MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

[grosseader]

Hello members.
I got my gx660 for a long time and it was my backup laptop for 2 years. It was working splendid so far, and one day just didn't post. No backlit no hdmi no vga.

Specs are:
MS16F1
i5 460m
2x4Gb samsung RAM
HD5870
SSD + Hdd

Current state:
When i press power button, the button itself blink once, and after 6-7 seconds, it is lit normally , fan spins, CPU and GPU get warm, even fan is changing speeds ,it is monitoring the temps. Nothing on screen, no backlit, nothing on hdmi and vga. It is not booting, i waited a lot to hear win log on sound or sensor buttons to become active (they do after post) , but nothing.

Steps made:
hard reset , cmos reset, ram swaped, replaced tried different slots,
Without ram it shut itself off after 5 seconds, so it recognises ram memory.
Without gpu it is the same situation, so i assume it is that bastard driving me crazy!

Questions:
Is there way to use igpu ? I believe this i5 460m has, but never seen it in device manager, may be it is bios issue? Or can i use other cpu with igpu?

I have also MSI GT80 Titan, for daily use. It has 2x GTX980 in SLI. What are the chances that GTX980 will plug and play and that way i will be sure if i need new 5870?
I'm very concerned about this, but how you think, is it even an option?
p.s: i know a person with GTX980m in same notebook, but he flashed vbios and other stuff that i won't do on my working 980s

So any suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks.

[caspian]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

you should test it using an external monitor.
yes, it may be a bios issue or a GPU fault.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

Nothing on screen, no backlit, nothing on hdmi and vga.

Flashed 3 different BIOS files. No change. BUt a gpu is expensive just to test, so one of the questions is , can this mobo use integrated gpu?
And what are the chances to run GTX from other laptop, without issues , without risk for the card at least !

[caspian]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

If nothing is shorted on the mainboard, then there is almost no risk to the new GPU.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

I'm wondering what it is processing, cpu and gpu got warm and FAN spins slower or faster lke normal working machine. But no windows sound nothing

[caspian]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

It still can be a bios issue or a GPU fault or some other problem. To check them, you have to find the schematics of this laptop.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

I have schematics, i've flashed bios few times- woth different versions- no change.
Wondering if EC could be an issue, often is suggested to be flashed also!?

Damn there are no MXM slot testers.... you have to have $100 to buy card and pray it is it.

[caspian]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

The EC firmware is probably fine in your laptop. but you can give it a try by reprogramming it.
MXM slots have very weak supports in laptop community. Finding an unused MXM card is very difficult. Most for-sale MXM cards contain GPUs that will fail after a few months.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

I'm aware that won't find, (and certainly will not pay) for new GPU. Soooo basicly i won't be able to diagnose it. Must buy card (or same laptop) to be sure that i'm having working card for test. I believe vBios is also critical for MXM gpu compability, right?
So shouldn't bother to get card from other brand notebook, right?

[caspian]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

MXM slots have three or more versions called MXM I, II, III.
The new card can be from any laptop with the same MXM version and the same mainboard architecture.
Most Laptop models do not contain MXM cards. So they are rare to find.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

I'm just gonna buy another MSI GX660 so i would swap gpu, test it, and if it is OK, will buy GPU. Btw it is MXM III slot. Same as slot of my 980 SLI, but i won't risk $300 gpu for testing notebbok that cost $200

IF you wonder what's wrong with me... just santimental feelings for taht notebook. Nothing special, but i want it working on my desk.

[grosseader]

Re: MSI Gx660 ms16f1 troubleshooting

Bought another laptop, same MSI GX660 ms-16f1 but with i7 720QM.

Tested my gpu on it = working.
Tested my CPU i5 520m = no boot.
Tested i7 on mt old laptop = no boot.

Does anyone can say if bios for those 2 cpu is same, or different?

When i was updating unlocked bios on the old laptop, there was no difference nor was spoken about bios/ CPU difference.