Repair suggestions

[vinnywright]

Well it looks like the GPU (Nvidia GTX 860M 4Gig RAM) in my System76 Bonox8 has or is in the process of burning out.

The symptoms are , it started with occasional pixilation across the screen in 2-3 narrow bands thin started getting worse and now it will do it within a minute and even in the BIOS setup .

I have cleaned the fans and heat sink , then got really down and put it up for a wile .

at present the wife and I are sharing a cheep Chromebook and it;s doing OK

I am thinking of puling and reseating the GPU and looking for a way to activate the CPU's graphics I didn't see a way in the BIOS maybe their is a jumper pin on the MOBO ?

when I look up the CPU it said it has Intel graphics ,,,,,,,,

any and all suggestions welcome ,

Thank you

VINNY

[Snowhog]

Contact System76 as regards to activating the onboard Intel Graphics.

[GreyGeek]

They are easy to work on and it would cost you only the price of some high quality thermal paste to redo the GPU, and probably while you are at it, the CPU. You could also get a CR2032 coin battery and replace it also. If it doesn't help then little was lost trying.

My old Acer had to GPU's. An Intel HD 3000 and an Nvidia GT 650M. The bios was set to the Intel and there was no bios setting to switch to the Nvidia. However, the nvidia-340 driver made the GT 650M the default desktop driver. Worked great. Now the Acer has been sacked for parts and rests in the bone yard.

[Qqmike]

https://support.cyberpowerpc.com/hc/...board-graphics

I've never used discrete graphics cards, always used the Intel integrated graphics. I do read about people playing/experimenting. That link shows how to disable your card, then test for integrated graphics. Looks easy enough. Just be gentle with the clips holding the card in the slot (ditto for memory cards, of course -- I've seen them break from age & brittleness). Maybe the suggestion first to ask System76 is a good one, too.

[MoonRise]

Before all of that, are we sure it isn't just the screen itself? Easier to replace then the Graphics. Try an external Monitor and see how it performs.

[vinnywright]

Contact System76 as regards to activating the onboard Intel Graphics.

good idea thank you .

GreyGeek

They are easy to work on and it would cost you only the price of some high quality thermal paste to redo the GPU, and probably while you are at it, the CPU

Aaaa yes "thermal paste" I will be needing that if I pull the card now wont I , the heat sink will half to come off I do believe.


Qqmike

I've never used discrete graphics cards, always used the Intel integrated graphics. I do read about people playing/experimenting. That link shows how to disable your card, then test for integrated graphics. Looks easy enough. Just be gentle with the clips holding the card in the slot (ditto for memory cards, of course -- I've seen them break from age & brittleness). Maybe the suggestion first to ask System76 is a good one, too.

thank you for the link (this is a laptop) but the idea is the same


MoonRise

Before all of that, are we sure it isn't just the screen itself? Easier to replace then the Graphics. Try an external Monitor and see how it performs.

O ,,,,, yes I did try that as well ,,,,, exact same on the external Monitor , my bad for not including that tidbit in the "what I've tried"


Thank you all for the ideas ,,,,,, will start with the first one first and see about getting in touch with system76 , they did put it together after all

VINNY

[Qqmike]

... and, yes, Vinny. I just realized only tonight that you probably have a laptop, not a desktop PC. But, as you say, the idea is similar across form factors. It does seem that there are 2 possibilities:
(1) The BIOS has a setting. In this case, you can basically choose which you want in the BIOS (discreet card or integrated).
(2) No setting in the BIOS. In this case, if no card is detected, then it defaults to looking for integrated graphics off the CPU.

[MoonRise]

Well, if the same on external, then that is a bummer. I'd definitely call up System76.

[vinnywright]

just submitted a support ticket over at system76

Charles Wright Feb 22, 2022, 4:49 PM MST it started as intermittent pixelation running across the screen in 2 or 3 1/4 in bands once in a wile . Now I cant even get through the BIOS setup before it happens and it's on the hole screen. this also happens on an external monitor at the same time this is on the Bonox8 I received from you all about 5 years ago , the GPU is a GTX-860M 4Gig RAM 1152? cuda cores when I look up specks for the CPU i7-4910MQ the specks speak of it having intel graphics , is their a way to enable that , like if I remove the Nvidia card will it just use the CPU's graphics ? any help or ideas would be appreciated Thank you Charles Wright AKA vinnywright or VINNY at Kubuntuforums.net

it was 2014 when I placed the order for it so thay do not owe me anything but they did get back to me one time when I asked about fan noise LOL

VINNY

[Qqmike]

I think we are all curious to know how this goes, Vinny, if you care to share 😉👍

[vinnywright]

O yes , I will share all hear is the first response from support

Aaron Honeycutt (System76)

Feb 23, 2022, 7:43 AM MST

Hello Charles,

Thank you for reaching out to our support team! Are you able to get anything on the display by moving the lid? Since it happen on an external monitor then this would be the NVIDIA GPU as the Intel GPU isn't usable on this system due to the wiring.

Cheers,
Aaron

and my response

Charles Wright <charles.v.wright@gmail.com>	5:39 PM (4 minutes ago)
to System76

No moving the lid around does not have any effect.

Are you saying that removing the Nvidia GPU will not allow the intel GPU to activate ?


If so, how much for a replacement Nvidia GPU , OR what would be an acceptable replacement GPU that may be cheaper ?


and just what about the "wiring" is keeping the intel GPU from working ?


if there's a way to activate it please tell !!


thank you for your reply
Charles Wright

Now we wait to see what we see

VINNY

[vinnywright]

Well hear is today's response.........

Aaron Honeycutt (System76) Feb 24, 2022, 8:18 AM MST Hello Charles, I'm not aware of a way to use the Intel GPU on this system as only the NVIDIA GPU can be used for graphics. I can check with my hardware team about the GPU though we may not have it due to the age of the system.

and mine

Charles Wright	5:18 PM (19 minutes ago)
to System76

well please do check with the team to see if you have one or a compatible one .

thank you
Charles wright

well , I'm going to go curl up and cry a while ,,,,,,,,,,, and start pricing 860M's , if one can be found

VINNY

[Snowhog]

Is the GPU even replaceable? Isn't it soldered to the MOBO?

[vinnywright]

Is the GPU even replaceable? Isn't it soldered to the MOBO?

No it is in a PCI type slot that is wired into the MOBO the card is (approximately from memory the last time I had it open) about 3x4" , 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 or so I'll get a pick over the weekend to post.

VINNY

[vinnywright]

found this .......... https://www.amazon.com/Original-Note...819SM3DR&psc=1

my box is a P370SM , sooooo should be compatible and an upgrade ,,,, I'll ask system76 tomorrow


VINNY