M17xR2 Crossfire flicker and black line

Hi

I've got an M17xR2, single hd5870m. I bought and installed a second 5870 and am trying to get things running properly in Crossfire.

Crossfire works, but I get bad 'flicker' particularly in the bottom half of the screen. Plus I get a thin black line running vertically about a centimetre from the left side of the screen.

I've noticed this problem in Eve, Borderlands and Left4Dead 2. Switching Catalyst AI to disabled solves the problem (but to my understanding means the crossfire is switched off?).

I've tried to grab amd gpu clock tool, or overdrive and none seem to want to work.

Pulling my hair out here - has anyone had similar experiences.

Oh - running latest ATI drivers and profiles from the ati site.

s

 

the 2 5870's share the same bios version?, did you upgrade the drivers doing a clean install of lates AMD driver set?

 

Clean install yes - in fact just done it again. Catalyst 11.3

BIOS, no, gpu-z shows two different Bios numbers:

012.020.000.027.037640
and
012.019.000.006.036284

Do I need to somehow update the slave bios to the same number?

Oddly, L4D1 seems to be fine, but L4D2 and borderlands both have the shake and black line :-(

s

 

They should have the same BIOS numbers.

Card 1:Video BIOS Version: 012.020.000.027.037640

Card 2:Video BIOS Version: 012.020.000.027.037640

Nice VBIOS flashing guide here:

http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/51-ati-amd-5870m-vbios-flash.html

 

Install first the official Dell/AMD driver. Then upgrade v-bios with the utility from Dell. Once you are done you can upgrade to whatever catalyst version you like. I'm running with 11.4 preview for example.

just remember: 1st dell video drivers. 2nd v-bios. in the following link you'll find what you need.

let us know

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...70-september-2010-incl-vbios-flash-guide.html

 

I had the exact same problem as you. The line on the left of the screen with CF enabled. In certain games the screen would flicker or "scroll" like an old out of sync crt monitor.

Went through the BIOS and multiple drivers, only solution at the end was dell replacing both 5870 and the CF cable, problem solved.

 

Reverted to the old dell drivers, flashed vbios to the beta, both cards now show the same.

launched l4d2 - same problem.

uninstalled drivers to update to latest version, and unfortunately blue-screened during uninstall, and I now can't boot, and startup repair is failing :-(

Aside from that, it looks like matching the BIOSs hasn't solved the problem so far (unless latest drivers will fix).

s

 

Funny, L4D2 was what I tested it the most in as well (and first picked it up).

If you still have warranty log a call for it with Dell. The will make you go through hoops with driver and BIOS but just keep at it and they should swop the cards and cable.

 

Unfortunately I bought the card on ebay... it seemed pristine (the adhesive on the CF cable still had the 3m 'covers' on). I'm beginning to think the card is faulty...

Argh....

s

 

Contact the seller and explain the situation in a polite manner.
Good luck, mate

 

Mat did really the card replacement solve all the crossfire issues?? I've got massive screen tearing like you describe in Counter-Strike Source, but not so much in new games like Starcraft (still a tiny bit). After reading loads of forum posts I just thought its a software driver issue cause I also updated everything etc. Is it really a hardware issue???? Cause I still have 3 yrs warranty but don't want to go through the hassle if it ain't gonna help.

 

I went through the driver/vbios/driver/vbios etc etc repeatedly for a solid week, first following every forum posts ideas I could find and then 2 days of jumping through Alienware support with the same things. Nothing changed the result.

I never tried CS but I did get the issue in Starcraft 2 as well (not as huge as L4D2 but I think it depends what is being rendered). I found mostly lens flare effects would cause it, like in L4D2 as the chopper flew past in the first level rooftop, then when I got inside as I looked out a window or certain reflections.
Starcraft 2 I didn't play long enough to pin it down.

Unfortunately they swapped out both cards at the same time so I never found out if it was primary or secondary causing it.

This youtube clip someone posted shows the flicker issue I had, can't remember ever having it in the menu. My BIOS and vBIOS were both up to date.
YouTube - Alienware M17x-R2 (Flickering with BIOS A02)

can't find any screens of the line on the left (bad on me for not taking a pic).

 

But now you have absolutely no crossfire problems??? If that is indeed the case, I will call Alienware and have them change the cards.

 

Ah ok thanks Mat, I just looked at the Youtube video and the dude there says too that it was resolved by exchanging the secondary Video card. Sigh. I guess I have to call up Alienware again....

 

definitely your best bet, I have been a 100% happy little gamer since the swap out, no issues in any games.