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.
Laptop parts | Repair Man | 
December 26, 2008 2:52 pm
211 Responses to “Graphics card aka video board”
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Pages: « 9 [8] 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All
February 21st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Tony,
No, it’s not impossible. You just remove the second card first, disconnect cable from the first card. And after that remove the first card.
These cards are not cheap.
If you purchased your Satellite laptop in the USA, you can provide the laptop part number from the sticker on the bottom and I’ll look up video card part numbers.
After that you should be able to search for new replacement cards by the part number.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Tony,
These are two different cards and they are sandwiched together.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that you can remove one of the cards and run the laptop with only one card. I believe both cards must be installed into the laptop.
I’ve seen a few Toshiba Satellite X205 laptops with failed video cards and from my experience it was always the first card, which is located closer to the motherboard. Your case could be different though.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Campbell,
Discrete video cards for laptops are not cheap.
Try eBay. Try searching by the video card part number.
Here’s how you can find the part number.
Enter your laptop service tag here and click on “Original System Configuration” tab. Original part numbers should be listed in the left column.
What’s wrong with your video card? Garbled video, vertical lines?
If you have nothing to lose, you can try backing the video card.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:15 am
I figured out which card was which, but the way they are placed, it is impossible to take out the 1st card. So my question now is, if you know of any replacment cards?
February 21st, 2011 at 5:56 am
Hey Repair Man
Your guide helped tons, I have a Toshiba x205-sli5 with a NVIDIA SLI Dual GeForce 8600M GT. Recently my computer stopped starting up( blank screen, whirl of fans briefly then everything stops, the computer gives 3beeps, one soft then 2 loud beeps). I have put a bit of research into this and figured it to be a faulty graphics card. My plan was to take the faulty one out and just use the second, being that it is a dual card, but now that I am inside I cant distinguish between the two. Can you give me any suggestions on how to remove just a single card, or if they are a single piece where I can go to buy a replacement. I cant find the same type of card online and I don’t know what kind of cards would be compatable.
Any help would be so much appreciated.
February 20th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Just wondering if you knew where you could buy a discrete graphics card. I have a Dell Precision M90 Workstation with a Nvidia Quadro fx 1500m. I’ve looked around and find used ones for $200 to $300. I don’t know if it’s even possible to purchase one.
February 16th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
nataraj,
You’ll find Tecra S2 disassembly instructions in the following guide: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba_Tecra_S2/pull_apart_laptop_1.htm
The video card removal instructions shown in the step 17.
February 15th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Hi I have tecra s2 laptop i want to change video card this card get supertly in the market
January 28th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Grant,
What is your laptop model?
This could be bad connection between the video cable and inverter or bad video cable.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:40 am
my lap top screen has this annoying flicker ive had the screen changed and its still flickering but when i tap the back of the screen panel at the bottom of the screen it stops what can be the cause of this ?
January 13th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Bryan,
Yes, it’s possible you have a problem with the graphics card. I’ve seen failures like that before.
Here’s what you can try to make sure it’s not software related problem. Boot laptop in safe mode and uninstall display driver in the device manager. Restart the laptop and let it redetect the graphics card and install the driver again.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Boozer,
If you have a magnetic lid close switch, there should be a small magnet somewhere inside the display panel.
Take a small screwdriver and move it slowly alone the side of the screen. The screwdriver will stick to the bezel where the magnet is located. Now you can close the display and the magnet will show locating of the switch under the top cover.
Make sure all cables seated correctly. Did you disconnect LCD cable from the motherboard? Take a look inside the connector and find out if you damaged pins inside.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:01 am
Is it possible to have motherboard problem in a laptop if it works fine in safe mode? Only that in normal mode problems appear like garbled images and it keeps on restarting on its own?
Thanks in advance.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Toshiba Satelite P105-S9337 /
Hello, i have a video problem also. The problem was the video from boot up would be in 4bit mode very large of upper left corner of windows and boot screen. So i took apart and replaced thermal paste on all chipsets. Now after putting back together I notice thati dont have any backlight / desktop is fine./ No light from bootup / Tried other lcd panel and inverter i know is good. Im looking for the LID CLOSE SWITCH that i have read is magnetic, but unable to find anywhere on laptop. I have dissassembled the laptop 5 times looking for something, but no luck.
Please Help
January 4th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Kamal,
Most likely this is graphics card failure and there is no alternative besides replacing the whole motherboard.
The graphics card integrated into the motherboard and cannot be removed/replaced separately.
December 30th, 2010 at 3:03 am
I have same problem. My toshiba tecra m4 is suffring from same problem. from last 2 to 5 days ago when i start laptop, then on boot screen show special character and black red green type screen. i go to toshiba service center they said that this is solved if they replace motherboard. but that is very costly. is there any alternate. please suggest me.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Caleddin,
First, disconnect the video cable from the video card and test laptop with an external monitor. Can you get image on the external monitor when video cable unplugged?
December 7th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Khan,
Unfortunately, Toshiba (as most other laptop makers) user preparatory hardware.
You’ll have to find an exact replacement video card and these cards are not cheap.
December 4th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Hi,
I have Toshiba Qosmio x300 system boots but no screen,I tried to connect to external monitor and used Fn + F5 keys and also other combination to get screen,it didn’t work. well i took to a Toshiba service center for test and free estimate,they said it could be motherboard or GPU (graphic card)and repair will be costly.since GPU is plug in module, I can try to change the GPU but its original is very expensive. Is there other way like using compatible GPU and if yes then how can i find the compatible GPU. Please advise me.
Thanks
Khan
December 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Howdy,
I’ve had a similar situation to Ryan but have only now been able to try and deal with it. I have a Toshiba satellite, A200 series. My fan got clogged with dirt/dust while a friend was using my laptop. I unclogged it and the random restarts that overheating was causing stopped right away (of course.)
Then a few weeks later the screen went completely black. The startup noises are the same (except one single beep when it first starts up) and I can use my fingerprint login to get it to make the normal windows noises and log in, but nothing shows up at all. Even when plugged into another monitor, the computer does nothing.
I figured it was the discrete graphics card, which I knew was in there as I ordered it with one. I took the computer apart and took out the graphics card hoping that the motherboard might have an integrated card as well, but after putting the laptop back together it behaves exactly the same as when the card was in there (so at least I haven’t bricked the laptop yet.)
Would you suggest I also disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard, re-install the graphics card and try a separate monitor? I’ve been trying to find if I can just order another discrete graphics card but it’s been a maze of random websites so far, with no luck and little encouragement.
Thanks for any help you can give me about this. It’s frustrating to think I might lose an entire laptop for the failure of one small (but integral) piece of hardware.
November 23rd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Ryan,
Are you sure this laptop has dedicated graphics card? Maybe it’s just dedicated video memory but the graphics card itself integrated into the motherboard. I tried searching Lenovo website but unfortunatelly they don’t provide lots of information about this model.
Sometimes it’s necessary to unplug the LCD cable from the motherboard in order to get output to the external monitor. Can you get access the video cable connection on the motherboard? Test laptop with an external monitor when the video cable unplugged.
If external monitor works fine, it’s likely your graphics card works properly.
Do you know if you have a LED backlight screen installed in your laptop? It cold be just faulty screen.
Again, disconnect the video cable from the motherboard and test with an external monitor first.
November 23rd, 2010 at 11:32 am
hey repair man… still waiting for your suggestion.. help me out man.. thanks
November 20th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Lenovo Ideapad Y510 with nvidia 8600m GT dedicated 256MB graphics card. Without giving any prior problems, last week my display totally stopped working (completely blank). the laptop starts and even loads windows (you can hear the windows startup sound). Tried connecting it to an external monitor but that remains totally blank as well so i guess the problem is with the nvidia 8600m GT graphics card. I would really appreciate if you let me know whether this card is replaceable and if so, where can i order one from? and what other details about the card should i add or be concerned with? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks
November 15th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Taylor,
I believe your Asus K50 notebook has Intel GMA 4500M which is integrated into the motherboard.
The graphics card cannot be removed or upgraded.
November 10th, 2010 at 7:54 am
do you know if an asus k50 laptop has a removable graphics card, so you can update it? or is it built in like the one shown above