless does not work (after reflow, it works). It can also be as drastic as no power at all. Some things depend on if the chip is the northbridge with integrated graphics, or a discrete graphics chip.... But my main point is, external video is not a test to rule out the nvidia problem.

 

[Mushin]

The way the nvidia chip "fails" is that the solder that connects it to the board cracks/loses connection. When the failure happens, it doesn't necessarily happen on every chip the same way...it's kind of a case by case basis as to which connection is broken. Not only that, the heat generated by the chip isn't even uniformly distributed (there are pictures somewhere, I don't care to look it up right now)

Not every pin in the layout has the same level of importance...so one may affect the signal to the lcd panel, but not to the external monitor.

Beyond that, I have multiple cases I've worked on where external works and internal does not...and it's a result of the nvidia failure. On certain HPs, for example, the problem can manifest in strange ways like the video works fine but the wireless does not work (after reflow, it works). It can also be as drastic as no power at all. Some things depend on if the chip is the northbridge with integrated graphics, or a discrete graphics chip.... But my main point is, external video is not a test to rule out the nvidia problem.

This is good to know... so essentially the only way to know if it is an nvidia issue is to test with a known good LCD panel?

The part that I am on the fence with is that I have seen tons of nvidia issues and never once had the external display work. I have also seen all the symptoms that you have mentioned except the external display not working when the other did. Guess I will have to trust my gut on this one though.

 

[Haktar]

i 100% agree with 14049752,

on some laptops the gpu is used to render the display on the lcd and the chipset is used to render the display on an external monitor

 

[shamrin]

I have an HP Pavilion dv2500 with an Nvidia grapics chip. I have seen these before and I am aware of the nvidia chip issues but there is where I need a double check..

In all past instances the computer would display no video and have boot problems. This computer is different.

The PC LCD displays as just a very light gray possibly white screen that then fades to darker blotchy gray from left to right.

The PC will boot to Windows as evident from the Windows startup sounds playing after a moment.

The PC will display fine to a monitor that is hooked up when you use the FN key combinations to switch to the VGA port. This works for POST as well.

I am thinking that this is a screen problem only and not necessarily the Nvidia chipset problem but I am not sure. Can anyone shed some light on this. The reason I am questioning myself is all our past HP/Nvidia issues had no display at all.

Thanks
Phil

I had a Sony with a failed video card that did this EXACT behavior. It's an HP dvXXX? Its the video card.

 

[Lapcure]

I have an HP Pavilion dv2500 with an Nvidia grapics chip. I have seen these before and I am aware of the nvidia chip issues but there is where I need a double check..

In all past instances the computer would display no video and have boot problems. This computer is different.

The PC LCD displays as just a very light gray possibly white screen that then fades to darker blotchy gray from left to right.

Hello Muchin,

Sadly the problem you are experiencing sounds very much like the Nvidia defect.

The grey screen effect is one of the manifestations and it can happen that the display to the external monitor works whilst the display to the LCD panel is either corrupt or non-existent.

I have a huge database on these systems so if you can let me know the P/N from the white barcode label on the underside of the laptop I will see if I have any further information on your model of laptop.

Of course, without further testing it would be impossible to state categorically that your laptop is definitely inherently defective, but all the pointers are there.

If you Google Nvidia Defect Forum you will see plenty of help and advice on how to pursue a resolution if it transpires that your laptop is indeed inherently defective.

Best wishes

Paul
Lapcure

 

[Mushin]

Well it is 50/50.... I did order an LCD Screen so we will find out for sure. At this point its a crap shoot so we will see. If it is the screen I double my money if not I have a spare LCD on hand.

 

[Mushin]

Hello Muchin,

Sadly the problem you are experiencing sounds very much like the Nvidia defect.

The grey screen effect is one of the manifestations and it can happen that the display to the external monitor works whilst the display to the LCD panel is either corrupt or non-existent.

I have a huge database on these systems so if you can let me know the P/N from the white barcode label on the underside of the laptop I will see if I have any further information on your model of laptop.

Of course, without further testing it would be impossible to state categorically that your laptop is definitely inherently defective, but all the pointers are there.

If you Google Nvidia Defect Forum you will see plenty of help and advice on how to pursue a resolution if it transpires that your laptop is indeed inherently defective.

Best wishes

Paul
Lapcure

LOL two whole posts. One intrduction mentioning the desire to help users with nvidia issus and one canned response to me offering to help. No offense but at least troll a user forum for business.

 

[Lapcure]

LOL two whole posts. One intrduction mentioning the desire to help users with nvidia issus and one canned response to me offering to help. No offense but at least troll a user forum for business.

Hello Phil,

My post was a genuine offer of help as you had mentioned that you were considering purchasing an LCD panel to repair the laptop.

I am not trolling for business either. The forum and all help is free and as you are in the States and I am in the UK there is little opportunity of business.

Best wishes

Paul
Lapcure

 

[Martyn]

LOL two whole posts. One intrduction mentioning the desire to help users with nvidia issus and one canned response to me offering to help. No offense but at least troll a user forum for business.

Cut the guy some slack. Read the responses to his intro.

 

[TLE]

Cut the guy some slack. Read the responses to his intro.

+1 Agreed ... I would hate to see someone with Pauls experience be pushed away from this forum due to someone thinking he is trolling for business from someone in another country. It's about time a few more experienced techs joined up.

 

[Mushin]

First:

Let me be the first to apologize for my rudeness and there is no excuse for jumping to any conclusions. I only offer that my actions occured on a day where stress got the better of me. I hope that for eveyone that reads any of my post they will see that this was not typical of the quality of posts and contributions I make.


So Lapcure / Paul to you I truely apologize.

Now for an update. The replacement LCD screen arrived. I just test fitted it into the machine and powered it on. It works great! Time to fully assemble the machine and get it back to the customer.

Again, I apologize for the past unwarranted post.

 

[Martyn]

First:

Let me be the first to apologize for my rudeness and there is no excuse for jumping to any conclusions. I only offer that my actions occured on a day where stress got the better of me. I hope that for eveyone that reads any of my post they will see that this was not typical of the quality of posts and contributions I make.


So Lapcure / Paul to you I truely apologize.

Now for an update. The replacement LCD screen arrived. I just test fitted it into the machine and powered it on. It works great! Time to fully assemble the machine and get it back to the customer.

Again, I apologize for the past unwarranted post.

Great result Yes the number of spammers we get on causes us to sometimes jump to the wrong conclusion, I'm guilty of that as well