17 R4 GPU Drops to 0% usage in game - Help

So I started a previous thread thinking it was a network error but after an entire day of trouble shooting I have concluded this seems to be a gpu issue.

I can load up overwatch play for about 10 minutes uninterrupted no issues. 10 minutes in an around 72 degrees on the gpu, 65 on the PCH, and 78 on the cpu cores I start to have issues.

My gpu usage drops to 0% mid game here are the screen shots from MSI afterburner.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was on the phone with alienware for 2 1/2 hours today and no luck. I have done a complete fresh install of OS. Drivers are up to date or at least they say they are. The only thing I cannot install are the below bios and chipset drivers from Support Assist. I install them restart then it says I need to install them again.

Please help.

 

Did you read this thread? http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...gtx1080-in-game-random-stutter-freeze.804499/

 

Yes but seems odd for a brand new machine. Basically faulty heat sinks? Its a day old shouldn't I just send it back if that is the case?

 

If you don't want to change thermal pads to quash this problem, then yes, go for an exchange or refund.

 

Getting a good working Alienware unit is like winning a jackpot in a lottery, most AW units right now are broken, they still haven't fix the issues with most of their units since late 2016, so its no surprise that yours is broken too and some people are making good amount of money out of this by fixing the issues for people like you. (e.g re-pasting, changing the thermal pads, and correcting the faulty heat sinks).

Just return the laptop and ask for a refund, don't tolerate this company ignoring their faults.

And NO, I don't hate Alienware, as a matter of fact I almost ordered one from HIDevolution back in late 2016 because I really like the way it look, the build quality looks sturdy from the outside, but yeah faulty in the inside.

 

I would think less likely to have issues in the second one. I thing is I should not have to chance the thermal pads


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I am asking for a replacement. I don't see why I can't keep switching until I get a good one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It's your choice mate, so good luck with that.

 

And if you are lucky in the lottery... How long will it last before problems will occur on working systems? Have seen stutter and freezes coming after awhile.

 

Then you need to win Dellienware's lottery again and see if you can get a good technical support your way.

And if your trusted overpriced warranty service is void or expired then you're sh!t out of luck Jimmy!

 

Are you saying problems are occurring after a time of owning the system? Seems odd because heat sink mounting issues should be evident from the get go.

 

I would think if your lucky it would last. I don't mind doing a repaste and repad which seems to be the only issue. I am not doing it on a system that is 24 hour old.

 

You're just experiencing the same problems explained in this post http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...gtx1080-in-game-random-stutter-freeze.804499/ as

It's just an unbalanced / even bended heat sink that unevenly covers (or doesn't at all) the IC chips it's supposed to "absorb" heat from.
For example, I had the same problem you're describing this is how my system arrived from factory
As you can see my photo is not very well focused but you'll get the idea, also there was a lot more chips around the GPU not being covered by the heat sink but I was unable to take a decent photo.
If you don't want to re-paste you should sent it back and ask for a replacement or a re-found.
EDIT: For some reason the image is broken/not loading http://imgur.com/a/XpF8B

No, this should be evident right away but depends on the GPU / CPU usage and the severity of your HS mounting issue. I wasn't aware of the GPU problem and everything was running "fine" in my unit until I tried to play Quake, Overwatch and BF1 for more than 10min.

 

So my replacement chances are I won't have this problem? or Chances are I will have this problem?

I will crack mine open later and see if that is the cause; it does sound strikingly similar. Are you did was a re pad and re paste and it was perfect? Did they send you replacement heat sinks?

Wouldn't my system be over heating though?

 

So how common is this issue? Is it every system?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Sorry I said I HAD but truth is I've tried several times but I wasn't able to fully balance my HS. It was lightly bended from factory and the only way to balance it was using thick thermal pads, this obviously prevented an even contact to GPU and CPU surface, so I had to lower the pads and tried to fix the problem sightly bending some HS zones. After this I got better thermals in general but my temps are still high and I'm just waiting for a motherboard and HS replacement from Dell. I'm not sure if I got rid of this as I haven't tested this in particular, in fact I'm not even using my AW system anymore.

If you have time remove some covers and check for IC, pads and HS gaps, you probably won't have to fully remove the motherboard but I would report the issue with Dell first and yes, it seems like a very common issue among all AW laptops but if you're lucky you might receive a decent HS and everything will run just fine.

 

So yours was heating issues. So your temps displayed heating issues?

Mine does that after 10 minutes even when heat sensors are showing temps are fine.

 

Those with non balanced heat sync... did any of you have the issue with the gpu and no heat sensor reporting high temps


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Do you understand that GPU temp is not the temp of VRMs, MOSFETs etc?

 

I do now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

We'll see what the replacement holds. It's a shame because the CPU and gpu actual temps where really good for a factory paste job.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk