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    Strange GPU Behaviour - is the an MB or a GPU problem?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by jarvmeister, Apr 22, 2013.

  1. jarvmeister

    jarvmeister Notebook Consultant

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    Hi All,

    I did post something about odd dimming issues with my 460m a month or so ago, however this has progressed a little and I wanted to start a new fresh thread with all of the new relevant information.

    The symptoms are: if left with no mouse or KB activity, after exactly 3 minutes (to the second) my monitor dims to the lowest setting. This includes when watching films full screen. When I touch the mouse, the screen will not return to the previously set brightness level. If I use the FN+F4 combo you can see the slider (in Windows 8) is at the lowest setting, and you can raise this back up to the highest setting. Unless I keep touching the mouse throughout watching the film, I'll get the same behavior. This happens in all applications, and the film is just used for explaining the problem.

    On rare occasions the screen will not actually dim to the lowest setting, it will dim slightly, and when I go to touch the mouse it will then dim to the lowest setting, and again I have to use the FN+F4 combo to get my desired brightness back.

    Also, if I ever try to OC the GPU, I move the slider to a higher position, press the apply button and it'll move back down to the previously set level - even if this was at a higher clock setting that the standard. This happens in all software, I have tried 3 different OC programs.

    I have re-flashed both the MB and GPU BIOSs.

    I have fully reloaded Windows 8 Professional x64, thinking this was a Windows bug, and it happened right from the start with all drivers installed and the OS fully patched and updated.

    I still have another 18 months left on my warranty, and would like to ring support to ask for their help - but would like any advice if anyone has any for me - the previous times I have called I have found the process to be spirit crushing. Does anyone have any advise on anything I could try first or does anyone have an idea as to whether they suspect, given the information I have provided, the GPU or MB as having the issue.

    Cheers all.
     
  2. Mr.Koala

    Mr.Koala Notebook Virtuoso

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    Are you in "power saving" mode or something? Doesn't sound like a bug to me.

    Edit: In another thread you said you've "Dim Screen After ..." off. That's a bit strange then. However I still feel it's a config problem, not a software bug in the strict sense. Both Win8 and Alienfusion has its own power setting, right?

    I have little experience with Win8 so I can't dig deeper.

    BTW, there is really, really no need to start multiple threads for this.
     
  3. vs3074

    vs3074 Notebook Evangelist

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    Seems like an issue with power saving rather than hardware. Something is not set correctly, try settings everything at max performance in advance power setting and see what it does.

    What gpu are running? 5870 did had few issues but were solved with never vbios.
     
  4. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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