ProBook 6550b instantly crashes when graphic card is loaded

[Jirina]

I have a problem with my ProBook 6550b, running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (with all Windows updates installed), namely with the graphic card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 540v (its driver and all other drivers have the latest version installed using the HP Support Assistant).

The problem is following: whenever I start an application, typically a game, the fan speed increases to maximum and I can see in the HW Monitor program that one of reported temperatures quickly (within seconds) increases from 60-70°C to more than 100°C (the temperature is called EGXZ, but I was not able to find its meaning). The notebook instantly switches off within 30 seconds. I observe the same behavior when running the GPU stress test in the application named "OCCT". I am afraid it is a problem of GPU overheating.

I tested what happens when CPU is 100% loaded and this problem does not occur, so it must be something with the graphic card.

I ran the same tests in a clean install of Windows 7, with no programs installed, just all the Windows updates and updates offered by the HP Support Assistant - the problem was the same - the notebook instantly switched off within less than a minute.

I had a chat with the HP support today, but they only offered updating the drivers and BIOS, which I am regularly doing, so there was nothing "old" on my notebook. Their recommendation to use factory defaults in BIOS did not help either.

I start to be desperate here. I was not able to find out where the graphic card is located and whether it has its own fan, so that I could try cleaning and checking it.  I tried hoovering everything around the CPU cooler, including air intakes and exhausts, but I think clogged air intakes/exhausts would not cause such a steep temperature increase like I am seeing on my notebook.

Does anyone have a similar experience? Are there any other solutions than taking the notebook to a service center?

[morehod23]

Hi Jirina,

what was the end of the story?

(if this story has the end   )

thanks

[Jirina]

The story had a happy end - I asked for support and the guy who came to check the laptop replaced the heat conducting stuff (I don't know the English name for it ) between the processor and the graphic card chip and the cooler tube - it was not soft anymore and did not conduct heat well. Also, the guy said the cooling is not so well designed - it works well in a new laptop, but it might need regular service if the CPU and/or graphic card  is 100 % loaded almost all the time like in my case.

[snssswc]

I had my ProBook 6550b graphics crashed completely today when I was connecting to another HP machine remotely. The 6550b machine had sharp noise recently, sounds like there had been lots of heat produced, similar symptoms as what you have described there. I bought just 1 year 2 months ago, the warrenty is finished. But I think it's the machine quality problem. For one year of usage, we users dont need to do that kind of maintenance on the heat sink.

It's sad that I dont know what to do with it now. I have posted a tech support there on the HP support web site, I keep my fingers crossed they could offer my some assistance.