In this post I explain how you can fix a laptop motherboard with failed NVIDIA graphics chip. This repair might apply to some HP/Compaq laptops and probably some other laptop brands. If this repair works for your laptop, please mention the brand and model number in comments after the post. This will help other readers with similar laptops.
This method should work for the following models: HP Pavilion dv2000, Pavilion dv6000, Pavilion dv9000, Compaq Presario v3000, Presario v6000, HP Pavilion tx1000, Pavilion tx2000.
By the way, I just fixed my son’s Xbox 360 with red ring of death (error 74) using exactly same technique.
MOST COMMON PROBLEM SYMPTOMS
1. Laptop turns on with garbled video on the internal laptop screen and external monitor.
2. Laptop turns on as normal but there is no video on the internal laptop screen or external monitor.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM
The NVIDIA graphics chip soldered to the motherboard. When the laptop gets very hot, the NVIDIA chip separates from the motherboard and laptop video fails.
HOW TO FIX FAILED NVIDIA CHIP
I have previous posts explaining how I fixed same problem by baking the motherboard in an oven or bubble-wrapping the laptop. But today I’m going to fix the motherboard using a heat gun. Basically, I’m going to heat up the NVIDIA chip with a heat gun to solder it back to the motherboard (reflow). I think this method is more reliable and the repair should last for a while.
WARNING!
There is no guaranty this method works all the time. While doing this repair you may damage the motherboard and make it unrepairable. Also, you may damage the laptop while taking it apart.
Proceed at your own risk and don’t blame me if you turned your laptop into a very expensive door stop. 
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this repair, take your laptop to the repair shop.
HOW I FIXED THE MOTHERBOARD
First of all, you’ll have to disassemble the laptop and remove the motherboard. You can find laptop disassembly procedure in the service manual. If you having trouble finding the manual, leave a comment and maybe I can point you to the right direction.
In my example I’m using a motherboard removed from HP Pavilion tx2000 laptop.
In most laptops the graphics chip located under the CPU heatsink (and it has NVIDIA logo on it), so there shouldn’t be a problem locating the chip. The chip has a glossy top surface.
For this repair I’m going to use an Ecoheat heat gun EC-100.
In order to figure out how to position the heat gun and for how long, I tested it on a penny with a small piece of solder on the top.
The Ecoheat heat gun has a switch on the handle. There are two positions for the switch. Position 1 – slow. Position 2 – fast.
I used position 1 – slow.
I positioned the heat gun about 1 inch away from the penny and turned it on.
After about 40-45 second the solder started melting. After 50 seconds the solder melted completely.
To protect the motherboard from the heat I used a regular cooking aluminum foil. I cut off a piece of aluminum foil and folded it a few times to make my protection shield thicker. After that I cut off a square opening right in the middle, same size as the NVIDIA chip.
After I removed the heat sink, I had some old thermal grease stuck on the NVIDIA graphics chip. You can remove old thermal grease using alcohol swabs. It’s not necessary to make it perfectly clean. Just make sure there are no large chunks of thermal grease on the chip.
UPDATE: Some people mentioned that I should have applied some liquid flux underneath the NVIDIA chip for better results. I didn’t do it this time. I’ll definitely do it next time if the motherboard fails again. I found this video explaining how to apply liquid flux under the GPU chip. This video was made for Xbox 360 motherboard but should apply to any laptop motherboard too.
Liquid flux for GPU reflow available on eBay.
Finally, I positioned the heat gun above the NVIDIA chip about 1 inch away and turned the heat gun into the position 1.
After 50 seconds I turned it off and let the motherboard cool down for about 20 minutes.
Don’t forget to apply new thermal grease on the NVIDIA chip when you install the heat sink.
Some laptops use thermal pads instead of grease. If that’s the case with your laptop, make sure the thermal pad positioned correctly.
After I assembled the laptop back together, the video started properly!
The NVIDIA graphics chip problem fixed!
Will it last for a long time? I don’t know. Still testing.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
January 21st, 2012 at 8:44 pm
This goes without saying usally, but make sure the motherboard is plumb when you heat it up, and make sure there is plenty of Kester’s flux on the solder balls and cups. The best rig is infrared reflux, but short of that, a heat gun will do. Last, make sure you put back the heat sinks with a good quality heat transfer paste – not too much. Clean the surface of the chips real good with alcohol or mild solvent. Then put on the paste, and pull a razor blade over it to you have a uniform layer of thermal compound, and button it up. Do make sure the house dust and fibers are all out of the radiator/heat exchanger and that the fan is working well. If it does not work now, it is because it has been cooked before. Bad air flow in the heat exchanger or hair fibers of hypereutectic solder that shorted it out. Dang tree huggers and their foolish laws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
@ Rayhan,
I guess it’s time for a new laptop.
January 18th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
I tried to heating it and it worked once. I tried again but couldn’t work again. Can I get any other way to fix a intel board which does not display and also Amd board which doesn’t display either. Is there any way to repair Harddrive or processor?
January 18th, 2012 at 9:51 am
I tried it for my Compaq presario f500.
It works for 2/3 days then again same problem….
I used hot gun method…i did it for 5 times..then after 2/3 days same issue….
One thing i did not used liquid flux…
Now what can i do…
i become bored …
Pls help me…
January 16th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Hi!!!
Thanks for this!!! Yesterday I revived my graphics chip on my laptop!!!
I use flux, and less temperature; 300ºC 30 secs 400ºC 10 secs.
Thanks one more time for the idea!
January 11th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@ Santi,
You apply flux right before heating up the chip.
Yes, the chip is soldered to the motherboard but there should be a gap between the chip and motherboard. It’s not like a huge gap but should be enough for flux to the under the chip.
No!!! Don’t lift up anything. Just apply some flux (a drop or two) between the chip and motherboard and let it get under the chip.
January 11th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Sir,
I want to thank you for publishing this extremely helpful information.
I was able to fix a Macbook Pro A1229 model suffering from a known NVIDIA Geforce 8600m GT issue using this method, but failed outside the 4 year window for FOC manufacturer fix.
Thank you again.
January 8th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Hi, great post, i was wondering… with the flux.. at what point do you apply it, and if its when you mention it in your post… why would there be a gap for the flux to seep through?? isnt the chip soldered on firmly?
Im guessing i lift it up a little first or something?
Thanks a lot i can see your answering a lot of people!
Take care!
January 8th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@ sylven Black,
Take a look at the blue light around the power socket. Does it stay on after the laptop shuts off?
January 7th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
I have a HP Pavillion DV6000 series limited edition laptop. The problem is when you press the power button to turn it on, it comes on for a second and shut right off. what might the problem be.