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    [A18] Major 780M GTX bug / death?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by @tomX, Nov 27, 2015.

  1. @tomX

    @tomX Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello guys,

    I have the feeling that one of my 2 780M GTX just died...

    I'm using windows 8.1 x64 with 16 gigs of RAM.

    I was playing FF14 online for the last 2 hours and all of a sudden, major sound shutter and image freeze.... I immediately shut down the laptop and rebooted.

    On reboot, the nvidia control panel did not start and SLI was disabled (I have 2 GPU Monitor gadget widgets on my desktop to monitor my 2 cards).

    I went to the hardware pannel and check on the GPUs : only one is left and it has a yellow mark on it saying the machine needs to reboot (code 14) for it to work.
    So I restart => nothing.
    I press Fn+F5 to go silent GFX = boot normally with Intel onboard graphics.
    I press Fn+F5 again to go back in dual 780M and same thing : only one card and no nvidia panel + yellow mark on the card.

    I launch GPU-Z and only one card is left.

    Any ideas?
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2015
    @tomX, Nov 27, 2015
    #1
  2. Scanner

    Scanner Notebook Deity

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    Only things to do:

    1-Try removing card and reinstalling it. If that doesn't work,

    2-Determine which card is bad by switching between the 2 cards in primary (1st slot) and see which one doesn't work.

    3-make sure your SLI cable hasn't fried.

    If one has gone bad hopefully it still has warranty
     
    Scanner, Nov 27, 2015
    #2
    kenny27 likes this.
  3. @tomX

    @tomX Notebook Evangelist

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    So.
    Looks like one of the 2 is definitely dead...

    Removed the 2nd card.

    Removed the nvidia drivers with 3d guru driver cleaner in safe mode.

    Rebooted + clean install of drivers => primary card back online.
    Re-seated the 2nd one with and without Xfire cable => no go on 2nd = not detected in bios
    Switched the 2nd card with no heat-sink in the primary => no go on 2nd = not detected in bios

    added another 780M in 2ndary slot = good and going with SLI...
     
    @tomX, Jan 10, 2016
    #3