Eurocom Racer/ Clevo P170HM video card issue (original HD6970M and replacement GTX680M) - edited with new information

[stamasd]

I've had an Eurocom Racer (the original one) based on the Clevo P170HM for a few years. It came originally with a AMD 6970M video card. It worked well until recently, when it started freezing and rebooting randomly. After a little while, it wouldn't boot in normal mode anymore (Windows 7 Pro). It wouldn't even boot Linux anymore. It would boot Win7 in safe mode though. I worked on isolating the problem, and I think the video card is at fault; if I removed all video drivers and wouldn't allow a video driver to be installed apart from the default VGA driver that came with Win7, it would boot all the way in normal mode and not freeze/reboot anymore. The laptop is usable in this state, but of course only for basic stuff like web browsing. No gaming at all since no video driver=no hardware acceleration. It would even stumble on YouTube videos. Plus the aspect ratio is weird.

 

I think that it's a video memory problem, but haven't found a way to test that properly.

 

So anyway, I started looking around for a replacement video card. I'm aware of bios/vbios compatibility issues, but haven't had much personal experience with that. So far. So to try and stay out of trouble, I looked for a replacement card of a model that is among the ones listed on Eurocom's site as being hardware options for this laptop: http://www.eurocom.com/ec/configure(2,219,0)

 

I found a nvidia GTX680M/MXM3.0 model N13E-GTX that appeared that it would be compatible and was listed as an upgrade for Clevo laptops on the big E auction site. It appeared to have a modded video bios according to this picture from the auction listing: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wbc5l4p5rs3oewd/s-l1600c.jpg

 

I have received it today, installed without any issues with new thermal compound (IC Diamond), new pads for the memory etc; took the opportunity to clean the internal air ducts in the laptop too and so on.

 

I do get picture on the screen at boot, but only the splash screen. It stays there for a few minutes; makes 2 separate beeps, about 2-3 minutes apart, then goes to this screen:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uaoiw5axax4ximh/20170624_194532.jpeg

 

During this time it does not respond to the keyboard. I cannot enter the bios setup. After it goes to that final screen, nothing happens - I have to power it down.

 

Any ideas what I could do to make this card work with the laptop? Help much appreciated.

 

(edit) I've attached to the thread pictures of the card, screenshot from previous owner and from my laptop.

 

(edit2) Been looking around on this forum, found some information that the GTX680M will only work in P170HM if it has this bios: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/131179/clevo-gtx680m-4096-120507

It seems to be a different revision from the one on the card, which may explain why it isn't working. Could you please confirm that this is the correct vbios that I should have on the card?

 

Also since the laptop doesn't boot I don't know how I'm going to be able to flash that; I would appreciate guidance. I should be OK if the flash chip needs to be desoldered and flashed externally, unless it's in a BGA package (can't deal with BGA chips but I've worked with SOIC before). I have a programmer and socket adapters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 25, 2017 by stamasd

[stamasd]

Hm, looks like nobody knows anything about the GTX680M anymore. OK I'll go ahead and try to hack it alone.

Thanks for the help.

[theYellingGoat]

Im a super-noob so I'm probably no help at all.  My guess is that you already checked this thread out, right?  You could try messaging that "retired" guy (last post) that flashed the Egyptian kid's card and then mailed it back to him.  Seems like a solid dude.  Hopefully he's still around.

 

 

[H658tu]

On June 25, 2017 at 2:36 AM, stamasd said:

I should be OK if the flash chip needs to be desoldered and flashed externally, unless it's in a BGA package (can't deal with BGA chips but I've worked with SOIC before). I have a programmer and socket adapters.

These are all 150mil SOIC8. Look for a *25*10* chip on the top-side of the card, usually mid-left when orienting it socket-end down.

 

Not sure about the vbios version, but if the system won't boot to DOS then there's no alternative to soldering+programmer. Could do that for you, but since you already have the tools that shouldn't be necessary here.