GPU failure or something else? (Compaq Presario V3000)

Identifying Hardware Failures in the Compaq Presario V3000: GPU or Other Causes?

Introduction

The Compaq Presario V3000 series has been a reliable workhorse for many users, but like all laptops, it can encounter issues over time. Recently, a user reported a troubling problem that appears to relate to the display or possibly the graphics hardware. This article aims to analyze the symptoms, possible causes, and troubleshooting strategies for this type of issue.

Overview of the User’s Experience

The user’s scenario involves the following setup:

• Model: Compaq Presario V3000
• Processor: AMD Turion 64
• Graphics: GeForce Go 6150 GPU
• Memory: 3GB RAM

The problem arose during a routine activity: installing the game Morrowind.

Symptoms Reported

• The screen intermittently blacking out and then restoring during normal desktop use.
• Eventually, the display ceased functioning entirely—either no image appears or remains blank.
• Upon rebooting, the display briefly shows the desktop before failing again.
• Initial boot showed a lower-than-native resolution (800×600), before switching back to the native resolution (1280×768), after which the display issues commenced.

Analysis

This pattern of intermittent display failures followed by persistent black screens suggests several potential causes:

1. Graphics Card Failure:
   The GeForce Go 6150 GPU is known to suffer from overheating and solder joint problems over time. Such hardware failures often manifest as flickering screens, artifacting, or complete blackouts.

2. Driver Corruption or Software Issue:
   The user suspects driver corruption, especially given the resolution change prior to the issue. Graphics driver issues can cause display anomalies, especially if drivers become incompatible after updates or corrupted.

3. Display or Connection Problems:
   Loose or faulty display cables or the LCD itself can cause intermittent issues. While less likely in this case, it’s still worth considering.

4. Overheating or Hardware Stress:
   Installing a new application like Morrowind might have increased GPU load, potentially triggering overheating or revealing existing hardware faults.

Troubleshooting Steps

To diagnose whether the GPU is failing or if other components are at fault, consider the following:

• Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers:
  Obtain the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Perform a clean installation to eliminate driver corruption as a cause.

• Check for Overheating: