Alienware M17 3D Screen flickering

Hi everybody,

I got my new Alienware M17 for 2 days only, and i'm already facing a strange problems.

I have the 3D Screen, and in Windows 8, the screen randomly goes black and go back to windows, like if you would like to change the video output.

Sometimes, i also got some horizontals lines during a very short perdiod.

I tried to uninstall the nvidia driver, but this is the same problems, even with generic driver.

What is really strange is that i don't have this problems in the BIOS, or booting the laptop with a linux live CD, only under Windows 8, but i cannot test Windows 7.

I've already re-installed and full updated Windows 8 on a new SSD drive.

Any idea before i have to call the AW helpdesk ?

Thanks in advance.

Last question, i'm unable to configure the 3D, when i want to enable stereoscopic 3D, the wizard only give me the options with an 3D USB hardware, but no options with built-in screen captors, any idea too ?
The driver comes directly from DELL site choosing Alienware 17.

 

Well, most likely it looks like you are missing the drivers for 3D stereo controller

do you see the NVIDIA 3D controller in device manager under USB devices?
Screenshot by Lightshot

and for the flickering, i am not sure
does it happen alway or just when switching in and out of a 3D enabled game or application?
because some flickering does happen when the screen switches between 3d and non 3d

not sure about the horizontal lines

here, try this
Driver Details | Dell US

and then update to the latest drivers

 

Thank you very much for informations, i'll check this evening after the work, but i've only installed the Nvidia driver, i think the USB 3D controller was included into this, but it seems not, so this will probably fix my problem

BTW, thank you to point me to the US websites, i've downloaded all drivers from france website, but the US is more updated, example, new BIOS, so i'll try to update the BIOS, will install the 3D USB driver and also, i saw that we're able to install latest nvidia beta driver that supports gtx 780M, so let's give it a try, and pray

Thank you very much.

 

Glad i could help
Cheers!

will wait for some good news

 

What does mean unlocked vbios in your signature, does that mean that you've flashed your video card bios with a custom ?

 

Yes, the unlocked vbios prevents some throttle issues and allows the clock sliders to be moved further.

 

yes, as said by Meaker
i have flashed a modded vbios from TechInferno
It removes the +135mhz overclocking limit and disables the nvidia gpu boost, so that the clocks remain at a constant level, no fluctuations

 

Yes, the driver was already installed for 3D, so it was not the problem.

I've updated the firmware to R03 and i still got the same problem, the screen is randomly blinking, i called the helpdesk and they give me another phone number to call tomorrow.

I'm really disapointed, for the price of this laptop, helpdesk is only open when i'm at work, and the screen is blinking from the first day, it's really bad from alienware, they don't even test hardwares before shipping.

Actually, this is a very bad experience, i hope it'll be fixed soon, but it's not very serious.

 

I would recommend getting your laptop tested by alienware tech support within 30 days of the ship date so if something i wrong u can get a full refund. my nvidia card gave a compatibility error and i had to return it.

 

I don't want a refund, and doesn't want to return it, i just want to fix this problem

 

I've just called the tech support, it seems to be a problem with the graphic card, a tech guy will come tomorrow at home to replace it.

 

Glad to see it's being taken care of

let us know how it goes after the replacement card is installed

 

I'll wait for tomorrow, some tech guy have to call me, i hope he'll come tomorrow.

BTW, i don't know if this is due to the video card or not, but i tried to install nvidia beta driver 326.19, installation is fine, after reboot, it's OK, but when i power off, and power on, i get black screen, i have to power the laptop off and on 5 times to get screen in windows.

 

Still no phone from tech guy

 

I've just called them because i had no news, and the tech guy ddin't came because the geforce gtx780m is not in stock, great, now, i'm stuck, as they don't have any date

 

It sounds like the video card, if you have an external monitor try to plug it in and see if the flickering continues.

 

We did this test with the tech guy at phone, it worked, butwhen i remove the hdmi, the video didn't switched, and i had a black screen, so he told me that the graphic card was defect, but as they don't have in stock, i have to wait.

The laptop came on monday 22, and i'm still unable to play with it, i guess for a long time.....

 

Here's a video about my laptop :

Alienware M17 Video Card Bug - YouTube

 

That sounds like an issue many are having with 326.19. I know once I installed, I got a nice performance increase in games, but half the time the screen wouldn't turn on when powering up the computer, and would never turn on when waking up from sleep. Wound up rolling back to 320.49 with a modded .INF file and the problem went away.

 

That's correct, i've reinstalled the driver from dell, 311.48, but the 3d vision cannot be activated, as it doesn't propose the integrated IR monitor, only USB device for 3D

 

how did you get your laptop tested by alienware tech support?

 

By phone, but before to call, i've did all tests i was able to do, reinstalling windows 8 clean, without drivers, with drivers...

 

Very great news, the techwill come today at home, i'm so happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

Not so happy anymore, the tech replaced the video card and the motherboard, and the problem is still present.

An agent have to call me in 2 days.......

Not a very serious support !!!!

 

Tech support asked me today to remove memory modules and retry, and also connect to the TV, and you know what ?

Alienware M17 Screen Bug - YouTube

Still same problem I want a new screen

 

Problem solved, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

The tech guy replaced the screen, but he noticed that the problem was coming from the cable to link the monitor to the motherboard

Now, i have a fresh new video card, new motherboard, new screen, and new cable