Having nothing but issues with the 4870's in my R2...

Tried it OC'ed and stock.

 

Sounds weird. Let's see what others report. If it's a bug, Dell will be pressed hard this time. Looks like they never linger too much on testing stages...

 

mine doesn't flicker

I am just pwning bandits here and virus infected people in prototype before that

 

Moo has a 720, I'm waiting for him to report back, then I'm going to bed.

 

In that case I want to see a 920 owner says they don't have the issue. If so then it's not a bug.

 

thats a power issues IMO

 

So do you think it's because of the additional Wattage that 920 needs?

 

If I had another proc to test I would. Witcher has both, may he can.

 

At least you got the RGB

 

I'll run it if/when I get my SSD sorted out. I did however run multi-GPU furmark with the GPU OC'd and it was fine.

 

from what i heard he isn't having the issues

 

Drake

Does if flicker in every game, or just certain games?

 

You missed the point. He is complaining that his rig can't play Crysis at max settings. I am telling him that its crazy to even expect that, and that only the latest desktop card has been able to do so - just barely.

In benchamrks, yes. In Crysis, not even close. Desktop 4850s can't run it maxed so good luck with mobilities.

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1470/page_8_benchmarks_crysis/index8.html

Bummer about the flicker - if its hw prob then this is getting crazy.

 

try throttlestop on the 920 systems and see if it flickers

 

I use to get them artifact/flickers all the time cause my vram was messed on my gpus but after hasseling with it for so long it went away one day after a new driver was issued for my ati card, mobility 9600 128mb

 

Then it wasn't a problem with VRAM, just the driver.

 

I ended up fixing it with an guide that helps vram problems though so I categorize it as that

 

awww man i am really praying my one doesnt come with the dreaded flickering =(

 

So far it looks like a power issue and only the extreme CPUs are affected (920). You are in the free zone IMHO.

 

Why are you using the hotfix? use the real drivers:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=455535

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/9-12/Pages/radeonaiw_vista64.aspx?&lang=English

 

i play prototype and street fighter with no flicker but i don't know other games i will try tomorrow i an tired long day

 

Witcher, did you get straightened out? What are your early impressions?

 

i really want to order this thing, maybe i'll wait for the 5870's unless this isn't as widespread as it seems.

 

I'm in the middle of a clean install. I'll put on crysis warhead and report back if i get the same flickering. This system is definitely pushing the power envelope with xfire 4870 + 920xm, dual hdd + rgb led. Ideally a 300W supply would be perfect or at least a more efficient and bulkier one like Clevo's use.

 

Wait, I'm using the hotfix! Is there a reason not to use it? I've read other threads which recommend it...

 

Both standard and hotfix are slightly better for some people. The hotfix driver IS newer however, so if you're not having any issues, stick with it.

 

set you system settings to quality or high quality
try it with vsync on as well
also try with AI set to standard


try them one at a time in the order given
each by itself..if nothing changes...mix and match or all together.

let me know if anything changes....

 

If the issue is not common then I have to start with the basics. Thanks for the info guys.

 

I'm doing a run in vantage right now at 620/950 (using rivatuner to OC). Will edit with the results. Oh btw Mandrake, Crysis Warhead worked without any flickering.

 

I think it's just a coincident that my issue is similar to the OP. I did more troubleshooting and the next step is to re-seat the crossfire cable and the second GPU. If I didn't just get the system a couple days ago I would have done it already. I emailed my resolution specialist and sent them the video. I will see what they say.

 

So you guys think it's a power issue?

I did a clean install last night of everything, OS and drivers, and retested on Crysis.

FPS came up to playable levels but the flickering problem persisted. I believe my initial problem of FPS may have resulted from somehow messing up the drivers, because that issue I've managed to alleviate.

Flickering is still persistant, and I installed and tested both Aion and Mass Effect and it was just as evident in both games. They ran flawlessly, but with tons of clipping/flickering.

 

Not a power issue if others with the same set up don't have the problem. I'm sure me and you have the same problem but it's coincidental.

 

Could be anything.

Bad batch of RGBLED, faulty VRAM, etc.

Heck, it could be a shoddy power brick.

 

Correct. At this stage I would have to start swapping parts one by one. I'm not willing to do that.

 

If I were you, I'd just ask for a replacement

 

It's in the works. The tricky part is doing it without calling tech support. That takes skill.

 

Depends.

Back in the good ole days I got my m170 replaced with an m1730 just by telling chat to file a complete care claim.

No questions asked

But, yeah, you have a resolutions person. They usually just push things thru.

 

Have you tried setting your 2D clocks to the same as 3D along with the voltage in RBE? I've been doing some reading and it seems powerplay could be the culprit as a lot of desktop users have similar issues.

 

No, I would have gone into further troubleshooting if this was an older system. Since it is new I would rather return it then have the possibility of having a reoccurring issue.

 

I am really surprised that after the DPC latency issue of the first M17X Dell would not be more careful about the R2.

I surely hope we will not start finding hundreds of owners complaining about stupid issues that could/should have been avoided with further testing prior to selling the PC.

Only time will tell.

 

Are you guys having issues using the 150w power brick or the optional 240w power brick available on Dell's site...

 

If you order 4870XF or the extreme proc you get the 240w PS.

 

I've been running l4d2, cs:source, cod:mw2, dirt 2, borderlands, gta IV and mass effect 2 the past few days. So far i only see flickering with Mass Effect 2.

My case, the flickering in ME2 only occurs during 1) peak points with the transitions from 3D movie dialogue to gameplay or 2) when moving from game idle to next check point with multiple mobs. I'm suspecting it's the factory tuned fan speed or something to do with the heat generated/extra juice needed with crossfirex and 920xm. Each time it transitions the fans were going from normal cruising to jet engine loud, flickers, goes back to normal and then back again.

Dell Drivers, CrossfireX, Stock Settings and Turbo off.
Problem only with Mass Effect 2.

 

I purchased a secondary 240watt powersupply from Dell. The issue remains regardless of which power brick is used.

I'm gonna contact Dell most likely tomorrow and just attempt to get a replacement.

At this point I'm rather unhappy with Dell. These issues shouldn't exist in a $4,000 system. What happened to quality control? I thought Alienware used to test their systems before they shipped out to ensure quality. Is this one of the things AW lost when acquired by Dell?

 

anything made by humans is subject to defect.

Doesn't matter if you paid $5 or $50,000

Stuff happens....

 

yeah so sad to hear this all. just wonder my luck having no issues at all
don't worry man, u'll get your replacement, all gonna be allright

 

This is a bit off debate but certainly there is a quality control issue with Dell. I agree that no matter what price you pay you may get a defective product but with all the problems the M17X R1 got I was under the impression they would not repeat that mistake.

If indeed there is a problem of flickering which comes out to be as bad as the DPC latency issue on the R1 then Dell will be in trouble in the eyes of the high end laptop users. We can forgive one mistake but two in a row...

 

Invariably, yes.

But all signs point to a significant lack of testing and quality control in their systems, and regardless of how much a product costs, with each thousand you spend you increasingly expect a certain level of quality to coexist with that hole in your pocket.

AW used to (from personal experience) have better quality control; I never had a problem with an AW system purchased before Dell acquired them and I owned several of them. I'm not saying certain issues aren't unpredictable, but it seems, even from the "compatibility" issue (as I was told by Dell directly) with the Blu Ray drive (plenty of other systems are shipping with blu ray drives and the latest technology), and especially all the reported problems with the R1 that Dell does not spend entirely near enough time in the testing stages of their product.

Were I Michael Dell, I'd be appalled that my company's "high end" line of products is seemingly having so many issues and causing their customers this kind of frustration.

I need my m17x for work, and it will be of large inconvenience to me to wait for a replacement system should I need one at this point.

And yes, it's a small gripe in the grand scheme of things, but I ordered my system to come RAIDed. However simple it may be to do on your own is irrelevant. It's an option presented by the company that I selected, and it wasn't done. Apparently I'm not alone. I'm sorry, for this price point, for what I paid, that's unacceptable to me and it speaks volumes for their level of competence.

I understand this rant boils down to little more than whining, but I have a very hectic life right now, and the last thing I feel like worrying about is my brand new, expensive laptop that was purchased both to make life easier with work, and to destress me.

But I absolutely appreciate the level of knowledge and commitment to these machines you guys display on these forums, and without the information, insight, and helpfulness you all display I probably would've just returned the system and opted for an Origin by now. I'm not very good with the technical aspects of computers, so I appreciate all the help and most importantly all the information you guys provide in the topics here. It reassures me of my purchase and causes me to spend less time being jerked around on the phone by Dell support.

You guys know more than them anyway.

 

It is obviously not every system.

That leaves individual components, or a combination of them, to blame.

DPC issues plague a lot of other systems too, not just Dells....

 

My uncle, we call him Dr. Big bucks because he makes mad loot as a Radiologist, bought a brand new E class and withing a week the ECU failed and a rod blew a hole through the engine.

Yeah, he was pissed. But MB just gave him a new car straight-up.

Dell will do the same