Video Card Issues (17xR2 4870s)

I've been having some issues with the dual 4870s in my Alienware M17x R2 and since a tech guy is coming by tomorrow to replace my harddrives(Raid 0) because one failed.

The issues I'm having:
Black screens during games
Freezes during games
Windows saying there's been some kind of graphics display error
Very dissapointing quality in games

Should I bring this up with the tech guy tomorrow or call Dell again? Or are these common issues?

 

They are not common. Call Dell as the tech will not be able to do anything for you, they are sent just to replace parts

 

Called up Dell and they say they can't do anything until after the tech has replaced the hard drives because they need me to do more troubleshooting stuff before they can decide what to do. Guy mentioned maybe having to send my laptop back to the depo for a workover . Why does everything have to break at once right before my vacation?!?! D:

 

I blame murphy....lol

 

Because you said that, for some reason, I instantly started worrying that they would want to replace the whole laptop and give me issues with the screen & bluray burner like I saw other people having

 

I am sure you will be taken care of as long as you stay patient and firm.

 

Update: Tech, Horrible
Backup, Seems to be corrupted ;_;
Laptop Crisis

 

Well, I called up dell, and not only are the video cards requiring replacements, but based on the diagnostics they had me run they're replacing the screen too. They wanted me to send it back in for 7-10 days but I opted to have someone come repair it instead. >< I wish I had brought up these issues with the HDD instead of remembering afterward that way I could have had it all done at once.

 

Hope they are able to take care of you. The warranty is one of the big plusses to alienware

 

I made sure to get the best and longest warranty on my M17x just in case anything ever happened to it...especially liquids. I have lost over half a dozen keyboards to liquids, and most of them were OTHER people coming over to my computer area and knocking my drink onto my keyboard, with a laptop I was even more paranoid about something like that happening.

I just really hope I don't have any problems with them replacing the screen. I've seen quite a few posts on the forum about people who had trouble getting the 1920x1200 RGBLED screen replaced with the same thing.

 

Worst case scenario is they will screw up and you can just demand a new R3 or M18x when it comes out. That is part of the value of the warranty

 

Damn the R3. PLASTIC. Geeze. MADE OF PLASTIC. That's practically a depressing thought after the nice strong aluminum of the R2. And if the Tech I get for the video cards & screen is anything like the guy who did the HDDs, he might actually make the computer explode. It took the other guy an HOUR to change two hard drives, and he had to call up dell about 5 times.

Rassum frassum Plastic <<. I like a laptop I could bludgeon someone to death with.

Also I have no idea how many times I refreshed this thread before I stopped being stupid and noticed the 2nd page.

 

So, they send a replacement mother board & video cards(because I apparently heard wrong when they said monitor) and guess what? ALL OF ITS BROKEN XD. The replacement EVERYTHING is broken, so they need to send it all again, and a new fan because one of the fans is making a nasty grinding noise too.

 

At this point I would just tell them it is time for a new computer...lol

You have 4870s...so a 6970m is about equal to them...just tell them you want an R3 that is comparable in price (meaning fantastically spec'd)

 

Any other messes, ANY, after this, and that's exactly what I'll do. But I don't want to have to give up my R2 for an R3. Anything else though, and I start making someones eardrums bleed.

Also the guy was going to replace the 4870s with more 4870s, so maybe this time theyll send 5870s. If I'm lucky.

 

Hopefully you still have warranty for a month, then M18x replacement

 

Well, repair guy came again today, and replaced even MORE stuff, and it still doesn't work. Dell refuses to replace the laptop with another one, so now I have to send it in to the depo.

And I have like 3 and a half years left on my warranty.

And with the way my luck is going, in a week the depo is going to call or email me and say that they have to replace the whole laptop anyway.

 

I would respond back that the depot is unacceptable as you paid explicitly for on site service. If they cannot give you that then you are entitled to either a refund or a system replacement of equal or greater value

 

I'm going to call Dell right now and try my hardest to get them to replace it instead of a Depo repair, because the fact is if something does wrong at the Depo I will be without a computer for almost or over a month, and thats just rediculous.

 

Good Luck Lakart.

Ask to speak to the manager on site/on call at the time. Let them know that you are serious and want to know that you are going to be taken care of properly. Be prepared to outline and detail everything that has happen so far.

Worse case scenario is that they will still take your notebook to the depot for investigation and repairs. If so then demand to only give them like 1 week or 5 days max. After that a full refund or replacement machine needs to be arranged and compensated accordingly. They will have records of this conversation so any deal struck up with a manager is and should be solid. Get the call case number as well just in case for future reference.

Cheers.

 

The fact is they've replaced almost everything in the laptop, and it still wont work, which makes it seem really futile to attempt more repairs on it. The count for parts "used" is at 3 motherboards, 6 video cards, a few fans, the cpu heatsink, two hard drives and a few little things that control the fancy lights on the keyboard and such. And the OS going bad.

 

Ya that is ridiculous, as soon as you get a real person ask for their manager. You should be getting a replacement under the "no lemons" policy (typically if 3 or more parts are replaced you get a new machine)

 

I'm on the phone with a regular person but they're going over it with someone "higher up" than them. Sadly I was too slow to look at the forums and ask for a manager. They're having some difficulty because apparently the guy who put in for my depo was a "Level 2 Tech" and it requires quite a bit of poking and prodding on tech supports side to override something done by one of them. <<

 

Hopefully you can get it overridden, because depot is not acceptable, not to me anyways

 

The person got approval for a replacement, were going through the making sure the replacement will be the same or better bit right now.

 

AWESOME. Glad they are taking care of you. That is why I love this brand

 

Honestly even when I look at other places that have laptops "more powerful" than Alienware, usually the selection isn't as much to my liking. So far tech support, when I talk to them, not a tech who is doing repairs for me, has always been great. I just needed to be a little more firm in my ways when I contacted them.

 

The customer is always right

 

Oh Hold Music...I will hate you until the day I die.

 

Awesome. Great stuff! Now lets see what they offer you.
Good Luck Lakart.

I wonder if it will be another R2 with better SPECS; ie 5870CF; do they even have R2s anymore.
Or will it be an R3?...........


Cheers.

 

Probably an R3, but unlike people with dual 5870s an R3 wont really be a step down for me.

 

I would rather have the R3...better battery life, cpu, simpler driver situation, Sata 3, all around goodness

 

I would take an R3 with the 6970.
Heck I would be willing to swap one of my R2s for and R3

Cheers.

 

Even if I should/would/might get an R3, I doubt ill get an R3. Probably end up with a refurb'd R2 with 5870s.

And hey, I love my R2, if it weren't for the technical issues I would keep it forever(aka, until I replace it with something shinier) D<. And I have the best CPU(in my opinion) that they were ever offering with the R2.

I've already been told that they definitely don't have anything with the specs the same as my R2 in inventory.

@reborn: Aww really? Don't dual 5870s significantly(or at least moderately) outstripe the single 6970? Now if there was a mobile 6990...hot damn.

 

I would take the 6970m over dual 5870s. They do not scale the best and CF is a picky thing when it comes to drivers.

 

I remember the days when I was young and foolish and didn't even know that you could HAVE two video cards. Like I said, I wouldn't mind the 6970m, because that a total upgrade from my 4870s, but I doubt it would happen.

 

Yep it will be interesting what they will eventually offer you.

In terms of the 5870s being slightly better than the 6970. That is probably true however as an overall system I wouldn't mind having an R3 that lasts 4 - 5hours on battery compared to my R2 that lasts 1hr LOL.
I am also very tired of the driver situation. + I like the sounds of lighter and that WiDi gimmick; Luv it! I would be using it every day lol. I want my R2 to be able to do that. Stream Blurays off wirelessly to the Tele through Wifi. Fabulous!
I'm also getting annoyed at the ridiculous fan noise when playing games. I swear its getting louder. LOL!

I guess I'm just feeling like I would like something new and much more portable. I have always wanted a notebook with more than 4 - 5 hours of battery life. I thought the M14x was going to be my answer but hmmmssss......I'm having 2nd thoughts about it.
Eyes focusing on the M11x now

Cheers.

 

Well its being built new, so it probably will be a R3.

OMG AN ALIENWARE M17X WITH BATTERY LIFE? You have blown my mind. Blown it all over the wall.

 

Yup its pretty awesome ey the battery life.

Check out this thread. I love reading the stories.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/573241-observations-using-r3-like-normal-laptop.html

Cheers.

 

A max of 21 days...Kind of sad, that depo takes 3-5 days to get there, 1-3 days to repair(only over 1 if there's difficulties), then 2 more days to get back to you, and a whole new build can take a max of 21 days...

 

But you get a whole new build out of it. I would be happy

 

I am happy, especially compared to earlier

 

New R3 Just got here. It's completely tricked out, top specs in everything. I. AM. SO. HAPPY.

And 3 days before I leave the state for vacation. Awesome timing.

 

Very nice, enjoy!