M17xR2 Screen Flickers/ blank out While playing BC2

Hello All, Had this unit for just over a month now.

Problem: While playing Bad Company 2 for a hour or so the screen begins to flicker, goes blank freezes up and drops back to the desk top as if nothing happen.

Placed call to Dell TS, after several hours Tech thought it might be the refresh on the monitor was bad. End result Dell TS called a tech home repair and dispatched a new monitor (now installed).

Dell TS while connected installed new Bio's and VBio's. All other drivers updated.

Tried to to explain to the tech that this problem appears to be a heat related. tech ran CPUID CPU-Z/ HWMonitor along with a video stress test. He said temps were normal. Only temp I saw had been the CPU's running around 117.

Read what threads I thought pertained to this problem but have no clue where else to go.

Thank you for reading

So here I sit with a large door stopper.

 

It's a problem with ATi's drivers. There's nothing wrong with your system. I've switched to the desktop 10.9 drivers with a modified inf and so far BCBC2 runs perfect with no CTD/blanking out. Give it a try if you know how.

 

would appriecate advise on the driver and mod .inf file, thank you

 

INF file: Mobility 10.9 Modded INF Win7 64 - Guru3D.com Forums

Driver: You can get it off AMD's site. It's the 10.9 desktop driver (no mobile version was released this month). You will also need to download the Crossfire 10.9 Profile off AMD's site.

Read that thread with the INF file if you have questions on how to install the driver, they can help you.

 

ok tried that and no go here. But! do have 10.9 on this machine. So am back to step 1. This is a bad show for Alienware for me. I thought Alienware made the top gaming machine, guess not.

Any way thank you for the help....

 

Update: Called Dell TS back with same problem. While online with the Dell Tech he removed the driver's for the video cards. As we tried to boot back into safe mode all we got was a bsod. So a pair of new video cards are on the way. I still suspect heat and the cards not being seated properly.

 

Black screen here also installing 10.9 Woot woot!

 

5870s? Did you run the VBIOS update? If so, this probably accounts for the BSOD if I'm not mistaken. Reason being (if the tech or you did not disable Win Auto Driver Install), the OS would install the base MS reference driver which, if I'm not mistaken would result in a BSOD due to the VBIOS requiring 8.763 or higher - grim, confirm?

 

Would like to place a thanks Joker for the help!

On the VBio's. On the first session the Dell TS walked me through the VBio's install, no mention of the method that the WIN would install the basic drivers, but this might account for the BSOD. I will keep that in mind just before they install the new video cards.

Anything you call think I should prep before the new cards would be appreciated.

 

Update: Had the Dell repair at my home a 3rd time this past week. This repair was the works a new monitor (3rd one why I dont know), new video cards (2nd becuase one of the pair failed) and a new motherboard. The systems works now but it does not shut down. I have to press the off switch and when I turn it back on am in safe mode.

Placed a call to Dell Tech a forth and hopefully final time. Dell is sending me a new machine. I hope this works......