M17 Possible Defect Issue (Not Resloved)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 2.00 GHz
4.00 GB
64-bit operating system
ATI Mobility HD Radeon 3870


Well I am having issues and I cannot diagnose the problems correctly. So I'd figure i would present my observations to you guys and you could help with the knowledge you have to present me with the best possible problem and solution.

When I am gaming ex. Red alet 3, cyrsis, Fallout 3 Left for dead and even older games like Day of Defeat Source and Counter-Strike Source I experience problems that inlcude VIDEO AND AUDIO LAGGING> It seems to only happen when my video card is being used at semi full capacity. But then again I will play less demanding games and I still encounter the same problem. I myself have concluded that I might have a defected Graphics Card. I did research my brand of card and I guess the 3800 Series have like 15-20 thousand defected cards. If you research it you will know. but that was in early 2008. I bought my computer about 2 weeks ago.

IF you have any questions for me that might help me solve this evolving issue i will be happy and glad to give you all facts....I just need correct diagnosis of the problem.

ANY HINTS< FACT< OR HELP PLEASE POST ASAP>>>>>THANKS


Marshall R.

 

oh no you are wrong the mobile 3870 has less then 5 bad cards. we are all having the same problrm you are having. we are all waiting on a bios flash to see if it fixes it.

 

Hey Rackauskas,

Umm, we are not all having the same problem, at least I haven't had any of the issues you've mentioned.

What graphics drivers are you using. There are plenty of driver choices in these forums. I am using and prefer the 9.1 drivers modded by E-wrecked.

It really sounds like a driver issue by your description. You may also want to install the latest audio drivers while you're at it.

I also notice that you have the quad core. This may be the problem that dondah88 is referring to. Some people have had issues with providing enough voltage to the processor and they have flashed the bios to the OCZ .28 bios which is supposed to address the voltage issue. Just search the forum to find this info. I believe Zfactor provided the .28 bios.

 

Well I dont have the problem with my standard P8400 CPU the M17 came with. That however changes when I install the QX9300 I have lying around. Then I have the sound lag and some video lag.

 

Sounds like you might have the quad/voltage problem. What bios do you have?

 

sorry I wasn't in detail. it is a quad problem. I have all that. it is caused by voltage, raid, and some more. we have found rhat disabling raid help solve some of the stuttering issues. but there is some more. the most stable bios to date is zfactors moddifed bios.

 

You mention audio and video lag. Perhaps it's the sleep issue?

Maybe you are experiencing these problems after bringing the computer up from Sleep mode. If so, the only solution is to disable Sleep mode altogether, or replace all Sleep mode settings with Hibernate like I did. That's it.

That is the only thing my M17 had. Other than that, strong as a bull.

 

I never put my computer to sleep. even though I have been thinking about it.

right (it is m fault) I can't no games. windows keep on coming up with an error. directx error. windows doesn't respond. any ideas?

 

I have been listening the voltage problem in the M17 configured with QX9300 and RAID. I have that configuration and since January when my lap arrieved I havent experienced any lag problem.

I suspect that since not everyone experience the same problem with the voltage could berelated tot he fact that not all the QX9300 have the same voltage level so you could try to undervolt your CPU. Here explains how to:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=235824

this is safer and easier than flashing your bios.

If the undervolting doesnt help you... maybe you can think in flash your bios (remember that will kill your warranty). As dondadah said, Zfactor's .28 bios seems to solve this voltage problem.

Good luck!
(sorry for my english, it is not my mother language)

 

Usually the stuttering problems the OP mentioned are caused by not enough voltage getting to the CPU. That's why the OCZ .28 bios was mentioned.

 

I agree I also have the M17 that had the same issues with video/sound lag going to the .28 bios from OCZ fixed my issues. As for the warranty thing just flash it back to the AW bios then send it in for a repair.

 

What's the difference between OCZ's .28 BIOS and Z's?

 

Z is more stable and helps witht he quads and also allow overclocking via bios

 

I really give you guys kudos for figuring out a fix faster than we ever could.

Maybe some of u oughta try to get hired by Dell's PG now that they're gonna run the show...

 

HOw did you disable sleep mode...and are you sure its affective?

Other things that might help if i havent mentioned it yet...i just got my computer like 1 week ago.... so if the date of it plays any part! Can someone please explain bios on a level that i can understand...i did use the progranm to test my temperature and it ranged between 69 and 70,,i dont know if that is normal of not???

 

Rackauskas read here it will help you understand what the bios is for/does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS

The video/audio lag was also going on my M17, I have talked to AW and I let them know that using the OCZ bios .28 fixed my issues with the lag. If you are going to use the OCZ bios I would call them and let them know that another user who had the same issues called in and is using this bios. I was also told that using this bios will not void my warranty since i called them. Hope this helps those with these issues out. You will not have to reflash to the AW bios to send it in for repairs either as that is what I was told. Also keep in mind that if you use the AW command center it will not work with the OCZ bios.

Later Goku

 

Wow,

Forgive me if I'm a little leary about this. It just seems strange that something so significant wouldn't just get filtered through back channels.

If it's indeed true this is awesome news! Would like to see something official in writing though.

Alienware Armando, can you verify this? Rose? James?

If this is found to be official Goku, you're gonna get a bunch of rep!

 

ocz bios .28 doesnt fix it really, the stutter/lag is still present...mainly in windows though, not games too much for me

 

Well it has fixed the issues with my AW M17, windows/games no longer lag have been using it for 4 days and gaming like crazy. Games tested are Doom3, Quake4, Dawn of War 2, Dawn of War, Diablo2, GuildWars, WoW, Warcraft 3, Titan Quest (this was the biggest one for me as i'm a fan), also watched a two movies with no issues.

 

Would have been nice to know what kind of advice they gave you that solved the problem.

 

I hope they fixed the issue with the quads.

I guess Ill find out next week...

 

They really did not give me any advice, I have 15years experiance working on computers/laptops. I also work in the field as a Network Admin/IT support Specialist. When I got my laptop I was all geeked but when I tried to play Dawn of War it would just start lagging when the fighing took place. I formated thinking driver issues and or conflick it did not solve the issue, I then sent it in they could not reproduce the error yet I could. My master Video card died got that replaced it still did not sovle the issues. I found that OCZ, Cyber Power and another company have the same laptop so I tried the OCZ bios ran it for a few days no issues. I did how ever report them to the BBB because I felt that it was unfair that I paid $4K for a laptop that I could not use for almost two months. In the end AW called me I talk to there complaint department and when they asked me if the Video card fixed the issue I told them no, it did not, but I also told them that I know what is wrong with the system and that if I used the OCZ bios my issues are gone. I then added that if i do ues this bios it will void my warranty and did not think that it was right because I paid for a laptop that should do what I bought it for. In the end AW extended my warranty for 3 months and I can use the OCZ bios with out voiding my warranty and I can send it in for repairs with the OCZ bios loaded. My whole point was not to make AW look bad the M17 is a kick butt laptop and I love it, but if you bought a Mustang Gt500 and it ran like an Toyota Yaris you would not be happy. All i wanted was what I paid for a working laptop that i can use for gaming. Before it would not bench more then 8500 points in 3dmark 06 now, its 14,600 points no OC, and im running the 8.57 drivers form AW. Heck i'm happy.

 

The only thing i found that works when my games start lagging video and audio i just unplug the power cord and plug back in and it works everytime annoying yes!!! for a $4300 machine but thats a temp fix try it

 

or you can just change it to power saver then back to high performance mode in vista through the power options real quick....ive seen this work but its still annoying, this only happens to me in GTA4 anyways when the cpu and gpu are under full load......what happens is it seems like vsync stops working and i see page tearing even though fraps still shows it capped at 60 fps....then its all downhill from there

 

Do you think that I'm requesting to much out of my pc. I mean after all after viewing all of your specs most of you have the ATI Crossfire or better. I only have a single card. Maybe I should upgrade to a ATI X 2. ?

 

there is a big difference with crossfire. check out my sig. i am going to update it with crossfire so people can see the difference.

 

lets just say I dont want to send it back to AW company for another installment of ATI. Say I want to buy it at best buy...will geek squad install it for me/ Or will they deny me because it is an alienware product and they dont care it??!?!?!? Suggestions? I really dont want to.

Another quesiton. If I buy another ATI card is that considered Crossfire or is the Dual ATI Cards different? How does that work exactly...Maybe im not presenting the question very well?

 

your presenting it decently


you cannot buy this card at best buy

you have to buy it from OCZ or some other reseller like ASI the new reseller as of now and by the sounds of it you are not a expert so i would say send it in because it alot less likely to not kill your system

 

See post here:


http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=376506

 

So pulling out the power would "fix" the problem for a short time?
I would love to have my xq9300 working in the damn laptop. Shame no one really has an answer yet.