X1000 Forums

(http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/sys/182384329.html)

- 1.6Ghz Intel Pentium M Centrino CPU
- 512MB PC2100 DDR SODIMM (Micron)
- 128MB PC2100 DDR SODIMM (Micron)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ LCD Display (1680x1050)
- 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 (M9+) w/Heatsink
- 60GB Hitachi Travelstar 4200RPM 2.5" HDD
- TEAC 24x24x8x CDRW/DVDROM Drive (Model DW-224E)
- Intel 802.11b Wireless Mini PCI (Model WM3B2100)
- Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition CD (w\legit key)
- 8 Cell, 4.4wH Li-Ion Battery
- Keyboard, touchpad, JBL speakers, etc.

** Complete list of components, part numbers, and such can be found in the product manual here: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00072544.pdf



One day the display just started showing pixelated blocks all over the screen (http://x1000forums.gotdns.com/index.php/topic,13.msg273.html#msg273). I have tried everything from re-seating the video card, to replacing the thermal pads on the heatsink for the video card. This is either an issue with the motherboard or the video board, and THE LCD SCREEN IS PERFECTLY FINE. I know this because even when I output the video signal to a projector or connect it to a TV, the pixelation still appears. I don't think it's an overheating issue either because it starts happening even after a cold-boot.

I am willing to SELL THE ENTIRE LAPTOP FOR $400 (OBO), or INDIVIDUAL PARTS on a case-by-case basis. If you want individual parts, e-mail me first and I'll look into what I'd be willing to sell them for and give you a price quote. If you want the whole thing, It'll make me all the more happier. This was a great top-of-the-line laptop when I bought it 3 years ago, but without clear video it's useless to me.

against my better judgement, i went ahead and bought these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6847427574&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1. if they end up fixing my problem, i'll see about selling the other 3 to anyone for a little less (it'd be a waste getting 4) in the hopes that it'll solve your problem as well.

i've tried everything. nothing seems to work. i was |this| close to throwing my x1000 out the window just now. it's so sad because it's a perfectly functioning (minus this thing) machine and yet it's so useless now... fyi: i don't believe i have the same problem as some other people here (i.e. "Blank screen problem"). my problem is that once booted and running, my entire screen will become pixelated until i press hard (6,7,y), and then i have to change the screen (i.e. open a new window or F5 to refresh). and then it will be fine for a few seconds or minutes until it happens again.


here's a picture of my problem:

click here for full-size -->http://www.phoreel.com/random/x1000_pixelation.JPG


and here's what my video card & heatsink look like in place:

click here for full-size -->http://www.phoreel.com/random/x1000_videocard.JPG


please let me know if anyone figures something out, or has any ideas. thanks.

thanks for the tip and the very thorough set of pictures to go with it!

the reason why placing the piece between the heatsink & gpu made it worse is because that would actually pull them further apart from each other and create less surface contact (or pressure).

In addition to placing a piece under the card where you did, try putting another one (in the rough shape of a square) directly above the gpu on the heatsink (where the heatsink is beveled upward)... that might give you some additional pressure against the heatsink onto the gpu. But keep in mind the square area directly above the gpu gets pretty hot... so rubber might not be the best idea. then again, i don't know what would... maybe a bunch of layers of tape?

keep us posted on whether your temporary fix seems to be working...

some useful information as far as disassembly can be found in my latest post here: http://x1000forums.gotdns.com/index.php/topic,13.0.html

As for $100 for a video card that might not even fix the problem... I don't think it's really worth it. Even if it works flawlessly, the old mobility 9200 can't handle most of the stuff coming out today as far as gaming. And if you don't need gaming, an entire laptop replacement can be easily found these days for like <$500. Whatever floats your boat though... some people are just too attached to these X1k's (like me )

Quote from: timkovacs on June 05, 2006, 08:01:18 PM

Quote from: earsjr on June 01, 2006, 10:39:34 PM
... I'm in the middle of taking apart again, I'll let you know if I can find any way to fix the problem.

Any luck? I'm in the middle too and want to know how far I should go. I've removed the keyboard and strip of plastic along the edge of the monitor. I can't take the heat shield above the video card off until I get a finer screw driver - should I bother? Hope you've had some luck.

I've had this happen to me before, and I've gone as far as taking the LCD completely apart and off so I could get to the screw that allows you to take off the part directly below it, thus allowing for the easy removal of the heatsink. This time around I just wiggled and forced the video card & heatsink out (something I wouldn't really recommend because you'll probably end up bending the heatink, and other peices of metal like I did)

Next I bent the heatsink a little inward so there'd be more pressure on the thermal pad to press against the GPU. I thought that would do it... But after I put it back together, I started getting the pixelation again. The only thing I can think of doing next is to buy a new thermal pad, or find a new heatsink option. I don't think simple pressure will do it for me anymore. The GPU just needs some more surface-surface contact with the heatsink (maybe need a really thick thermal pad...)

But I'm on the verge of not caring anymore... I've already started looking into a cheap laptop replacement The X1000 was a nice top of the line option for me when I got it nearly 3 years ago, but I don't think it's worth the pain it's causing me now...

If you need any help taking this sucker apart, let me know. I'd be happy to do it again and take some pictures if it'll help someone. For reference, HP has a nice little spec sheet detailing the entire disassembly here: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00072544.pdf

I don't know if it's the same problem, but recently (past year) my video randomly started getting pixelated everywhere. If I press down on the area above the videos card on my keyboard, it goes away, but soon returns. I've taken the entire laptop apart before, so maybe I bent the heatsink or the contact with the GPU and the thermal pad on the heatsink isn't enough... I'm in the middle of taking apart again, I'll let you know if I can find any way to fix the problem.