I have a dell studio XPS 8000 which I Have been happy with until it stoped working and randomly going into power save mode. I have read and researched possible issues, I changed settings in BIOS, I went to t he start menu and changed power settings, and I have taken off the side and clean out any dust with an air can which there was an abundance of. My fan then under the VGA card started working after I cleaned out the dust balls but then after a few minutes it started to sound sickly. When I support the fan with my finger gently on the bottom it spins again but then as soon as I pull my fuinger off it starts and stops and sounds sick again! I am not a computer person and I need some suggestions. Is it possible that I can remove the fan from under the VGA card and replace it or are they actually one piece fan and card together? If anyone has any suggestions please help! I need my computer for work. Unfortunalely the Mac Book Pro I just bought doesn't run my trade program that I need for my business!!!! :-( I could go out and get another one but I am determined to get this fixed. Best buy told me that if I had done all the things I did there was not much they could do but send it out and it was not worth it most likely and I should just buy a new desk top. I know the mother board and drives are working because when I first start it up it boots and runs fine for about 3-5 minutes. I am rambeling now but any help or suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks,

Karen Tartamella 

Hello. I'm not as smart as my bf, but just asked him and he said the fan and VGA card is the same part, so replace that as one piece, unless its the fan by the motherboard, that can be replaced by your CPU. Hope that helps :) Also he said see if ur fan has any screws on it, maybe they just need tighten up :) 

I tried tightening up the screws ontop of the vga that go into the vga card and it did not seem to help ... I think it is running hot and from what I have read it looks like it's a common issue with the dell studio XPS's in general. I just have to figure out how to get the vga card out now. I unhooked the power supply to the fan and the wire harness that was plugges into the vga card but it is stuck in the back of the housing and also looks to be attched to the mother board.
Thanks for your help/ I hope it is not an expensive fix! 

I suggest buying a new video card. The one you have in it now is not that good, and known to fubar easily. 

fluffy any suggestions on how to get it out and if I can where do I go for new parts? I am out of my league here but willing to learn. 

take a picture of the inside and post it.

On the tower frame where the video card is it's held in by a screw. Once you pop that screw off you can pull the video card out. 

I unscrewed it, but it seems to be stuck in the far right corner where it plugs into what I believe is the mother board. 

okay Ms. computer illiterate here, how do I post a pic? 

I unscrewed it, but it seems to be stuck in the far right corner where it plugs into what I believe is the mother board.


Is your monitor still connected to the back of it?


okay Ms. computer illiterate here, how do I post a pic?
on the right of this chat area there's a symbol that has a square, triangle and circle. Click on it, then add the link to the picture.

If you don't know a website to upload the image to I would say goto imageshack.us or tinypic. 

Is your monitor still connected to the back of it?
no how embarrassing if I did that! 

Woo Hoo It worked!
Is that gray plastic clip in the far right corner something I have to mess with to release the vga card because it is stuck in that corner. 

I got it out! Now I suppose tomorrow I have to find somewhere to find one of these suckers! Thanks for your help and support! 

I'm impressed! Good job! 

Is that gray plastic clip in the far right corner something I have to mess with to release the vga card because it is stuck in that corner.


Yeah it is a release.

Awesome you got it out!

Now, the big issue is to get a video card that will be compatable with your system.

I'd suggest going to Best Buy or Frys(I'd say frys more so than BB) 

I highly recommend Marcus with Buzzingo Computers, who shares a store front with Rapid Refill Ink in the strip shopping center next to Alspaugh's. If it's fixable, he will figure it out. He's kept our computers and my friends' computers going for years. Honest, extremely intelligent, reasonably priced. Does house calls if needed. 

Hi Karen

I own Big Fish Computer Support here in Kingwood, sorry Best Buy was not able to help you out. Please PM me if you would like to have us look at the computer for you or if you have a quick question I will try and answer it for you. 

I am pleased to say with a little help here and google beside me, I was able to diagnose my problem remove the VGA card and power supply and change out both. When I first looked inside the computer I was completely overwhelmed but it ended up being very logical to fix. I am hooked! Now I need an old computer toupgeade and play with! 

I am very impressed, that's awesome that you were willing to dive right in! I may have to keep you in mind when I get ready to hire :-) 

Oh no, I don't think I would qualify for a job, I just know how to use google and some common sense. I was just thrilled that when I was done unhooking and rehooking wires it all went back on and worked better then before.