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.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Thanks for the information. The card I need on a Nvidia Geforce 8600 in the Toshiba Qosmio F45 AV-425 Model No. PQF46U-00K005. I very much appreciate the information you can give me to buy this card. is urgent. thanks
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
Jaime Olivett,
The best way to find a replacement part is searching by the manufacturer’s part number. If you purchased your Qosmio F45 laptop in the United States, I can help you to find the VGA board part number. Give me the laptop model number: PQF43U-?????? and after that I’ll be able to search for parts in this laptop.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Where can I get the NVidia GeForce 8600M graphics card for a toshiba Qosmio F45 av425. is urgent.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
A.Hariri,
It looks like there are two different VGA boards used in a Satellite P105-S9722.
One VGA board has 256MB memory. It’s nVidia G71M (256MB VRAM). Toshiba part number: A000006510
Another one has 512MB memory. It’s nVidia G71M-U (512MB VRAM). Toshiba part number: A000006860 or A000039750.
I don’t know which one you need. But if you google the part number, you’ll find it. VGA boards are not cheap.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Great info.
Is there any website that you are aware of that I could use to buy VGA board for my Toshiba P105-S9722 laptop?
It is a US laptop.
Thanks!
September 8th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Richard,
Unfortunately in a Satellite P25 laptop the video card is integrated into the motherboard and cannot be removed separately. If the video card is gone, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard.
September 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
i have a toshiba satellite p25-s670.my video card is gone. I get lines on start up and it remains the same.please do suggest about the change of a graphics card.
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I swapped the motherboard and that is definately the problem. Now to find one cheap. Thanks again.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:48 am
Samus,
Sounds like a problem with the video card.
Here’s something you can try. If your laptop has shared video memory (part of the RAM is used for video purposes) it’s possible that you experiencing this problem because of faulty RAM. Not likely but possible.
Try replacing RAM module with a another known good module. If you have two RAM modules installed into the laptop try removing them one by one and test the laptop with each modules separately.
Also, access the BIOS setup menu and try loading default settings. Save the changes and restart the laptop.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:23 am
Brian,
Sounds like a problem with the video card, probably bad video memory. According to the service manual for Pavilion dv9500/dv9600/dv9700 notebook PCs (page 19), the video card and video memory are integrated into the motherboard. I guess you’ll have to swap the motherboard now.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
I’m so glad you posted some pictures! That’s what mine is doing with the random characters and lines, blocks, etc. I swapped LCD and cable with a known good and it is still there so I guess the video card is bad. I have a HP dv9657cl laptop. Is that integrated with the mother board?
August 20th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hello Repairman, I have a asus g1, and have run through your guide, my problem is, problem with the connection from lcd to mobo as there is no picture. I can boot windows into safe mode on an external monitor (tv via s-video) but when i try loading normal windows it wont let me get to the welcome screen , nor anything past that.
Any ideas other than to replace the mobo, as booting windows safe mode only works ive recovery reformatted 3 times just to be sure it isnt windows.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Mohamad,
I think your friend is right in some degree. When you load the video card, it runs hotter and the heat reduces life time of the components on the graphics card. But… Life is short.
Enjoy watching TV from the laptop while it’s still working.
August 15th, 2009 at 6:31 am
hi,I always watch Tv from my laptop (Toshiba), via tv tuner, some of my friends tell me that, watching video for long time ,it will reduce the life time of the graphic card or damage it, is that true ?
Thanks for your help.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:27 am
Repair Man,
I just got off the phone with Customer Relations at Toshiba and they are going to replace my motherboard free of charge. That makes my day, since I priced that board at around $700!
I would have never called them if you had not suggested it and directed me to that bulletin. Thanks a bunch. You’re the SHIZZLE!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Repair Man,
I upgraded my BIOS to the latest version – still have the same problem. (as I expected)
I talked to two more tech support people and the last one recomended I call Customer Relations to see if I can get a waiver on the one year rule since I’m only three months out. CR is closed now, so I’ll try tomorrow. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll seek out a board and put it in myself.
I used the instructions on that link last winter to clean the dust out of my cooling fins on my heat sink, and again earlier this week while searching for the cause of my current problem. I had never had a laptop apart before and it went really smooth. Those are really good (detailed) instructions.
Thanks for all your help! I’ll let ya know how it turns out.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
bizzle,
Go with the second part number if you can. It’s possible that the first motherboard has the same GPU chip as you have right now and might fail after a while.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
bizzle,
Yes, either one will work.
Yes, keep trying. Even if one representative says no another one might say yes.
By the way, here are instructions for replacing the motherboard in a Qosmio G35 notebook.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Repair Man,
Thanks a million for the info. I’ve been fooling with this thing for a week now.
Will either of those part numbers work? My laptop was mfd in 2006.
yes, I think it is the video card. I can get light, but no image on an external monitor, but it turns the power button LED on the external monitor from amber to green. The screen on the laptop looks just about like the third pic in this post. Also, I had to disable the graphics card in device manager or I get an infinate error cycle (blue screen/restart/blue screen/…).
I called Toshiba and they recomended I update my BIOS version, so I’ll try that then call them back if that doesn’t work. The GPU repair program is only good for one year after your original warranty expires, and I’m beyond that, so I don’t know if they will help me or not. I’ll keep you posted.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:33 am
bizzle,
In your Qosmio G53-AV650 the video card is integrated into the motherboard. The video card cannot be removed and replaced separately, so you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard. You can use these part numbers to locate a new motherboard: P000451730 or P000461660. The second part number is a newer one.
Are you having a problem with the video card? Call Toshiba! I believe they are replacing motherboards in Qosmio G35 notebooks because of the GPU failure (even if your laptop out of warranty). Call Toshiba first and find out. Let me know if it works for you.