G53sw intermittent loss of display issues

[backdrift]

So I recently purchased a used G53SW. Pretty awesome laptop, almost as powerful as my desktop (sadly).

Since day one, I have had intermittent issues with the display just not turning on. I have pretty much narrowed it down to a faulty GPU since HDMI and VGA do not detect anything.
Laptop does boot into Windows, but there is no display output.
No warranty on the laptop, since the device is more than a year old. 12 month warranty is expired as it was built in 04/11.

Was hoping some one else has some insight into this issue. I ordered a new GPU (GTX 460m) to test if a replacement will resolve the problem. Here are some things I have tried as well;

Reseating Memory
Reseating Display Connectors
Reseating the GPU card
Draining power via removing battery & holding power button
Booting directly from AC with battery removed
Booting directly from AC with battery removed, then inserting battery
Pushing on display connector from outside keyboard
Per some suggestions on the forums, tried holding laptop upside down during boot, or holding it from the top right corner while booting to no avail.

I want to also note that the display does work, although very seldom. It randomly will start working and as long as I use the laptop for a few hours a day and do not leave it off for long periods of time, it typically will turn on fine. However my usage is too infrequent, so that the display functionality will cease randomly.

Any one have any other suggestions?

[n3tninja]

1 Year warranty ONLY ? How's that possible ?? I have a 2-Years International Warranty with my G53sw.

[backdrift]

n3tninja wrote:
1 Year warranty ONLY ? How's that possible ?? I have a 2-Years International Warranty with my G53sw.

If it were easy for me to lookup the actual warranty some where on Asus' site I would, but all I have to go off of right now is the sticker which says "Warranty: 12m"

Other than that, does any one have any suggestions or things to check that they would normally check, or any one who has had similar issues?

[dstrakele]

Check out what @Yemon did to recover his G73JH ( http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?11968-G73JH-Black-screen-(&p=86803&viewfull=1#post86803 ). Of course this does not guarantee you'll have a similar experience.

[backdrift]

dstrakele wrote:
Check out what @Yemon did to recover his G73JH ( http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?11968-G73JH-Black-screen-(&p=86803&viewfull=1#post86803 ). Of course this does not guarantee you'll have a similar experience.

Interesting. I'll give this a try. I'm not necessarily sure how the CMOS battery would have anything to do with it, unless the battery its self is dying and just can't provide power to the card....which also doesn't make any sense. What a strange solution. I did however get a free GTX460m from the company I bought it from since I suspect it may have something to do with that, but I will try the battery reseat and let you folks know.

Thanks a ton for being helpful!

[dstrakele]

Discharging all the components of the laptop may have something to do with it. However, that type of resolution usually proves temporary for this issue. You can PM @Yemon to check the current status of his G73JH.

[backdrift]

dstrakele wrote:
Discharging all the components of the laptop may have something to do with it. However, that type of resolution usually proves temporary for this issue. You can PM @Yemon to check the current status of his G73JH.

Unfortunately reseating the CMOS battery did not have any effect. =(

[backdrift]

So got my new graphics card in today and swapped it out. Everything is working great now. Just thought I'd let you guys know what the status is of this issue.

I will report back more if the issue returns.

[backdrift]

Another update I feel is important.

I got the graphics card in, and couldn't get the laptop to recognize the actual hardware. Kept booting with the Standard VGA Driver. Attempted to install the driver multiple times.

Turns out, I was sent a 560m instead of a 460m. So I downloaded the 560m drivers....still nothing.

I ended up having to write the hardware ID of the card into the nvam.inf file of the driver installation, and voila! Everything is working perfectly thus far.

If any one else is having similar issues, let me know and I can most likely help you out.

[iluvatar]

I thought the g53 had the gpu soldered to the motherboard? How did you manage to change it?
Also where did you buy the the graphicscard? I have an g53sw as well with only 12months warranty. So far it's working, but I've already had to rma it because of a dead gpu and I'm still having issues from time to time. So I don't know what's gonna happen once my warranty runs out in a few months and I have a problem.
I thought in the EU they have to give you 24months warranty by law, but asus doesn't seem to be doing that.