Removing laptop GPU

Removing laptop GPU
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odeonkreel @ 29th Oct 10:23PM:
Removing laptop GPU

Have a HP laptop that has a 8600gs GPU which is failing. I have a new GPU that I was planning on replacing it with.

Took the laptop all apart. Then when I get to the GPU, it is glued with some red plastic type compound to the motherboard.

Does anyone have any experience with this? How would I remove the old GPU so I can replace it? It can be done, otherwise why would they sell replacement GPU's.
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Chrno @ 29th Oct 10:43PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Not possible
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Jahntassa @ 29th Oct 11:21PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

said by Chrno :

Not possible

Depends on the laptop.

That being said if your laptop doesn't specifically have a swappable GPU (meaning, on a separate board from the MB), and the GPU you have isn't specifically for that system, you probably won't be able to do it.
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Somnambul33t @ 30th Oct 08:20AM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

it's almost never possible. laptops almost always have GPUs soldered onto the mobo, even "dedicated" graphics cards. i remember hoopla a few years ago about swappable laptop gpu's but never heard anything come about it. i think ATI and Asus were involved. i imagine there are some systems where they're not soldered in but i'd have to assume those are generally the high-end chips that alone cost the price of a cheap laptop.

we could all be wrong, though, and your laptop might be one of the extremely few exceptions...
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psafux @ 30th Oct 09:03AM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

if you can take some nice closeup pictures that aren't blurry of the GPU, we can probably tell you right away if the GPU is removable or not.
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captokita @ 30th Oct 12:56PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

What is the model # of the laptop? This will help us tell you if it's possible or not. In my experience, the GPU on replaceable cards in laptops tend to incorporate the main cooler as well, meaning the whole back of the unit, not just a chip. (Which is why they're so dang expensive!) At least it's that way on some Dells with dedicated graphics.
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odeonkreel @ 30th Oct 01:57PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

The GPU is not soldered to the motherboard. I have an exact replacement PGU. The original one, is stuck to the motherboard, and along the edges of the GPU there is what appears to be a red plastic or epoxy type resin, which in essence holds the GPU to the motherboard. I tried cutting around it with a sharp razor, but didn't want to apply too much force and accidentally cut into the pcb.

Laptop is a HP Pavillion dv9640us
GPU is the NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GS
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psafux @ 30th Oct 05:56PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Assuming you are correct in that the GPU is replaceable, there should be a release screw or lever for the ZIF socket.

A picture would be really helpful so we don't give you bad information.
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odeonkreel @ 30th Oct 08:59PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Not a socket. The cpu is in a socket.
The gpu is not.

Unfortunatelly, I already put the thing all back together. So I borrowed this picture from an ebay auction.

I marked what is what.
Now, look at the N/S bridge chip. You will the red around the corners. Well that is also on the gpu (though not visible on this pic). That red stuff feels like a hard plastic, or some sort of epoxy glue that they used to secure the chips to the motherboard.

The new GPU does not have pins, but instead has little bumps instead of the pins.

Any suggestions?
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psafux @ 30th Oct 09:14PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

That appears to be solder socket. You would need to flip the motherboard and desolder all the joints from the PCB, then solder the new GPU back on.

The gunk probably was some type of conductance material.
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Chrno @ 30th Oct 10:07PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Those little bumps are solder balls. These days, manufacturers use surface mount for a GPU chip like the one you pointed out on the picture. There's no flip over and de-solder.

Unless you have the equipment and means to do this type of surface mount, replacing the GPU is impossible, just as I mentioned on my initial post.
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anon @ 31st Oct 08:41AM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

The last large main frame I worked on in the early 90's used that type of IC. The socket pins were fixed to the board.
You needed special de-soldering tools to remove the chip.
The new chip was then placed on the pins and when heated the chip would drop down on the pins and make a proper connection. We were supposed to repair these circuit board in the field....but you can see that idea didn't last long after a few PC's were destroyed. This is a factory repair job.
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John boy @ 31st Oct 08:03AM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Chrno was right...it is not a field repair.
I worked on a large main frame system in the early 90's which used this type of IC. You need special de-soldering tools to remove the IC. Then the new one is placed on top of the permanent pins and heated. The IC will then drop down and make connection. We tried it in the field with bad results.
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Smoove910 @ 31st Oct 09:47AM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Called a BGA (Ball Grid Array). No chance in hell you are replacing that at home. Even if you did have the ability to heat the part (without heating the surrounding parts), you have to reach 183 degrees before it becomes liquidous. Then you have to worry about reflowing the new GPU, and without causing any of the (unseen) solder balls to short out. Also, the heating would have to occur gradually so not to cause thermal shock to the part. And again, this is without trying to heat up the surrounding parts.

Good luck!
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Kilroy @ 31st Oct 03:16PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

I used to HP certified for laptops and desktops. Most, if not all, HP laptop models you have to replace the system board to replace the GPU. There is not an upgrade path, one of the major downsides for portable computers.
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Somnambul33t @ 31st Oct 10:21PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

BGA is probably the most common method of attaching GPUs to PCB these days. no chance of replacement.
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Rogue Wolf @ 8th Nov 08:48PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

said by Kilroy :

There is not an upgrade path, one of the major downsides for portable computers.

This. What you gain in portability you lose in customization ability. Perhaps someday there will be "build your own laptop" options, but that day is not today.
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PeteC2 @ 9th Nov 01:29PM:
Re: Removing laptop GPU

Smoove910 gave the most correct response!

The bottom line is this: This is not a user-replacable part, and I guarantee you that even HP techs do not bother to replace a failing GPU, they simply swap in a new mainboard.

It may be "do-able", but 99.99% of the time, all you will accomplish (unfortunately) is to kill the rest of the mainboard.
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