M9750 Graphics Issues

Step by step what happened:

I was surfing the web on my SLI M9750 Alienware running Windows 7 RC build 7100
It froze, gave me the BSOD.
Restarted the laptop
The Windows loading screen showed red marks up and down on the screen everywhere looking like these: ||||| ||||| |||||
After the loading screen, the screen turns black and hangs there for infinity.
After trying again a few times, I was able to get into Safe Mode with networking but with these visual artifacts described previously as |||||| |||||
I took a screenshot, none of these artifacts show up on the screenshot.
I backed up my files, and started a reformat process. I was able to put the Alienware provided Windows Vista on it, once again with these red artifacts.
When I installed the driver and restarted the laptop, it hangs again.

I recently purchased a netbook for computer needs and feel that owning a secondary computer for gaming isn't really a need for me anymore so I'd like to throw these questions at you for your opinion:

1) What is your diagnosis of what might be wrong?
2) I personally think it's the primary video card that has broken. If it is (based on your opinions of what is wrong), would it be worth it to purchase a replacement video. I am leaning toward selling the Alienware anyways. So would it make sense to sell it as-is or to try and fix it first?
3) Any comments in general?
4) Is the oven trick an option for fixing this? And which card? the primary (daughter) card? If you don't know the oven trick: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=606658

Thanks for reading and any help in advance,

Ryan
_____

 

Ryan,

You will not believe it, I have the same issue with my m9750, running Windows 7 RTM. It went back to alienware where they replaced the motherboard, I believe just the primary video card, and the SLI cable. I received it back from them around the 18th of Sept. Looked like everything was fixed, but 6 hours later it died again. Once again it was shipped back to alienware and I am still waiting for it to come back fixed. I am so glad that I took out the 3 year warranty on it otherwise I would have been screwed.

1. I do believe it is the video card....since once they replaced it it worked for 6 hours at my house.
2. You can try unhooking the SLI cable to see if you still get the artifacts, if so they you know its the primary card, but I think they probably both failed. Cause of failure? unknown, but probably due to insufficient cooling would be my guess.
3. I assuming that you didn't send it back to alienware because its no longer under warranty. I will let you know when I get it back the second time what the final fix is. Maybe they will upgrade the video card to fix it, since the one they replaced it with was faulty.
4. Oven trick, if it is not under warranty and you want to tempt this start with the primary card first.

 

I'm pretty sure that now the 7950GTX's are virtually impossible to obtain this is why people are having problems when they have to get them replaced since the new parts are old too they may not have much life left in them either!
Also if i'm not very much mistaken the 7950's were from a time when nVidia chugged out a massive number of faulty cards.
HD3870's are the way to go with this system imo

 

The HD3870 would be nice, but I doubt it that alienware would do that. I got off the phone with alienware earlier today and they replaced both video cards. I hope these are new card and not some refurbished or used cards

 

The oven trick worked with putting the bad video card in there for 9 minutes while at 385 degrees. I'm happy now

 

I am glad the oven trick worked. Just got mine back from Alienware and once again it lasted about 6 hours before dying again. Back to alienware once again. Maybe I should tell them the oven trick.

 

I'm kinda in the same boat, but without the lines on the display. I can not get my system into SLI mode no matter what I do. I'm out of warrenty so I guess the question is, how do i tell if its the primary or secondary video card? I don't mind doing the oven trick but want to make sure its the right card i'm putting in there. Also will our 9750's work with 1 card installed? I'd luv to go with the HD3870s but i cant find them.... Tks..

 

You can take the secondary card out and the computer should still work (just as if Alienware sold it to you with only one card). You cannot take the primary out and substitute it with the secondary unless you flash it: risky business if you ask me. If you cannot go into SLI mode, I'd be willing to bet that it's your second video card and not the primary. The oven trick may very well work for your secondary card. Let us know...

Ryan

 

Thanks for the input .. I'll take a look at it this weekend and let you know.. I hate not playing Aion ( I mean working ) in non-SLI mode!!

 

Only place for the HD3870's is eBay or convince Alienware to sell you them

 

Ok you guys ROX!!! I was a little hesitant lastnight doing this but in the end the only thing I screwed up was not taking the plastic washers off the grafx board before cooking ... but TYVM .. back in SLI mode....

As for Ebay -- good luck ... and alienware WILL NOT sell you any components that where not part of your initial system or upgrades.. so for us M9750's since they dont have ANY replacement 7950 GTXs they will only sell you the 8600's they have in stock ... BUT the lady did say that if someone had a system that had the upgrade option you could use that person to buy you the upgrade card... seeing that they are only $160 from them ... hmmmmm

But tks again guys...

 

Several people on this forum managed to order the hd3870's from alienware direct with M9750's. This was I believe Alienware EU however.

 

Yeah I tried 3x's this week with different CS reps and they all said the same thing... no go ... but if anyone does have or can get ahold of these cards, I'd like some info on how I can get a couple..