Laptop backlight not working (sometimes), suspect dying GPU

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

AColonyOfAnts

Honorable
Oct 10, 2013
2
0
10,510
I have a Dell XPS M1530 with an NVidia 8200GT GPU that I have been using for about 4 1/2 years. Just recently I have noticed that when I turn on my computer, the backlight flickers for maybe half a second (illuminating the Dell startup screen), and then goes completely dim. The backlight flashes once more when the computer enters the login screen, and again once more once I'm logged in. Additionally, closing the laptop lid and opening it once more generates a backlight flash, but then the screen goes completely dim. As such, I have pretty much ruled out a bad backlight and burnt out inverter board; as those would not generate any split second backlight flash in any of these scenarios.

I have also noticed that, after leaving my laptop on for a while, and then restarting it (while it is still hot), I have a chance of getting the backlight to work consistently, or until the computer sleeps the screen or I close the lid.

I've read that this problem is consistent with a cracked soldering problem with Nvidia GPUs on laptops, and therefore I checked to see if I could utilize my HDMI port on a desktop monitor, and I got a No Signal reading from the monitor.

Can anyone confirm if it is indeed a soldering issue, and if so, how would be the best way to fix it?

Thanks!
 
Solution
M
the tubes could be going bad or the inverter board could be going bad. inverter boards are designed to only try to start the light so many times before stopping for safety reasons. inverter boards can get hot and burn up quickly if they were allowed to continuously try to start bulbs. warm bulbs are easier to start so getting the labtop warm may help it work more often. but you really are going to have to replace the bulbs or inverter, or the whole assembly or just get a new laptop.
Sort by date Sort by votes
S

Skippy27

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2009
366
0
18,860
The backlight has nothing to do with your GPU and they simply go out over time. I have been supporting laptops for many years and can tell you the 2 biggest support issues with them is the backlight and keyboards/trackpoint going out on them.

You should probably look into either getting a new LCD or a new laptop depending on the cost of the LCD.

Just for the record, if it is actually the backlight then you should see a very very faint image on the screen.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

AColonyOfAnts

Honorable
Oct 10, 2013
2
0
10,510


I can confirm that there is indeed a faint image on the screen; I can use the laptop (albiet inconveniently) if I shine a light at the screen. I've managed to restart the laptop after running it hot and got the backlight to work (therefore the inverter board is not burnt out), and retested the HDMI port; still dead (but probably unrelated to my current problem). I then tested my VGI port; and it still works. This probably rules out the GPU being dead as a cause of my problem.

I have also (at risk of losing my backlight) closed and opened my lid 3 times, and the backlight still works fine. This (I hope) rules out a damaged hinge cable.

So now that the GPU and Inverter Board has been ruled out as causes, it is probably the backlight. My question out of curiosity would be, given my current details (the backlight fails to work on cold boots and sometimes works on hot reboots), what part of the backlight is failing and why does the hot reboot sometimes makes it work?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Skippy27

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2009
366
0
18,860
I can't answer your questions as often if you move the screen enough you may get it to come on. However, the back light is out and you need to either have it serviced under warranty, replaced at a cost or buy one and replace it yourself.

Replacing it can be done 2 ways. 1.) You get the entire unit - bezel and all 2.) You get just the display and have to put it in your current bezel.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

maxwellmelon

Splendid
Oct 2, 2013
2,511
0
24,010
the tubes could be going bad or the inverter board could be going bad. inverter boards are designed to only try to start the light so many times before stopping for safety reasons. inverter boards can get hot and burn up quickly if they were allowed to continuously try to start bulbs. warm bulbs are easier to start so getting the labtop warm may help it work more often. but you really are going to have to replace the bulbs or inverter, or the whole assembly or just get a new laptop.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom