Graphics card aka video board
A graphics card also known as a video card or VGA board is a laptop component responsible for creating images on a laptop screen.
In most low-mid range laptops the graphics card is integrated into the motherboard. In other words, it’s a part of the motherboard. If that’s the case, the graphics card is not removable or upgradeable. If the graphics card fails, you have to replace the whole motherboard.
A discrete graphics card can be found in high range models and high end gaming laptops. Discrete graphics cards can be removed and in some cases they are upgradeable.
Here’s another example of the discrete video card in a high end gaming laptop. As you see the video card can be separated from the motherboard.
GRAPHICS CARD RELATED PROBLEMS
You can use the following method for troubleshooting problems related to graphics cards.
Let’s say your display stopped working properly. The image is distorted or garbled. Is this problem related to the VGA board or LCD screen?
Connect your laptop to an external monitor and take a look at the external video output. If you see the same problem as on the internal LCD screen, most likely it’s related to the VGA board. If video on the external monitor works fine and the problem appears only on the internal LCD screen, most likely your problem is related to the LCD screen or LCD cable.
TYPICAL VIDEO CARD FAILURE
Below you can see a few pictures taken from a laptop with a faulty video card.
1. When you start the laptop, the initial screen with manufacturer’s logo is not displayed properly on both internal LCD screen and external monitors. You can see random characters, vertical lines running through the logo, random colors, etc…
2. Same problem appears when the laptop displays the boot menu. The screen is either not readable at all, or there are some random characters all over the image.
3. Finally, the laptop starts loading Windows, but the image on both screens is still garbled.
A problem like that is not related to the laptop screen or inverter board.
Again, if the video card is integrated into the motherboard and it fails, you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
Need spare parts for your laptop?
If you are looking for spare parts for your laptop you can find brand new and used parts here. Just search by the part name and laptop model.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Can the graphics card be replaced on a Qosmio G35-AV650 (PQG31U-016007) or will I have to replace the mother board?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
JATJ65,
The first thing to check is laptop memory. If one of the RAM modules is bad the laptop will not start.
Try removing RAM modules one by one and teat the laptop with each module separately. Can you get video when only one of the RAM modules is installed? Try different RAM slots too.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Repair Man, I should haved I have no display on my HP Pavilion dv6633us Enterainment Notebook PC.
It was possible for me to view my software previously from my dv6633us via connection to another display monitor.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I have no display from my HP Pavillion Laptop. I tried to connect it to a different monitor also…nothing. Can you please help me to identify the graphic card for replacement mine do not look like the one displayed. and there is so many parts to remove. Please help I can’t afford to replace, professional local service or mess it up.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Repair Man you are the best. is BACK
ʞɔɐq sı ˙ʇsǝq ǝɥʇ ǝɹɐ noʎ uɐɯ ɹıɐdǝɹ
Thanks.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Omega,
The first thing to check is laptop memory, maybe it’s bad. Do you have two memory modules installed? Try removing them one by one. If the laptop start with one module but doesn’t start when the second one is installed, the second module is bad.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:44 am
NÖ VIDEÖ ÖUTPUT FRÖM LCD OR EXTERNAL MÖNItÖr
CÖmpaQ presario c700 ?????????????????????????????????????????
help please
June 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I have a toshiba qosmio f10 101 and my graphic card is broken. Can i replace it or fix it?
May 8th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Thanks for the good pictures.
I have a problem like on in the second example. Internal and external monitors have bad image.
The bad thing is that I have no discrete video card, it’s on the motherboard. I’ll try to find a replacement and if it’s too expensive I’ll buy a new laptop.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Geroge,
What do you mean by “on the graphics card”?
Usually thermal grease is applied on a chip before you install the heat sink on it.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Is it ok to put thermal paste on the graphics card?
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 am
The screen doesn’t flicker when the computer is running on battery power. So it appear to be the AC power. I’ve replaced the AC adapter recently.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:58 am
Travis,
Unfortunately you don’t have a lot of choices. If the video card is bad, it has to be replaced. There is not much you can do to fix it. Is it a discrete video card? You can try reconnecting it to the motherboard. It’s possible that the video card is not making good contact with the motherboard, maybe pin inside the connector got oxidized, and reconnecting the card will fix it.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Having an issue with my video card. Running an Everex Stepnote XT5300T with NVidia GeForce 8600M GS. About a month ago, I ran my AVG antivirus as a scan, and ever since, I have had an issue with the card. I have since tried reformating everything, and now my recovery disk that came with the laptop errors out (BSOD 0×8E). So, I’ve borrowed another disk to load the OS, and have everything but the graphic’s card to work. Right now, I’ve updated the driver for it, but every time I enable it, it gives me the following BSOD error: 0×050 (0xDC30B405, 0×01, 0×88D79400, 0×02). With the card disabled, I can run the laptop and OS, but the video functionality is severely limited. Any ideas?
April 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
tbrandis,
Did you have a chance to test the AC adapter. Maybe there is a short inside the power cord and because of that it’s switching between AC power and battery?
Will it do the same if you run the laptop just on battery power without AC adapter plugged in?
April 15th, 2009 at 5:26 am
The screen on my Dell D500 randomly flickers. I hooked up an external monitor and the flickering didn’t happen on the monitor. I replaced the screen including LCD cable with one off of a laptop that didn’t flicker, but the flickering continues. The flickering looks as if the computer is switching between AC power and battery.I replaced the AC jack about a year ago. Any ideas on this one?
April 12th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
joecoolsvette (comment 43),
His video card started and he got video on the screen. It tells me that the video card is compatible with the motherboard. Otherwise it wouldn’t start at all.
I still think there is a problem with the video card. OR it’s not make good connection with the motherboard.
to Rosario (comment 41).
Just in case try reseating the video card.
April 9th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Rosario,
I have a problem with a Video Card I bought last week. I’ve chenged my old Geforce Go 6800Ultra with a better Geforce Go 7900GTX 512MB. When the lappy boot up I see some vertical dotted lines and the same when loading XP, but when XP is loaded the lines disappear. If I try to install the driver my lappy completely blocks up and I must start windows in temporary mode and uninstall the driver.
My laptop is a Clevo D900T with a Motherboard version 5.5 and a Power Supply of 220Watt. Now I have installed again the 6800Ultra and everything is OK.
What is the problem? The Vga or an incompatibility of the MotherBoard with that card?
I suggest the motherboard chipset of your laptop, will not support a GeForce Go 7900GTX, (’Motherboard chipset’ is the Northbridge/Southbridge chipset) You may see a version that is one step up from your laptop, and it uses the Nvidia GeForce Go 7900GTX. It also has a motherboard chipset that will support it.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Rosario,
Did you buy the Geforce Go 7900GTX 512MB from a reliable source? It sounds like your new video card has defective memory. It’s possible you bought a bad card.
April 1st, 2009 at 2:35 am
I have a problem with a Video Card I bought last week. I’ve chenged my old Geforce Go 6800Ultra with a better Geforce Go 7900GTX 512MB. When the lappy boot up I see some vertical dotted lines and the same when loading XP, but when XP is loaded the lines disappear. If I try to install the driver my lappy completely blocks up and I must start windows in temporary mode and uninstall the driver.
My laptop is a Clevo D900T with a Motherboard version 5.5 and a Power Supply of 220Watt. Now I have installed again the 6800Ultra and everything is OK.
What is the problem? The Vga or an incompatibility of the MotherBoard with that card?
Thanks.
Rosario