Graphics or Display problems? GSOD?

I purchased a G73jh (HD5870, i-7 720, etc)on Saturday.

I have read all the posts here in regards to Realtek Drivers, Updates to Bios and vBios as well as updates to ATI CCC. (All of which are up to date.)

The machine works fine during casual use, it doesn't crash randomly during internet use or while its idle. It doesn't lock up while holding combination of keys or by accessing 'ease of use' either.

BUT...previous to me updating vBios it was getting the 'GSOD' during any video game. It was getting (first) yellow or grey vertical lines covering the screen. These crashes would only happen while playing a video game (WoW, EQ2, etc) and they would happen within 15-30 minutes into playing. These crashes would require a hard restart, but in the 'Events Log' only the hard restart (Kernal) would show up as a critical error.

No critical errors ever show up.

So I updated the vBios using the tutorial on this board from Chastity using a reformatted fat 32 flash drive and the new vBios. I also ran a stress test using ATItool and had no artifacts found.

Now my video gaming can last anywhere from an hour to two hours, and when the crash happens the lines are no longer present. The screen goes blank, like devoid of a picture or color save for the back light of the monitor.

So does anyone have any clue as to what this issue is? One problem seems to be solved with my GSOD (Yellow or Grey Vertical Line/Crash/Hard Restart) but I have not been able to find anything in regards to this problem with my display just going blank in the middle of a game (no artifacts, no sign of graphical issues, no sign of excess heat) and needing a hard restart.

ANYONE??

So far, for spending 1500$ on a Asus to replace my 3 year old Dell (that I never had one problem on, and am currently typing this post on) I am not too impressed.

 

What's the history on your G73? Did you buy it used, refurbished, new? If it was used, have you ever factory restored or clean installed windows?

As a general troubleshooting thing, have you tested your RAM with memtest86+ or similar? I'm not sure it would cause your screen to consistently go blank. But it's good to rule out bad RAM. Your GPU is more of the concern, what are your temps?

This isn't a BSOD? Your screen goes completely black and hangs?

 

What kind of temps are you getting?

 

Could be overheat.

 

Okay what are the best ways I can test Heat and Ram? I don't hear the fans come on inside the machine and while the power bar gets warm the machine case doesn't feel warm at all, but I would be more than happy to do an internal temp reading while playing.

Only thing about the temp issue is that I can play for 2 hours, crash, hard restart and begin playing again for 2 hours within a few minutes and you would think the temp would persist through the hard restart and crash the system much quicker but I can do the same 1-2 hrs over and over.

The system was purchased from 'Computer Trends' in Edmonton Alberta. They say all of there products are 'Factory Refurbished' but none of them were previously owned. I think it means they purchase the computers outright from the manufacturer and then resell them, so my warranty (which I bought) is through them and not Asus (which is better cause you can't break knees over a phone).

I have not reinstalled windows, is that something I should do? I did not get a CD with the machine with drivers or my windows copy.

****** I have called 'Computer Trends' and explained to them the same as above and they are replacing the system with a new one. Should have it within the next 6 hours. ********

Now that I will have a new G73 without the issues above (and new issues, ones I dont know anything about sure to be on the horizon lol) what would the 'PRO's' suggest I do right from the begining?

Should I wipe the creative, realtek and ATI CCC drivers with Driver Sweeper in safe mode? Install the newest Bios (213 I think) and the Chastity vBios? Then reinstall the Realtek and ATI CCC newest drivers? Then update Windows?

What order would people suggest?

 

With the JH,

Do a clean install or remove all the unwanted bloatware.
Flash the bios and vBios to the latest versions.
Get the latest driers for your GPU.
Install realtek latest drivers to fix the creative lock-ups

There's a thread somewhere in this forum about what to do when you get a new G73JH.

 

@Sean_Holland: make sure you also update the BIOS to go with the vBIOS. (use 213) Also, do not use the stock video drivers. I can recommend 11.4 Preview 03/29 (available off my mirror link in sig)

 

Should I flash the Bios with the WinFlash program and the newest Bios that is on the G73 Drivers page on ASUS.com, or a different source? Also should I flash the Bios first or the vBios first?

 

DON'T flash using winflash, get a FAT32 flash drive (you probably have one of those, just make sure the file format is FAT32), get the bios file and extract it if it's in rar or zip format, put the file on the flash drive, reboot keep pressing F2 until you get into bios settings. From there if i remember correctly go into advanced and choose start Easy Flash, select your flash drive and navigate to the bios file that you put on it, hit enter and voilà. Make sure that you are plugged in and the battery is in and that you have a bit of charge left in it (in the unlikely event of a power failure).

To be safe, flash the bios then vBios if you're on a bios older than 209.

EDIT: For detailed instructions: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/539984-what-do-your-new-g73jh.html

 

Follow the instructions to use EZ Flash from the BIOS and a USB flash drive. As for the vBIOS, I thought you mentioned that you updated already? No need to do it twice, unless you are a clocks freak like some of us. Just verify you have 012.020.000.032.0383.G730 (as reported in BIOS) or 012.020.000.032.038352 (as reported by hardware apps like HWINFO32 or GPU-Z) installed.

 

He got a new unit.

Not sure about Computer Trends though, I've bought two laptops from them here in Calgary, and uh, they always say refurbished, but it seems like factories refurbishing some of these units would be kind of a waste.

Regardless, I'd flat out wipe the machine clean and start from scratch. That way you know what kind of junk is actually on it.