Problem with M17x R2 ATI 5870's

Hey
I just recieved my M17x back from the dell support guys after having a faulty nvidia gtx 280m card. They took them out and put in some 5870's. After battling with the computer to install the drivers and delete the nvidia ones, I'm left with one final problem. Every time the computer turns off it's monitor (such as being left alone for 15 minutes) it freezes and the only thing I can do is "smother" the computer by holding down the power button and then turning it back on. One of my main concerns is this happens during shut down, so every time I shut down my computer, when the monitor turns off the fans are still running and the LEDs are still on until I physically have to hold down the button again. This can't be good for my hard drive and I am out of ideas. I'm running the 12.104 drivers.

Specs:
System Model: M17x
BIOS Version/Date Alienware A10, 17/01/2011
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 820 @ 1.73GHz (8 CPUs), ~1.7GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8180MB RAM
Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x68A0)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68A0&SUBSYS_043A1028&REV_00
Display Memory: 1758 MB
Dedicated Memory: 2020 MB
Shared Memory: 3834 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown <---- this is what it says in dxdiag?
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1191 (English)
Driver Version: 12.104.0.0

 

I don't think this is a LCD problem.
I think you should try and make another driver cleaning sweep and make sure you have all chipset/power management drivers installed properly. What OS are you running?

 

Do a clean install and if problem persists, update vbios, my 5870's had issues with computer sleeping and doing same when trying to come back from sleep. Vbios solved it.

If it keeps on happening, back to dell I guess.

 

Where can I download the vbios update?

 

I have the same problem. I actually know that I need to update the driver and perform Vbios, but I'm quite confuse with the guides since most of the sources Im looking for are like 2 years old ago.
Plus, I have some problem in performing the update through VBios. So, I try to give clear notes on the current problem I have with my M17X right now.

> My specs is the same as the OP above.
> Right now, the current driver I have for my ATI 5870 is 8.692.2.0.
> This current driver works fine for most games and no problems occured, but I could not play
Sleeping Dogs on Steam (the game freeze and crashed on loading screen). Also, it has some performance issue while playing GTAIV
> So, I know that I need to update the driver
> I have been informed that I should not update to the very latest drivers (like installing using Catalyst 12.1 or you will get BSOD)
> The sources said I need to update driver from Dell website (R281215)
> So, I proceed to run that setup and upgrade my driver to 8.763.0

Now, this 8.763 has started to give me problem to my M17X, similiarly to OP's problems (improper shutdown and sleep problems)
BUT, this driver version has allowed me to play Sleeping Dogs just fine (playable in 60FPS) and my GTAIV seems to run very smoothly.

For now, I look at the sources that tell me; I need to flash my BIOS and run the VBios.

So, I proceed to download these programs from Dell website:
R282206 - WinPhlash64 (For Flash BIOS) - Link
- I ran the setup to flash the BIOS. Once completed, so far no problem (except that shutdown problems; still occured)

Then, I move on to download the VBios program from Dell Website
R281544-VBios - Link

Here's another problem occurred. I try to run that Vbios setup (after extracting it, it automatically run the setup),
but nothing happened. The program is not running, not even a single window popup.

For now, I stuck at running the Vbios. Is there something I missed from the procedures? What should I do next?
I really want to keep 8.763 driver to play Sleeping Dogs, but I don't want to have that shutdown/sleep problem.

Besides, I can rollback to the old driver back to 8.692.2.0 by
selecting 'Roll Back Driver' on Start Menu>Devices and Printers> Select 'Alienware M17X'>"Hardware" Tab>Double-Click "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870">"Driver" Tab
Then, the shutdown problems gone, but I can't play Sleeping Dogs anymore.

I really need help for this as I really so confuse.

 

Hey man I was able to update to the 12.04 driver through here. The BSOD hasn't been a problem for me and I haven't gotten it once.
All the guides I saw to flash the vbios are over two years old and so the files are expired sadly and I'm unable to download them :C.
Unfortunately the problem persists.

 

That's cool! thanks for sharing.

 

Did you manually navigate to the C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R281544 folder and launch the executable? If I remember correctly the file you download extracts its contents to that folder, but it does not automatically launch the vBIOS update after the files are extracted.

Also, the vBIOS installation needs to have a specific AMD driver installed before it will flash successfully, so the information you have read is accurate. These go hand-in-hand, but the driver must be installed before the vBIOS flash.

AMD Mobility Radeon HD5870, v.13B96101.104, A01 (BIOS)

AMD Mobility Radeon HD5870, v.8.763-100810a-104118C-Dell, A01 (Driver)

Edit: found this old thread that may be helpful - http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...5870-gpus-5870-vbios-discussion-non-beta.html

This one may also be helpful - http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...drivers-wont-install-win-7-a.html#post5821599

 

I manually run it too. The window appeared that says extracting, then after it finished, nothing happens.
Even running with admin, checking the compatibility; the setup does not run.
I still have my 8.763 driver installed.

 

Hey guys, my problem's fixed!!
Thank you so much for all of your help.
To anyone having the problem, this is what I did:
Step 1: The first thing I did was roll back my drivers from 12.104 to 8.763 (start button > right click on "computer" > click manage > device manager > display adaptors > right click on one of them > drivers > rollback driver)
Step 2: I downloaded the vbios update (the exe ran automatically for me as soon as it extracted, sorry RZ-90 I can't help you :C)
Step 3: I installed the files onto a usb (it only works on a usb LESS THAN TWO GB IN SIZE!)
Step 4: Booted from the USB (push F12 during BIOS POST > select USB > follow on screen prompts
Step 5: Reinstalled 12.104
Step 6: Done!

 

Yeah, my problem still stuck at Vbios. Could you upload those extracted files from VBios?
Maybe it would be work if I try to copy those files to my USb drive and make it as bootup drive.

BTW, I already done the ATI driver cleanup, installed 8.763 driver back, but still, VBios does nothing, except that when I try to run in 8.692 driver,
the setup response that the driver needs to be updated to 8.763 or higher, which means the setup do run and check the current driver in my laptop,
but I still don't understand why it does not response when my driver is in 8.763.

Also, the current status of my 5870 using GPU-Z