Alienware M18x R1 SLI 580M Graphics card error 43 issue that Dell have deemed unrepairable even though it's under parts warranty.

Hi,

Be interesting to see what you think of this issue, which Dell tell me they have never seen before.

They have now given up after replacing the motherboard and graphics cards several times, and having tried to repair it at their repair facility.

One of the 580M's is showing Error 43 in device manager. It appears to be the right hand one, as the left one's fan blows out hot air during gaming.

The card is seen fine in the bios, but not by the Nvidia drivers.

I can enable it, and it shows as working fine (but it's not) until I reboot, then the error 43 comes back.

If I enable it, then disable the working card, it seems to work in a basic way, but even the 2d graphics are very slow when moving windows around and the drivers still don't recognise it.

If its not the motherboard, sli cable, graphics cards, brackets or software, what's left?

I find it incredible that it's considered 'beyond economic repair. I have a parts warranty..Dell just can't find the faulty part...

Operating system currently Win 8.1, but has also been 8 and 7, clean installs etc.

Hope someone can help,

Leo

 

you are literally the only person i've heard of that dell hasn't given a new replacement machine.

 

If "beyond economic repair" was indeed quoted from Dell, that should translate into replacement. A system exchange request can be initiated by any level 1 phone support tech (with supervisor's approval) so that option really should have been communicated to the OP by now..

 

That's weird, where are you located? If you are in the US or CA I can check the case myself and provide some insights. I will only need you to PM me your service tag.

 

I'm not at all surprised that the reps that you speak with on the phone will not or unable to help you, the vast majority of them are idiots.

The bright side to all of this is that many of the Alienware/Dell Reps who visit the forums can more likely than not help you out. They are a good bunch of guys and I have seen them help other people here on the forums in the passed.

 

Not knowing the answer to every technical question does not make anyone an idiot. We would all qualify as idiots at one point or another if that were true.

If this problem is being caused by what I believe it might be, it is an easy fix. A number of systems with 580M SLI shipped from the factory with this problem. Replacing the GPU won't fix the problem if it is incorrectly assembled. The replacement GPU will behave the same as the part it replaces. If the people working on your system are unfamiliar with the cause and not properly assembling the GPU parts, the back plate is grounding out on the PCB on the right side (secondary GPU). This was caused by a minor defect in the design of the heat sink support plate. If you look at the second card with GPU-Z does is show "FF" ( like this image) instead of "A1" in the revision field? You have to change the drop down menu at the bottom of the GPU-Z to switch between video cards. For a closer look at what might be the solution for your problem have a look here...

[Guide] Curing Shorted Support Plate on NVIDIA MXM Modules (Symptoms: Display "Static" or "Snow" Artifacts - Error Code 43 - Revision FF error)

If the problem is only present with the secondary GPU and the primary GPU is fine, you might not see snow or other screen artifacts.

 

Does the problem also happen if you (or the tech) swap the primary and secondary card around? I've had two Desktop GeForce GTX580s once I wanted to run in SLi mode. The cards were from the same manufacturer but apparently different board revisions. These cards also had the Error Code 43 problem when the earlier revision card wasn't the primary card (or rather, seated in the first PCIe slot) with both cards installed.
I realize that these mobile cards are completely different beasts, but if Mr. Fox' advise doesn't help you, you could give it a try and switch the primary card for the secondary (or have a Dell tech do it, as you'll also have to switch the heatsinks) nonetheless and see if it helps. You might get lucky.

 

Very likely to be the short as Mr. Fox said, I had this issue long ago.

 

I agree with Mr. Fox. I had the same problem, A simple little short of the bottom bracket.

 

Just remember, Even dirty thermal pads (broken bits stuck around) can also cause shorts.