Alienware 17 880m screen artifacts

Hey guys,

Fighting with a weird issue here and I hope you have some suggestions.

Story:

I was playing a game and suddenly noticed a few (not so serious) artifacts.

I restarted the PC but it didn't fix it, so I decided i would reinstall the gpu drivers.

I used DDU (Atleast that's what I think it's called) to remove it completely.

Now, after booting into Windows it would freeze/crash completely - so i formatted/reset it (i needed to do that anyways so no biggie)

That fixed the crashing problem, so I was able to install the driver again.

But it didn't fix the artifacts, as a matter of fact they have gotten worse (worse than the pictures included in this post)

Any ideas??

TLDR: Screen is showing artifacts (check the pictures), what the hell is wrong?

Could not figure out how to add pictures on mobile so here is a few links.

Pictures:
https://ibb.co/khWnDv
https://ibb.co/dLopRF
https://ibb.co/hSnG6F

Beers are hugs for anyone with tips on how to fix this.
Thanks!

 

Sorry bad news. Your GPU is dying.maybe a reflow could fix it. New card required

 

Hi,

Well I think you know where this is going .

Just to make sure it's not panel related hook it up to your TV or a monitor if you have one.

After that you have to think the card is failing. The 880m was trashed in the forums when it was released and it never even made a desktop version. In retrospect I haven't seen any failing so far. Usual complaint is overheating and throttling.

Good luck...

 

Thanks for the quick responses, I'll have another go when i get back from work.

What options do I have when it comes to replacement GPU's?

 

Oooh! Semi-good news. When connected to an external display it works perfect, no artifacts whatsoever.

Does that mean the card is not fried then?

 

That's my interpretation - unless the problem is related to a particular output, and I've never heard of that!

Is it a 120hz display?

 

Nope, just the regular one. 1080p 60hz

 

Oh well, I was hoping it was and you could try it at 60hz. Guess it's time to track down a panel.

Did you see the 120hz panel replacement for the AW17 sticky? Might be worth upgrading, and the 120hz panel really does make a difference!

 

Actually, you could try resetting the cable at either end...

 

I have just finished putting it back together. I took out the "bottom" part and tried reseating what I though was the GPU cable.

That didn't work, and even better I know have a defect keyboard (What did i mess up here?).

Next step is to reseat the cable in the monitor, but I can't find any guides to that.

 

Update:

I did the whole thing again and found the cable i missed. Keyboard now works again.


Another interesting find: The screen works fine when I use another computer in the HDMI in, and also no problems when using an external monitor with HDMI out.

So, i guess both GPU and screen works fine - it is somewhere between the GPU and the screen that the problem is. I tried reseating the cables but as I said that didnt make a difference.


What is my next step?

 

If you go up to a 120hz panel you will need a different cable. EDP cable. Just ordered mine off Alibaba. Brand new £31 gbp.

 

Isnt it possible just to replace the cable? And do I have a way of knowing if it is actually is the cable?

 

Try taking out the GPU and running on igp. If the artifices go away it is certain that it is a GPU fault and need to be replaced. I have seen this too many times and my hunch is that the 880 is at fault

 

Could be the cable getting pinched somewhere. When I swapped back to my 60hz panel when my 780m went for the 100th time while trouble shooting I pinched the cable and had very similar issues. If the cable is gone you can find the part number in the Alienware 17 Ranger owners thread. If it is a GPU well that's a lot more expensive, but talk to @woodzstack and he can help you out if it needs to be replaced. If it is the panel then www.laptopscreens.com can help you out.

 

Thanks alot for the replies.

I don't have any paste so taking out the GPU is not possible at the moment. (I think?)

I think i'll try to contact Dell again tomorrow and share the findings i made over the weekend, maybe they want to help out.

I'll get back to you guys again, thanks again!

 

Just FYI but you can remove the GPU and the heatsink as a single component. Just remove the fan and the two screws holding the card in and you can tilt it and remove. The heatsink actually makes removal easier IMO.

 

The GPU is attached to its heatsink by 4 screws and comes out together as one. So you can remove the GTX 880m without breaking the paste seal. I agree with MickyD.

 

Thanks for the tips, i just tried and sure enough that was very possible.

Good(?) news, it has exactly the same artifacts even with the gtx 880m removed.

 

Well, we are down to the cable or the panel then. Kinda good news as you say...

 

Well the panel works fine when using HDMI-in.

Is it possible that it's the connector rather than the cable?

 

I would probably start by reseating the LCD cable on both the motherboard end and the LCD end just to be sure.

 

That is kinda strange. I would have expected it to still be there as the panel is only connected to the MB so for some reason the HDMI-in is bypassing it?? Was the res on the input the same?

Have you tried the PSA in-built diagnostics? Straw grabbing here but it might show something. It's on an F key while the bios is loading - sorry can't remember, anyone?

 

Boot options, F12 I think and then diagnostics. You can direct boot into diagnostics as well but I can't remember the button to do so...I want to say hold left shift or something.

Edit: Apparently it's the function key, hold that while turning the system on.

 

@MogRules I have tried reseating the cable in both ends, it didn't make any difference.

@MickyD1234 The resolution was the same, yes. 1080p.

I have tried two types of diagnostics, one was a full-system check and the other was display specific (suggested by dell rep), and both showed no errors.

 

To be fair the diagnostics kind of suck. After my GPU died and they sent me two bad GPU's to replace it with the diagnostics didn't pick up on either card being bad. As far as I know it just sees the card and goes yep it's here!

 

Haha, great. Didn't expect much either tbh but you never know. Anyone know what the cable between the gpu/mobo and the screen is called? Looked through the parts list in the Owners Lounge but couldn't really find what I was looking for.

 

Yeah, I did say 'grabbing at straws'!

TBH it did help me once. HD problems. It gave me a personal code to report to dell. The replacement went out that day - no diags - whee

Worst thing about your situation is that a 120hz panel needs a different cable so replacing your cable to find it's the panel is gonna bite when you could have upgraded. IMO it's well worth it.

 

LVDS cable, looks like part number FNH0H. Ebay has lots of them for around $30.

 

@MickyD1234

Sorry if that came out the wrong way. I had already tried it before your suggestion after talking to a dell rep on the live chat.

@MogRules

Thanks!

 

Nope, no offense seen or taken . Good luck with the hunt and keep us updated.

Cheers.

 

Interesting turn of events.

I've been on the phone with dell for several hours today trying out different stuff, and one of the reps have a suggestion that none of us have thought of.

According to him its the CPU failing. It explains all the stuff actually, but I am not entirely sure.

The internal display cannot work without going through the CPU, however when using an external monitor it only uses the 880m. And when using the HDMI-in it uses neither the iGPU or the 880m, which explains why there is no problem there.

Do you think he's right? If yes is there any way to test it without shelling out a fortune for a new CPU?

Edit: He says there is a possibility that its the mobo too, same question applies here.

 

This is certainly not a common problem. I guess he could be right, so far nothing positively identified the failing component. That stuff about the hdmi-out only using the 880m fits, and along with the hdmi-in just being a direct connection I would buy it .
Did you ask dell about a fixed price fix? They used to offer a single price to fix any problem(s).

I wouldn't expect a CPU of that vintage to be too expensive but I haven't checked...

EDIT: I guess a CPU clean and reseat is worth a shot

 

Yeah I asked about their price which was absolutely crazy. We are talking ~1000 bucks for the CPU and then another several hundred for labor. The rep even told me to go check ebay instead as that was alot more reasonable (Im seeing around 300 dollars for the CPU)

The only problem is that we are still talking alot of money for something that is not sure to work, so I would prefer to be 100% before spending that kinda money on a PC part.


Edit: Just re-seated the CPU. No difference either :-(

 

It the artifacting an exact repeatable pattern or random? Is it blue and green sparkles? Or random red, green, blue, gray sparkles? Usually when it's the cable 1. you notice sparkles (or worse, racing lines) and 2. you can sometimes reproduce it on demand by rotating hinge or bending the cable with the cover off and the computer running. Usually when the panel is bad, the *exact* artifacts down to pixel and color are repeated, where the pixel location is more random with a bad cable.

It could also just be a bad driver or corrupted driver if it only does it in Windows and not on the BIOS screen or not on live Linux CD. But that's a long shot. Also driver artifacts seem to be very reproducible in both the steps to reproduce it and the exact artifact received.

 

@Aroc

Thanks for the suggestion.

The pixelation/artifacts are as far as I can tell 100% the same, and I am not able to affect it by opening/closing the screen.
The artifacts are also present in BIOS and during post.

The panel is working fine (When using HDMI-in), so thats not a problem either.

 

Here's a curve ball. How about getting an unlocked bios and disabling the intel (as this may well be the source)...

 

I'm listening.. How on earth do I do that?

 

The unlocked bios for the R3 is a popular mod as it allows other GPU's to be used. First try a fresh post asking for anyone that can help.

Hopefully they will know the options that you need to set but from memory, you need to set boot video to PEG. And there is a second option that needs toggling from default. I believe it was titled IDG or very similar.

The way I installed one on my R3 was to get the self extracting bios install for the latest stock bios from dell. Then you replace a .bin file inside the self-extracting .exe with the modded bios file - fairly easy with any decent zip tool.

You may find other methods. My method runs in windows but some of the purists will create a boot USB with the files and executable needed.

It does carry risk. If it causes a conflict (usually by you changing something) the machine can 'brick' and refuse to POST. To reset the bios you need to remove the battery and disconnect the CMOS battery on the MB. Then hold the power button down. Then replace the batteries and it should power up. It may take a little longer than usual and it will give an error re the date and time but you can continue and it all sorts itself out.

A total disaster is possible if the update fails or an incompatible file is used. At this point the whole MB is trashed. Usually an incorrect bios file will refuse to install and I've not seen anyone manage this.

Research it a bit and see how others have fared as well...

 

Oops, you have the AW17 R1 I believe. sorry for confusion but there should still be an unlocked bios for it!

 

I didn't think disabling was a possibility on the R1 (but maybe with unlocked bios it is?)

I'll make a new post - thanks alot!

 

Here's a start I just found. I have used TheWiz bios mods before.

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-Alienware-M17x-R1?pid=26171#pid26171

 

Thanks for the link Micky but I have the 17 R1, not the m17x r1 - theres quite a few years difference there :-D

 

Doh rookie mistake. sry, I'll keep looking.

 

No problem.
Apparently (according to a post on this very forum made earlier today), it is now possible to unlock the BIOS. But I don't know how to do it or if i will even have the option to turn off the intel GPU.

 

Saw that. Not having a lot of luck, hopefully somebody knows.

Have you looked just in case it's there? Looking for a graphic option that offers PEG.

 

When it comes to bios I am really a rookie, so much to the point that I don't even understand your question. Mind elaborating a little?

 

Sure. When the machine has the boot logo press F2 to go into the bios (it should have the prompt to press the F key as well). Menu driven and you can always escape out without saving if you need to.

Then look through the options offered.

 

Something else might be worth a try. You could use Device Manager and disable the intel GPU there. I know that does not work for people wanting a different GPU but maybe it will force win to use the 880m for you?

 

Just tried both, as well as "disabling" the intel GPU in nvidia control panel.

In the bios the only mention of the Intel GPU is on the "main" page that it starts up on, and there literally everything is greyed out and you can't interact with anything but the time and date.