Alienware m9750 : dead Graphic Card and/or dead Motherboard ?

Hello,

Here is my problem :

yesterday I boot my m9750, I saw artefacts on Windows load, then black screen.

I reboot it in safe mode : it was ok.

Then rebooting it normally, it was ok : no artefacts.

But reading a movie it freeze, I reboot, and I got again artefacts while loading windows, then black screen.

To boot normally I'm obliged to wait severals minutes, then I can reach windows.

I can use my m9750 without reading any video or playing any game for hours, it's rockstable, I've done severals superPi without any freeze.

I checked the GPU and CPU temperatures, nothing wrong.

I updated my 9750GTX drivers, but the problem is still there when viewing videos.

I formated my hdd, it look like it was ok, but first video after 15seconds, freeze, black screen, reboot, and artefacts on windows load.

Then I reboot it, using it normally without viewing any video, I was on the internet and suddenly SHUTDOWN !

I try to reboot, it start then it stop in a second.

No way !

I changed memory modules (from my GSkills to the stock samsungs), I unplugged AC adaptater, battery, everything...

I'm sure it comes from the GPU and/or the Mother Board.

1. LEDs light up (just like in a normal boot)
2. HDD activity as if initializing (HDD LED indicator blinks a few then stops).
3. CD/DVD drive activity as if trying to read media
4. Fan spins (for a second then stops).
5. Nothing on LCD.

But I'm not sure, can a dead Graphic Card makes my m9750 act like this ?

Isn't it like the mother board is dead ?

It look likes a false contact, because with a dead graphic card, the computer should boot normally but whitout displaying anything, but it shoud not start then instantly stop ?!

I'm asking, because I'm not sure if I should spent 200$ in a 7950GTX without being sure if my mother board is still alive or not...

Other question, is the 8800m GTX finally compatible with the m9750 ?

The ATI Mobility 3870 is compatible, if I'm not wrong.

Thx !

I'm not sure if thoses small brown spots on the 7950GTX are significants or not...


Edited by Undertaker - 4/7/11 at 8:27am

Thx for your answers !

I tried to reseat the GPU, nothing changes.

So I'll buy an ATI Mobility 3870, and cross fingers, hope it's not the mother board .

Just received my new graphic card.
I'll tell you if it works !

Problem solved !
I replaced my graphic card with a new one, now it works =) !
So it's my 7950GTX that fried.
I have an other question :
As my new graphic card is different (ATI Mobility 3870), when I put 1920*1080, I don't have the same display as my ex 7950GTX.
There is 2 black lines : one on top and one on bottom, like a 16/9 screen.
Does anyone experienced the same problem with an ATI 3870 on a m9750 ?
Thx all !