[Help]Is my 7970M dead?

My laptop is an Alienware M17xR3.
My previous card was an AMD 6870M.
I recently managed to successfully install a new 7970M card i bought from Ebay off of upgradeyourlaptop/Eurocom.
It ran fine for 2-3 days until my computer suddenly shut off while i was playing CS:GO today.
When i tried to boot it up i heard 6 beeps so i know my VGA wasnt being detected.
I tried to reseat the card but still 6 beeps.
6 hours prior to the shutdown, i had installed two new sticks of 8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM.
I thought maybe it was my RAM causing the problems, so i switched back to my old RAM sticks, but still 6 beeps on startup.

I am sure i took all the necessary precautions -
Anti static wristband and mat were used during installation.
Thermal paste was applied properly. I used the IC Diamond thermal paste that came with the kit.
Also pasted on the thermal padding as per the instructions on the page as well as on Slickdude's guide reusing the large pad.
After the card was installed and functional i did tests and nothing seemed wrong with the card.
Temperatures were normal at around 50c idle and 70-80c during Furmark testing.
There have been 0 BSODs since the installation of the card.

Does anyone know what i can do?
I cant possibly send the card back for a replacement since they stated clearly that they do not allow refunds or replacements.

 

The card may be the problem as you said.. Alienware Beep Code table

Have you tried re-installing the old 6870m?

 

if your graphic card is dead, then try to bake it. If it works then I guess you are good to go for a few months. But seriously, it's only 2-3 days old and already dead???

 

Send it back. Your well within your rights for a replacement. If they won't help involve paypal (they always side with the buyer).

 

This is true. One time I was trying to auction my iP4. I specifically mentioned I would not ship to unconfirmed address ( just to be safe ). And then a jerk came and bought it out right, only to have it sent to an unconfirmed address, and he paid with a non-US Paypal account. I gave him a full refund and yet he left me a negative feedback for being a "bad seller". I talked to eBay and they said they can't do nothing about it. Ever since, I just stop selling on eBay.

Long story short, as a buyer, you can do whatever you want .

 

Hi, thanks for the replies.
My Alienware is running on my old 6870M without any problems whatsoever.
About baking i'll try it out tomorrow.
I have already sent a message to Eurocom for a replacement.

 

Don't bake it, or at least don't mention to Eurocom anything about baking and try to make sure there are no signs of baking when you send it back.

I'm generally not against baking, but that is only when you have no other option, if you have the option to return it then just go for that. What would be the point of baking it back to life? so that when you send it to Eurocom they can tell you it works so keep it?

Better send them a faulty card.

 

Thats a really good point. I'll wait for their reply before trying to continue anything else then.

 

If you are willing to that route, make sure you involve Paypal. If it's just Eurocom alone, I doubt they would be willing to exchange it for you. Dispute the transaction with Eurocom and let Paypal make the decision. If Paypal decides Eurocom is not at fault, then bake your 7970M.

 

Hey I have the same problem except it is with the Alienware M15x. My 7970m broke on October 24th and I paid an additional 504$ to Futureshop to have them replace my card which they are doing right now. I bought from upgradeyourlaptop on ebay and it says no refunds. Can you let me know what Eurocom says? If they will replace it for you for free then I might as well get a refund from Futureshop and follow your steps. I wanted to private message you but it seems I can't. Thanks.

 

You need at least 5 posts before you can use private message.

The easiest way is to talk to PayPal and file dispute with them. The thing about PayPal/ eBay is that they will always side with the buyer. So you have a very high chance to make them do a exchange.

 

Future Shop just gave me back my computer today and told me they couldn't find a replacement. So I guess I will try the paypal method.

And thanks for your reply. I will let you know how this goes.

 

Update: Paypal told me I passed the 45 days limit thing for disputes so I'm gonna try and get in touch with Eurocom.

Anyone know what happened to the original poster?

 

I had same problem only mine worked great for 2 months then wouldn't post. After a dozen tries it would post then fail with a grey screen.
highly unlikely that it would be a problem with the installation after running so long with no problems and low temps.

I asked Eurocom for an RMA and the only response I got send pics of you heatsink and pad arrangement, of course I had replaced my 5870s after several emails they just ignored me.

 

I am told to contact Kevin Honeyman, did you also talk to him too or did you talk to someone else? I had left a message a couples hours ago and also emailed him and am now waiting for a reply now.

Future Shop told me that my 7970m's core failed due to it being a faulty/defective card. Bummer.

 

The 7970M hardware quality is questionable. Our review samples also had problems. Good luck with it, I don't think Eurocom will be of much help.

Sent from my GT-N7000

 

I too had the same issue. How does the soldering on your card from Eurocom look? Is it as sloppy as mine here? I emailed Eurocom about the issue last night and am awaiting a reply. I'm considering filing a BBB complaint, it doesn't seem like this is an isolated case. These cards should last more than a couple months!

Everyone who has had their 7970m fail in this fashion, seems to have bought their card from Eurocom...

 

I've said in previous threads to avoid Eurocom/Upgradeyourlaptop.

The 7970m they sell are reflashed Clevo cards or at least they were( which are not fully compatible with Alienware's) and they seem to be selling cards with some seriously dodgy soldering.

I had the exact same Lump of solder on my card that I bought over 5 months ago.

Always buy from Dell. GPU upgrades anyway.

 

This is true, that's a clevo card if you have that soldering blob, see your other thread I replied in, don't bake your card.

 

I mailed my graphics card to Eurocom yesterday. Will arrive in a couple days and I will let you all know what happens.

 

Did you speak to them? I am curious what they said.

 

Yeah I phoned and spoke to Mark Babcock and he asked what the problem is and I said black screen of death and then he said to mail it in. You should ask for him too.

I bought the card from upgradeyourlaptop on ebay from United Kingdom and was not sure if Eurocom would help me.

Not sure if their going to replace/repair it for free though. Hopefully they will do it for free.

If all of us calls and tells them of the defectiveness in the 7970ms they sell then they must do something to save the face of their company, know what I'm saying?

Good luck and tell me what they tell you.

 

I've just had my eurocom 7970m die after 2 weeks of use.

It was working a charm before hand, sitting @ 70 degrees in Sleeping Dogs and xcom enemy unknown. Today during some time spent in Sleeping Dogs I got a screen lined with grey bars and my M17xR2 locked up.

After reset all I would get was a black screen when booting into Windows. I swapped my card back to one of my 5870's and no problems, so repasted and tried the 7970 again to no avail. I cant believe my new baby has died on me.

How am I going to go back to gaming now with only 1 5870 as I dont have enough thermal pads left to install the 2nd again.

Has anyone had any luck with Eurocom or paypal? Or found another way to get the cards working again??

 

I received a Dell card from Eurocom, though I really very recently bought it (have it for a week now approx).

Anyways, like others said, do not bake the card. It's a short term 'solution' anyway, you will be back at this point again in 2 months.

 

I had only purchased the card mid Jan and card had only been in almost 2 weeks. Really not happy about this. Spent good money on the card after doing a lot of research about who to buy it from, followed every install instruction only to have it go bad after such a short time

 

My 680M also failed after 2 weeks. Got it replaced and working like a charm now. And this is from HIDevolution, a totally different company.

Sh*t happens, and can happen to everyone, anywhere..... But you should be aware that you yourself are taking the bigger risk by going AMD.