video tdr error

I have a m18x r2, 3820qm, gtx675m sli. Recently I started getting random blank screens, during gaming(not heavy duty), or even just desktop usage. Seems to be no pattern to it. Have tested gpu's with Dell's included program, tried furmark( no extreme burn)temps were mid 70's. Never shut off during any of these tests. Integrated graphics work fine. I tried using gpu 1, screen went blank cruising thru a steam menu. I don't think there is a way to test gpu #2 without tearing down the machine and swapping the cards? Is it worth the time to do it? I know this issue has been discussed here and all over the web, is there a definitive answer? Bad card or cards the bottom line? My system seems to perform excellent during the tests I've run. If it comes to disassembly, should I just get a couple of replacement cards, maybe 680's? I know Mr Fox has a nice video detailing the teardown. I would really hate not being able to use this machine to it's full function. Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

Yeah sounds like the 675m's are dying, they are just a rebranded 580m's and thus very prone to failing.
Id get a pair of 680m's, and be done with it, those are very reliable

 

Have you updated your driver recently? Nvidia has really been slipping in the driver quality dept, what youre describing sounds very similar with a lot of their recent drivers, especially if youre running any overclock to speak of.

For example, I have had to turn of 'use hardware acceleration" in Google Chrome with the last two drivers including my current 375.70 as I would get a black screen in Google Chrome otherwise. There is nothing wrong with my GPU, this is just a common issue nowadays with Nvidia's drivers.

But yeah, your 580's, likely only one, could be on it's way out, and if you haven't updated your driver recently then this is a possibility.

I have a pair of 680M's that I might be willing to part with that I pulled out of my R2 about 6 months ago. They are solid.

 

Tried rolling back drivers, same issues. Tried changing the tdr delay, no good. On firefox had to turn off hardware accel, the other browsers seem fine. Email me at [email protected] with a price for your cards. Thanks. Won't be able to respond again until tonight after 7pm est

 

do not replace with another set of 675M.....get a 680M, 780M, or 980M.

All of those are more reliable than the 580M/675M

 

OP is better of with either 680M or 980M as 780M is limited to a two year old driver as it is in the same situation as 880M (780M, 880M same card different vbios) which started to exhibit weird throttling behavior after a certain driver branch from 2014 with no workaround other than using the driver before it, from 2014.

This is actually a very serious problem, as with SLI youre basically at the mercy of new Nvidia drivers introducing SLI compatibility.

Resident Evil 7?

Get ready to be forced to play that with only your primary 780 / 880M.

 

Update to my last post:

To corroborate what I'm talking about with NGreedia really falling behind in the driver quality control dept. with owners of NGreedia hardware having all kinds of problems, from being unable to use hardware acceleration in web browsers, to random black screens etc. Have a look at this entry from PC Gamer and the 3rd post down in the following 3D Vision community forum:

http://www.pcgamer.com/nvidias-37849-gpu-drivers-break-hardware-encoding-in-steam/

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/989848/3d-vision/378-49-is-out/

I hope AMD begins to seriously challenge them with marketshare with Vega, they've become far to comfortable and complacent and the result is not caring about driver quality control. NGreedia had excellent driver quality control back when AMD had more than 25% market-share.

For more on this issue I recommend having a look at this:

 

Vulcan, drop me an email with a price for your 680m's. [email protected]

 

Sorry I was contemplating keeping them lol, I sent you an email.