M17x : Dual 4870s flickering when running games

Ok, so the tech is supposed to show up between 9:30am and 5:30pm. Hope this resolves the crossfire flickering issue or else I get a whole new system (prolly going to request a whole new system anyways)

 

Yes, that's an issue with the game and ATi cards in general.

 

D@mmit, tech just called me, but because I get little to no signal at work, I missed the call of course. I called the tech back, but got vm. I left a message anyway.

I also called the provider and they paged the tech to contact me asap. I hope they don't decide to skip over me today. I want this done already.

update: spoke to the tech again. She will be there from 3:30-5:00 today which is pretty good since I will be home around that time. Gonna cross my fingers even though this may not fix the issue.

 

Last night I decided to take on the task of reseating both video cards (thanks for the video moo!) and found something interesting on the Primary (not sure if it was the primary, but it was the one on the left side).

Upon removing the card, there was a small piece of blue plastic (plastic bag maybe?) that was blocking 3-4 pins from connecting to the port. The blue plastic had indentations from being squished in between the pins. So I removed the piece and put the cards back in and booted up. Tried to run FurMark in crossfire, flickering seemed gone until approx 2 mins later where flickering returned. I have a pic that I can upload, but the piece moved out of place when I snapped the pic.

 

Hmmm, does taking it apart and doing that void the warranty?

Also, thinking about reformatting today to see if this fixes the stuttering in L4D2

 

Nope, Alienware Tech support walked me through it.

Dell tech called and said she might not make it. (Huh?!) She has another customer before me and is 30mins away.

Here I thought this was a "scheduled" appointment.

Ok, rep is on her way. Late, but on her way.

 

You should be crossing fingers not typing messages

 

I'm trying to install the display driver in 10.3 catalyst, but am not having any luck. I'm tried using mobility modder, drive sweeper ect. but it simply won't install.

How did you install it?

 

Hmm, more and more people are having issues with it.
I installed it with no problem. Just ran the installer and picked the "express" install, accepted the license and in 3 min it was over.
No need to uninstall the previous drivers, no sweepers no safe mods.

 

I figured out what I was doing wrong. I was originally going to this page: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx - which is not the mobility driver page obviously. I then used mobility modder on the driver, but obviously that didn't work.

I then found this page: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

I've seen this page before, but I never noticed the "mobility Radeon" option after selecting win 7 64 bit (Before I had selected "Notebook" then "Alienware" which of course leads you to a useless screen about how you need to go to dell to get the display driver for your particular screen.

After downloading and installing the Mobility Radeon driver though, everything works great! No need for mobility modder. It just works.

 

Yes, I think that's the reason for major confusion. AMD should pay attention to their links and edit them to make less bewildering.

 

Well, of course the motherboard replacement didn't fix the issue, but I can see why everyone says to ask for a replacement. That is exactly what I am going to do. After seeing it in pieces, I definitely do not want to keep this system.

Regardless, I should be getting my Mamba next week (shipped on Friday) and I will go back into the "EDD" thread. One month later I should have my replacement M17x R2 and hopefully Crossfire works flawlessly with that one.

Thx to everyone for the input and for following this thread. I have to cut it short because I am going to be hosting a LAN party in a few mins and need to get ready (disable crossfire).

...on a side note, perhaps the primary card should have been replaced just in case? Who knows. All I know is that I will be all set soon.

Wow, 7-10 days till I get my replacement? no way. That's exactly what I said to the rep, but whatever....working crossfire M17x here I come.

 

Well, I still think it's the secondary GPU. They just don't know how to properly test the cards and shove them back to our systems.

 

So I reformatted, and now L4D2 runs like a dream

and it starts up like 4x as fast, really good life decision, IMO

Also, I opted to leave off most of the stuff Alienware throws on there, I think it really holds it back or something

what do I know, all I know is things aren't screwed up anymore

 

Well, LAN Party kicked off without a hitch. The single 4870HD proved itself worthy. I can't wait to try the 2nd in Crossfire mode. Can't imagine smoother framerates than that, but looking forward to it.

 

My reformat worked out perfectly, everything runs better than it did than when the system was straight from the assembly line, no more flickering, etc

I gotta find the software for the application that changes the colors of the keyboard lights, etc

 

Tech called me this morning. He is coming within an hour to replace my second gpu. Hope my flickering will be gone.

 

I was told 7-10 business days for my replacement system by Alienware and the website shows my Estimated Delivery Date was N/A. They still have 8 days left, but my consolation Razer Mamba also has a weird EDD situation.

The order status is "Order Processing" however the EDD is 04/07/10 (tomorrow). I hope everything pulls together in time for it to ship by tomorrow, but I really don't expect to get the mouse until sometime Friday or maybe even next week.

I guess due to the economy being so bad, Alienware is unable to higher enough staff to cover for the # of Alienware customers. I thought this was supposed to be a Premier Level of computers/support.

It's starting to seem like the company just can't afford to run a premier service with upper level computer quality.

 

I wouldn't count on those statements. They usually miss their EDDs by weeks. In my case it was 21 day instead of 10.
Just be patient.

 

Right, but isn't 21 days outside the refund period?

 

You can still fight for a refund if not happy.

 

Glad I still have that option.

Well, it's 6:56pm. Status on Razer Mamba is still just "Processing". I am sure sometime tonight/tomorrow there will be an update telling me it was delayed for at least 1 day.

 

Well, of course today the status updated to "In Production" so my Razr Mamba should arrive by tomorrow I would imagine.

I got a call from the tech support rep and he was checking to make sure I got my replacement M17x R2 ordered without issue. He even asked if Customer Service tried to reject my request. Nice guy.

Anyways, all is well so far. I will report back with a status update on the Mouse....then eventually the M17x R2 replacement.

 

So my Razer Mamba has a "shipped" status now. That's a good sign. I am going to start tracking it to make sure I get the package tomorrow and not a day later.

I will be at work when this thing ships. No tracking number/carrier yet, but I am sure it will most likely be FedEx.

 

9pm and still no carrier/tracking information yet, but the site still says "shipped". I am guessing that information will present itself once the package hits a checkpoint while being transported.

 

...and tracking information has not updated yet. It shows "temporarily unavailable" but the estimated ship date is 04/08/10. I guess the package will just show up eventually and the website will catch up later.

 

Mouse has arrived. Dell.com says shipping details are "temporarily unavailable". Oh well, I will test it out when I get home tonight from work. From what I understand the battery already comes fully charged from the factory.

Still waiting on the status of my M17x R2 replacement to change from "in progress"

 

You'll have to wait quite a bit more

 

lol, right? Technically the mouse hasn't been delivered yet. I am still at work and I don't have it in my hands. What is wrong with you Alienware?!

 

Well, got the mouse and it's pretty cool. Installed the new firmware, etc. Just having a slight issue when I bump up DPI in the Razer Mamba Configurator. As soon as I choose 5000dpi, and set polling to 1000, the mouse completely stops responding. I end up having to unplug the base, and reconnect it. Then my mouse starts working again. Even at 1800dpi it's still really nice scrolling and response.

 

Hey All,

I just received my M17R1 (refurbed) with the QX9300 and 4870's in XF and I was so disapointed to find that when I played a game it would flicker like crazy to the point it almost gave me a seizure. I spent sometime researching the issue and tried a bunch of things even spending 4 hours on the phone with Alienware techsupport but to no avail (Although I must admit they were grat guys and really tried everything).

However I am happy to report that I did find a solution, I did'nt need a new GPU, XF Cable or screen or anything it was actually quite a simple fix in the ATI GPU BIOS.

I found on youtube a tutorial of how to do it and although skeptical it would work, it did! I am not saying this will cure it for everyone but none the less it did with me.

This issue was because of the ATI Powerplay functionality as it uses around 5to 10 different settings for core clocks for different scenarios and for whatever reason it works fine in my other AW m17 with 3870s in XF it does'nt work on the new M17x (with A03 BIOS) as it should.

Using the ATI BIOS editor I simply changed all 5 different clock settings to a default one. There are 2 programs you need to install which it is descibed on the tutorial. Unfortunately I cannot provide the exact link as I am at work and Youtube is blocked. However simply search on Youtube or even google (where I found the link) with keywords like "4870 Cross fire flickering" or other related items, you will find the link to the tutorial it is with an Aussie talking and nothing special of a demostration but he describes very well what to do.

Hope this works for everyone!!!!

 

Sounds like you got a refurb that someone had overclocked the gpus in ... Glad to see you figured it out.

 

Actually it wasn't that they were overclocked the ATI powerplay sets 5 different clock speeds for different scenarios 1 being full/default speed and the other 4 are underclocked speeds for other scenarios like nmovies or low end grphics applications/general use.

The powerplay for whatever reason messes up and cycles through the different clock speeds instead of remaining at the default clock speed. So I set all 5 clock speeds to the same default.

 

Can't find the video.. could you post a link when you are able?

 

@Johnsmor,
Very good job. Looks like you found a very interesting solution. Now I suddenly regret replacing my secondary GPU....
+1 rep.

 

Searching for this video. Also gonna search for the ATI BIOS editor. Never knew there was such a thing.

 

Is it this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZKTU397MQ

 

Seems like he is just disabling powerplay for "stuttering" issues not sure if that is the same as the crossfire "flickering" issue that others here are experiencing.

So instead of allowing the voltages to go up and down to conserve power, you tell powerplay to never lower the voltage going to the GPU.

 

Hey All,

Here is the link to the vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZKTU397MQ sorry gave you guys the wrong keyword search it is under "ATI 4870 BIOS".

This is the XF stuttering issue, when I disable XF no flickering enabled seizure time!! The tutorial will describe the 2 software items you will need. It took me litterally 1 minute to do this fix.

Hope it all works for everyone aswell!

 

so this is for the R1 stuttering problem, and not the R2 flickering?

 

r2 just need proper drivers..

 

Maybe for stuttering problems, but not for flickering issues. Some R2's need to have the video cards replaced, motherboard replaced, replacement M17x R2, etc.

 

"Might" fix the issue, but your power consumption just went up by a large factor. Mobile GPU's count a lot on being able to lower their clocks to conserve power. That won't matter much when gaming but will when doing other stuff on your laptop.

 

.....STILL waiting on my replacement Alienware M17x R2 to finally have a working Crossfire laptop.

Replacement order was setup on 04/03/10 and today is 04/27/10. Debating on returning my current M17x and getting a refund on 04/30/10 and MAYBE ordering a dual 5870HD M17x (r3?).

Dell told me they were waiting on a motherboard. I want to call them today to see what other part they are waiting on. *sigh*

 

Get a refund, it will take about a week for it to go through so the sooner you get started the better. Then by the time you get it, the R2 with dual 5870s will be out.

 

Well, I called Dell and now it's not the "motherboard" that is back ordered, it is now a more generic "parts". Then I was told to "allow" them 48 hours (4 days) to look into the issue and I will have to call them back after the 48 hours are up to see what the status is. Depending on that status, I will be requesting a full refund and then ordering my 5870HD M17x R2 Crossfire.

 

I'm still waiting for the parts to be available ... sigh

 

Week 5 begins today. Today also ends the "48hrs" that Dell had to review my order and see what is going on with it. I will be calling in at lunchtime to see what the status is. If I get more BS, I get a full refund and this M17x R2 goes back. Then I wait for the M17x R2 with Dual 5870s to be released and order that instead.

 

According to tracking, my M17x R2 should be here tomorrow afternoon. Here's to hoping I don't have any issues with it.

 

*crosses fingers* for ya PriPr0