Issue while trying to use slave 4850M

[CarlaBruti]

Hello everyone,

First, please forgive my english, I'm French and I'll do my best so you can understand me, but unfortunately there will be some grammar mistakes in this message

I've tried several French forums but I could'nt get help on them

So here is my problem : I have an Alienware M17 laptop with CFX 4850 mobility, which means 2 GPU. Due to some overheating issues, I decided to open my laptop, to clean dust, and then to replace the thermal paste on GPUs... but I forgot to put the battery (fully charged) off the computer when doing this, and after several tests (external screen, etc), it looks like I killed the master GPU. When i turn the computer on, I can hear the sound of windows, and ventirads are still working, but there is a black screen, no image.

But the slave GPU might still be working, and to be honest I would be fully satisfied with only 1 GPU since I mainly play starcraft 2, which works perfectly on a mere unique 4850.

So I tried to put the slave GPU in the master slot, and as foreseen, it doesn't work (I have 1 long bip and two short ones from the BIOS when turning the computer on, which means check your GPU, and still no screen).

So here is the final question : is there a way to use the GPU slave that is normally still OK when the master one is dead ? Or am I sentenced to find a new 4850 MXM ? (Which sounds like impossible mission nowadays, and since I'm clearly not gifted for informatics, might just totally fail again...)

I spent tons of hours on the internet, trying to get a solution, but I go from problems to problems and now I'm about to totally drop it and retire myself in some Nepalian lamasery to die in peace

If I haven't been clear enough, or if you need more details, do not hesitate in any way, I will be here !

Thanks in advance and good night to everyone

[95Viper]

Gosh, CarlaBruti, sorry no one replied.

Since you cleaned the inside of the laptop. check all the connections real carefully... to make sure none were loosened.

Try an external monitor. If that works, then it is probably the internal connections.

If the card is bad, try ordering one off a notebook parts site, amazon or, as a last resort, e-bay.

[Mussels]

the master and slave GPU's arent compatible. its possible you might be able to BIOS flash it, but it would be almost impossible to find the BIOS that you need.


perhaps try with an external monitor, see if that works? if not, you may need to find a replacement GPU.