M17x R3 GPU damage, cant get into windows to install integraded GPU drivers

First off all starting to get pissed off about the AW i bought. After 2 mobo replacements and 3 GPU-s. It finally was working OK. But today (looked at last repair date) after 11 months and 20 days started it up and right on the first screen 3 red vertical lines.....GPU is damaged. Same symptom as with the first time GPU got replaced.

It will show the windows loading screen and then will just go blank. I cannot get the menu up were i can pick the safe mode. Only screen i get is the diagnose or start normal. The bios is set to PEG. Bad part is when i installed a SSD i did not install the SG drivers. I managed to get into windows just once but it whent for a restart as soon as i got in saying new drivers need reboot. After that cant get in on SG nor PEG. As the bios can see the ATI GPU i think it is not allowing the intel HD3000 to kick in at all.

Anyway i can get the safe mode selection screen up ?


Also i looked up my R3-s service tag and it said warranty valid until 10.28.2014 (parts only). Stranger the receipt i got from the shops says 1 year warranty from 03.03.2012( even asked the salesman if there was a mistake as the state that i am in has a law that all sold goods must have a 2 year warranty. the guy said nop alienware has only one year standard) so according to that i am over that about 19 days. Witch should i believe ?

 

No surprise here. The 6970m has a tendency of crapping out. You'd be better off getting a 7970m for it otherwise it's just gonna fail on you again. This isn't an AW issue. It's an AMD one.

 

Dont think they offer it for the R3. I was asking for the 6990 after the two replacement but they said until they have the 6970m in stock they will keep ordering that. So i got the 6970m. I was happy for it to work and was until today.

Can i turn off the GPU from the bios and just run on the intel HD3000? All my work is on the HDD and i need to do some work on the weekend. I have the A12 unlocked bios. There is a setting were there is Auto, IGFX, PEG, PCI and SG. Cant remember if it was that setting but a thread on some forum said to stay away from that setting :/

I manage to get in via safe mode to delete the ATI driver but i cant get the ati tools to delete....get driver stopped working and BSOD after that get in and driver get installed and blank screen again :/ should just remove the GPU ?

 

I had a the same issue with my m17 r3 still trying to get it fixed after 2 months. With my m18x it was different. I had a few issues with the 6990's so the gave me the NVidia 580m's instead have not had a issue since.

It is worth a try to see if they will give the 580.

 

Will ask but dont think they will replace it with the 580m

But about the IGFX. is it safe to set it ? read that PCI will brick it but setting it to IGFX should be intel graphics only ?


Edit: Got the HD3000 to work. changed the integrated graphics from auto to enabled and primary display to IGFX. Now at least can use the computer.

 

You can try asking them to replace it with the 7970m for some extra cash. You'll get around 50% higher framrates and it won't die on you any time soon either. Hopefully..... lol

 

You can try asking them to replace it with the 7970m for some extra cash. You'll get around 50% higher framrates and it won't die on you either. Hopefully..... lol

Oops. Double post.

 

Well i try on monday. But as AW does not offer it for the R3 i think they not attempt it even if i pay extra (would gladly pay for a 7970m) for the swap.

 

This is what I'd do to avoid any support issues. Put back the latest dell released BIOS and default it. Remove the AMD and the machine should start up on the Intel. Dealet any ATI stuff and run CCleaner to remove any old registry entries. Put the AMD back in and make sure it's still bad. Call with this config.

You're right about which card they might offer. It will only be one that was listed and sold with the model - and that is basically up to the local support company(sub-contractor). They try all sorts of things to keep their costs down in some parts of the world. I got into a problem with support in Hungary arguing that, as the memory was not standard, the machine it had been opened and they would not provide support

 

I dont think i will have a problem with the bios as i bought the system with 6870m and one HDD. Did the GPU swap and but a new SSD and they were OK with that. Even were suprised that the 6970m had got heat damage. Thats one reason why i let them do the rest of the replacement so it would work 100% but it dies just a few days after i got it back. I might ask for a 580m as been a AMD fanboy for a long time and might try the 580m out. But first ill give the notebook in on monday and they will run some tests. After that if its a replacement then they will give me the notebook back and order new parts.

Only good thing is that am able to use it until the parts arrive.

 

Ha Ha, move away from the dark side young padawan

NV fanboy for the last few years....

Good luck, they (support) seem at least to be trying, hope it goes well.

Oh, and if they ask for the original back before a replacement arrives you can just say no - I did!

 

Well told the tech. what had happoned and how i managed to get into windows. Also mentioned that if their parts are not upto standards (keep dying on me with no OC-g ) they should offer me something else. Tehc looked at the log and said well the ammount of times the computer has been there Dell should give me an offer to replace the GPU with a different card, but they would have to ask Dell as they only to warranty work for them. Soo not 100% sure if i will get a option to ask for a nother GPU. They might just replace it and wish me well

Well left the notebook there for testing and should get a call in a few hours to see if the were able to fix the GPU if not then they will talk to Dell for a better offer or for a part replacement for a nother 6970m.

 

hope they fixed it!! sorry to hear about all the issues.

 

Well no call so far. Strange that the GPU just kicked the bucket. I keep it on a notebook cooler and the GPU temps never did go over 55 at idle and never over 70c when playing. The notebook does move a lot as I use it at work, the univ. and at home but it never get a beating. Always careful when its in my notebook backpack.

Been googling it and some with same syptoms have found that the core might have been crushed by the heatsink but sound a bit odd. That would mean that the core should experiance pressure and heat to damage the solder.But temps have been OK. Rarely hear the fans go full speed. However after the GPU crashed on me when restarting the fans did speed up for a few secunds. Mobo again ?

If i get the same GPU as a replacement then i might have to try and sell the notebook right before the warranty ends as if the GPUs just die then with no warranty to cover it might have to buy new part every year :/

 

Yeah, I had an R3 that constantly destroyed my GPU in one way or another. After 3 tries dell gave me this one, but the service in the UK is as good as it gets outside the US/Canada

It's also the fact that these high-end GPU's are low volume for the manufacturer, and the failure rate seems much higher than you would expect

Fingers crossed (where's that emoticon )

 

Got a call and it was not what i expected. They confirmed the GPU is dead but they will only replace it for the same GPU. If i want anything other then the 6970m i have to pay for it (full price).
I dont think they even asked dell about replacement option. Is there any international number or email I can write ? Just to get a 100% conformation that i have no other option. Might as well just try selling it on ebay and get a new GPU but still then i have paid 350 (at the time) for a card that i had to sell as it kept dying on me )

 

You can PM Alienware-L_Porras, an american rep but can maybe get some more info for your region or Alienware-Luis_Pardo.

 

Thank you PM sent to L_Porras

 

Hey got news

Hope it was not a april fools day joke but got a call form the shop and they will replace the 6970m with a GTX580m So it look like i will be joining the Nvidia crew

 

Great news, hope that puts all the problems to bed and it's not something else trashing the video card .

 

Heh i would hate to have the mobo go again . But im happy to just get it working again fingers crossed that it is the last time i have this problem.

 

Let us know how it goes, they ARE awesome machines - when you get a working one!