HELP pls with AW M17 4850x2 problems!

So...it's M17 with Ati 4850, but with issues I think

Problems are: OS: Vista 64bit Home - stock drivers from Ati M17_Video_x86_x64_ATI_4850m_driver_8.57
Problem is at 3dMard 06 and Vantage too. See pictures below.

OS: Win7 32bit build 7100: The SAME in the games! But 3d mark 06 not starting, Vantage is working OK! Strange?!

Riddick Dark Athena - working perfect.
Crysis - with lines.

When I shut off Crossfire from CCC, 3dmark works ok?

Is it the second VGA, What should I do?

I'm in USA till 30 August. (((



I 'll put images now:
3dmark06 pic1

3dmark06 pic2

3dmark vantage

desktop+VGA info CCC and GPU-z

 

Add a .jpg at the end of the files

 

I'd install new drivers for it.

Steps:
1. Download the latest 9.7 Catalyst desktop drivers.
2. Download Mobility Modder.
3. Run the driver package, and allow it to unpackage into a folder. Cancel the driver installation.
4. Run Mobility Modder. Direct it to wherever the driver unpackaged to and mod them.
5. Download and install Driver Sweeper.
6. Uninstall current drivers. (Go to Device Manager, right click on the ATI Radeon 4850 X2, and uninstall it. Make sure to check the box that says 'Delete files' or something like that.
7. Reboot into safe mode. To do so, hammer down the F8 key at start up.
8. Make sure that the device manager says "Standard VGA Display Driver" or something around those lines,
9. Run Driver Sweeper and get rid of any ATI driver renmants with it.
10. Reboot.
11. Install the modded 9.7 drivers by running the .exe in the file.
12. Reboot.
13. See if that helps.

 

Don't you see the images?

 

Not with firefox, it asks me if i want to download the file. After that i need to add a .jpg at the end or open them with an image viewing program (ordinary double click wont work).

 

I did almost the same.
UPDATES:

Now with Vista 64 and installed modded 9.7 CCC drivers from Ati site and mobility modder, Crossfire enabled in CCC. No issues in Device Manager, both cards running - SAME problem - flickers and lines at 3dmark 06 and 3dmark vantage!!!!!

Tonight I'll try in games, but I'm almost sure, that the SECOND/Slave VGA is the fu**ing problem O NOOOOOOOO!

In Win7, one of the cards is with problem at device manager, GPUZ says Crossfire is disabled, that's why 3dmark vantage runs, also 3dmark 06 runs, and I have only 7750 poins at 06 at win7. And 9050 at WinVista64 at stock drivers without Crossfire.

Question: Do you see the images at the first post?

Help me fast guys, is the GPU the problem ???


Later I'll try Win7 64bit OEM last version. Because 32bit build 7100 wouldn't install any working drivers, except AW stock, but without Crossfire.


PS: Question1: If I flash VGA bios or Motherboard Bios, or anything is there a chance to fix that? If it is the slave VGA.
Question2: If I send back the notebook tomorrow, is it possible to be fixed and received in 19 DAYS???

 

yes we do, problem is that if it is a card problem AW will not return your laptop fixed within 2 weeks, more like 4-5weeks

 

Sounds like a bad card. Definetely.

However there's almost no way they'll fix it in 19 days. I'd ask them to send a new card out because 19 days is too short, and if they say they can fix it in 19 days get a written guarantee in an email or something so that you have proof they said it if you need it.

 

butwhat comeback does he have even if he got that email, i cant imagine dell giving him compensation because some CS rep said he would get his machine back in 19 days

 

Or you could run msconfig, go to the boot tab and select safe boot with the needed resources.

 

I canlt see it on my phone can you just img it?

it seems that afr is isn'y working but I want to see those runs first before anything.

 

Hence I said that he should get it sent to him if he can.

Yeah. That would work too.

 

ok I got it to work on my phone.

is your card master/slave or master/master

if it's master master, then I wld put the 2nd card in the primary slot.

it's not a driver error unless it's cupport. it would more of a hardware failure.

 

how can I understand is it master/master or master/slave, and how can I understand which one of the two is not working?

 

well you said that when crossfire is enabled that's when you get the problem. but when it's not it's fine.

i am in a hospital right now so i can't post a picture because of security. but the master slot/cord is the one next to the cpu in the middle. the slave card/slot is the one on top of the hdd.

 

Wow, I hope you going to be allright.
So I was thinking that I should open the laptop to see the cards. If I see them, how to understand which is not working properly, and are there both master or master and slave ?
I'll try may be tomorrow, and I'll phone AW too.
Now I'm trying Win7 64 RTM, but with which drivers? Ati mobility or ati classic + mobility mod?

 

just use the stock AW drivers.

we are trying to fix not improve.

also i want to see some benchmarks. maybe your sli cable is bad.

 

it would be a Xfire cable

 

lol i just saw that i said sli.
but yes your crossfire cable can be bad. but i have seen were the gpu was bad also. which was the first thing that popped up in my head. that's why i said to produce some benchmarks so we can see what's up with your system.

 

So, I have a bit new info, but I'm still sad!
On Win7 64bit RTM with ATI 9.7 mobility modded - working both cards in device manager, also enabled crossfire in CCC - same lines and problems in
3dmark06 and 3dmark vantage.

Right now last news are: Installed Crysis with patch 1.1.0 on Vista Home 64 with same ATI 9.7 official website, but mobility modded.
Lines in Crysis, lines in Riddick Dark Athena.

Intressting facts! : When I press ALT+Tab, the Fullscreen is off, but the window is almost full, except the start menu bar and window bar with minimize, maximize and close buttons.

So, when is not fullscreen Riddick and Crysis are WITHOUT lines!!!! Also the FANs are going much more faster after 20-30 sec gameplay, and it's noisier, then usual, so maybe the second card start running.
In Crysis, when I press one more time, Alt+tab, there are lines at fullscreen, and after one more alt+tab, which should go to fullscreen off, but stays ON, and it is WITHOUT lines!!!

In Riddick is not the same, only at fullscreen off is without lines, any other combination is bad.
Tried also 59 or 60 Hz, from games settings, also Windows Settings and CCC setings

I'll post benchmarks later...

 

One answer found! The ALT+Tab thing is switching stopping using the crossfire. I understand that because of this:
There is an ATI CCC icon in the taskbar, and with a right click you can change the Crossfire Settings at the first 1. VGA.
You can use that option only when CF is on:
Show Crossfire status icon where applicable. And then when I switch with alt+tab, the icon disapears, although the fullscreen or not. If there is an Crossfire icon, there are LINES!
I'll put videos on youtube.

Now about benchmarks:
Vista 64 + Ati 9.7 mobility modded + 3dmark06 at 1280x1024 all default + Crossfire Enabled = 8117 points, 3398 SM2, 4837 SM3, 1477 CPU

Same + Crossfire Disabled from CCC manager = 7488 Points, 3359 SM2, 3959 SM3, 1477 CPU

Could ANYONE tell me WHERE is the problem please!!!

 

So I'm almost probably sure, that the secing GPU is the problem, and it's not the cable, because of the small amount of points at 3d marks software.

Could you provide me the best phones for support, where peope would help me and understand me?
Should I call Alienware website support phones, or are there any other like Rosswell or something like that, where the people are the best. Or just write me every single phone number, that you know! Please!
Thank you.

 

Second GPU cant be working, i can achive higher with a single 4850, its the xfire cable or the GPU, i'd try another cable first. Make sure everythings all in place.

 

I cant say i have heard of the cable being faulty, i would suggest it sounds like the card sadly

only thing you can do is request a replacement, although if you get it sent to you AW will require a deposit until you return the broken one, unless you send it back to them (but then you could be waiting weeks)

 

Yeah me neither, ive heard it commonly with Nvid sli ribbon but not really ATI, then again i cant say i know much about the whole XFIRE/SLI process anyway.

 

Week for the deposit back? Or weeks for the new VGAs.

PS: 3dmark Vantage at Win7 64bit with Ati 9.7 mobility modded - 4866points, 5015 GPU, 4464 CPU With Crossfire enabled and with lines.

I'll try to put videos on youtube, and please give me any phones, that I can call for support, or I'll call technical support phone.

 

Update and question:

Why the both VGAs are with the SAME Hardware ID (Device ID) in Device Manager and System Information:
ARE THEY BOTH MASTER? OR WHAT? How is the right one configuration?

How can I understand which card should I send back to Alienware?
Or with the crossfire cable - the two cards?
Name ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_944A&SUBSYS_207A161F&REV_00\6&37B63F8B&0&00000008
Adapter Type ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x944A), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
Adapter RAM 1,00 GB (1073741824 bytes)
Installed Drivers atidxx32,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atiumdva,atiumd64.dll,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver Version 7.01.01.861
INF File oem37.inf (ati2mtag_M9x section)
Color Planes Not Available
Color Table Entries 4294967296
Resolution 1920 x 1200 x 59 hertz
Bits/Pixel 32
Memory Address 0xD0000000-0xDFFFFFFF
Memory Address 0xF81F0000-0xF81FFFFF
I/O Port 0x00002C00-0x00002CFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 4294967293
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\atikmdag.sys (7.1.1.861, 4,85 MB (5084160 bytes), 31.7.2009 г. 16:12 ч.)

Name ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_944A&SUBSYS_207A161F&REV_00\6&1F4E87A8&0&00280008
Adapter Type ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x944A), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
Adapter RAM 1,00 GB (1073741824 bytes)
Installed Drivers atidxx32,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atiumdva,atiumd64.dll,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver Version 7.01.01.861
INF File oem37.inf (ati2mtag_M9x section)
Color Planes Not Available
Color Table Entries Not Available
Resolution Not Available
Bits/Pixel Not Available
Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xDFFFFFFF
Memory Address 0xF8200000-0xF82FFFFF
I/O Port 0x00003000-0x00003FFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 4294967294
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\atikmdag.sys (7.1.1.861, 4,85 MB (5084160 bytes), 31.7.2009 г. 16:12 ч.)

 

they may both be master, this was needed in the Asus W90 to get proper functionality. An easy way to check is to see if there is a CrossFireX option in CCC. If yes, they are both master, if no, master/slave.

 

Check the 4th pic he posted

 

Can't see it at work, but I'll assume it addresses what my post was about haha

I just said that because it seemed it could be potentially helpful

 

It shows that he has the Crossfirex option

 

Seems like it isnt tho :/, marshall had a problem like this i believe, no gliches like but the fix was DNA Drivers 9.3, give them a whirl.

And i thought master/master and master/slave configurations on cards work also>?

 

yes they will both work, is the difference between being crossfire or an x2 card though (pretty much none that is)

 

So, I have the option CrossfireX in Catalyst Control Center, so I have master/master Maybe that's the problem, and I altready tried DNA Drivers, but 9.4 for 32bit Win7, now I'm only with Vista Home/Stock installed 64bit and stock drivers, but I'll try to find DNA 9.3 for Vista 64.
Thanks for now guys!

 

So what is the REAL GOOD Configuration to have - master/slave or master/master, and what should I do if one of the cards is defect.
How can I understand which one to send it back, or what can I do?

 

Master/Master was the better of the 2 on the W90 because it allowed us to install drivers 9.2-9.4 though im not positive they could ever install any drivers beyond that since i think ATI changed something around in 9.5 and above , last i looked they were stuck with 9.4 . Not positive if they were able to install 9.7s under Windows 7 though with Master/Master .

 

As quadzilla mentioned, the main difference between the two configurations is what drivers they will allow you to install. The performance will be the same between the 2 configs (for a given driver in which both install properly)

 

Here are some videos of my problem uploaded to youtube.
3dmark06

3dmark vantage

starting crysis + alt+tab combination and crossfire icon

starting riddick dark athena + alt-tab combination
more:
3dmark06 test2

3dmark06 test3

Now I'll try DNA 9.3 drivers.

thanks

 

So I just tried installing DNA 9.3 after full uninstall of my other drivers, started vista with F8 and disabled driver signuture, also during the installation the screen flickered maybe 2-3 minutes, not like normal 2-3 times and for a 20 seconds.
It was successful installation, after reboot again with F8, both cards are installed and working in device manager, also a crossfire option is in the CCC manager, BUT same problems in 3dmark06, again those lines as in videoclips on youtube.
Same problem with that drivers.

In Device Manager usually first card is PCI slot 6 and almost every time is working correct, second card is PCI slot 3, and sometimes is not starting, depending on drivers and Operation system.
So maybe the problem is in the second, which is also master?!

What should I do not, I'm going to phone AW customer technician maybe :S SADDDDDD

 

its all pointing to a failed card

they will ask for deposit before sending u a replacement, which normally sent next day (stock pending)

if u send it to them no deposit needed but you can wait weeks to get it back

 

probably I'll ask for a replacement and I'll pay deposit, but when they receive the bad card, how long does it take to return deposit to me?

 

3 days for me

 

They're not supposed to charge you at all unless it takes more than 5 days or so for you to return it. MAKE SURE you record the tracking number on the label that you print out when mailing it to them. I sent back a card and they still charged me for it as though I never returned it. Thank God I had the tracking number and could prove that they did receive it. Unfortunately, they still took nearly 2 months to refund my money.

If I were you, I would track the package and when you see it is received by Alienware, I would call them that day to make sure that they don't charge you. This is what I plan to do if I need to send a card back again.

 

THANK YOU ALL GUYS!
I'm so happy right now, everything is working, but my tragedy was so powerful.
I had a tmobile prepaid card with only 31 minutes, and my home phone here does not call outside Cape Code/Massachusetts
Anyway I phoned AW support, I waited, I was transferred, I spoke with Technician, we did virtual connection / Alien Contact, something like Remote Desktop, I show him images, videoclips, we did futuremark 06 test. He was so stupid He thinks that may be is the monitor/LCD, he suggest to try at different monitor or TV. I explained him everything about crossfire, games, alt+tab, drivers, directX, anything that I tried!
At least he told me to get off the Crossfire cable and to put it again on. Last night I opened the case without to take off anything, just to see the videocards, and the notebook inside.
I didn't think, that this will be cable problem, it sound's to me much more like a BAD VGA card.

Anyway we hanged the conversation, and I have now 1minute only, so we spoke around 30 minutes

What a luck.
Then I tried this with the cable, just out and again in, start the PC, stard 3dmark06 ==>>> NO PROBLEMS!

So cool, everything, So happy, I don't know. We meeeeee

Last 3dmark06 points around 10800, with stock drivers and stock anything

God, all you in that forum are my friends now. I love you all.
I'm reading the forum since year maybe I know so much from here. You are the best.
I should do the stupid cable last night
So worried, so many problems
But now everything is great!

Sorry for my English, I'm Bulgarian
Peace out. Love you

 

excellent, really pleased you had a good result

Now go bench and play games

Pete