GT540M - Was ok... have I broken it?!

Hi All,

I've a XPS 15 with i7 2820QM with 8GB RAM.

A little while back I had to reinstall my system along with a few games. I had been running Crysis 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 with not much problems at high settings. Both of the games ran for hours - enough to complete them. Now I can't even finish a level!

Now after I have reinstalled Call of Duty it takes only a few minutes before it crashes and I have to restart the computer by holding the power button.

So… What should I check? What settings can I change? I don’t think that I would have changed anything when I first got my computer.

I think I already know the answer to this – Can I upgrade the card? I have googled external graphics card but not looked into it much – any experience with these?

Would over clocking make any difference to this? I’ve just installed a GPU temperature monitor so will see how hot it goes when it crashes.

Also I am using a second monitor – also a 1080 screen. I have been playing in 1024 or even 640 when it crashes.

Any help or suggestions would be great,

Thanks!!

 

It's a known problem with the GT 540M, yo can downclock it to 600 mhz and it won't crash or you'll need contact Dell and let them change your motherboard, but probably they'll give you another bad refurbished one.

Downclocking was the only option for me to use it for a long time without experiencing crashes, still looking for a real answer as to why it crashes on stock speeds.

GT 540M Display driver crash when playing games - NVIDIA Forums

 

Thanks - That is something that I have read about but how do I do that?

I want to give it a try but it doesn't explain that I could run things okay before. I think that before was only on the laptop screen not using an addtional screen but I did try at full 1080 but it was slow, I only went down to 720 after that.

Thanks

Also... I can run Battlefield bad company 2 with no problems - I'm guessing different games stress the card differently?

 

Laptop screen or external it doesn't matter. download 'nvidia inspector' and use it to downclock your gpu.

 

Also maybe try updating the vbios.

 

Thanks for the comments.

I've been able to under clock myself and run a game with no problems.

However, once upon a time I didn't need to do all this - Does that mean I have broken something or stressed the GPU too much? The only difference from when I fist installed games and to now, after the re-install, is the second monitor and perhaps room temp? But even with out the second screen it still will crash.

Does using over clocking void warranty?

 

Are you sure your using the nvidia card? as in optimus inst selecting your intel card? as this sounds like the issue.

And no it wont void the warranty but i wouldnt tell them you have been otherwise they will blame whatever problem you have on yourself.

 

I think that it is - If I right click on the desktop and go into the Nvidia Control Panel - then 'manage 3d Settings'. Global settings is set to NVIDIA GPU and also is the customise selection for Call of Duty.

The 'Adjust Image Settings' is set to 'use my preference' - Performance

 

I had this problem and even replacing the motherboard only fixed it for a short period of time. Much like when you described what happend when it was new it seems to work fine for some period of time then goes back to the same deffects and freezing up issues.

Eventually after 2 motherboards and various visits by techs etc they agreed to just replace my laptop.

Keep on them if you are not happy or able to perform your gaming comfortably dont let them tell you its fixed when it is not.

The fact is the system should be able to run programs using the GPU with at least stock settings and if you are having consistent problems they must fix it or replace your system with equal or better system.

It took months of working with dell but eventually got myself a refurbished L702X with same chipset etc and an upgraded video card that works fine now.

*****

One quick edit the systematic deffect that eventually causes the GPU to not work on high use of stock settings seems to be tied to a voltage/construction deffect. Try playing unplugged (for as long as the system will let you) this is usually a tell tell sign that your system may just need replacement vs. being fixable by a new motherboard. If you can play with no lock ups or problems until you run out of battery it is probably the same thing I had and you should start pushing for a replacement laptop as soon as possible.

No known fixes for this deffect have been found.

 

Mine is running fine now at 600mhz, do you think I will get problems later?

 

Its possible I mean the fact is down clocking your GPU or as one dell rep advised me play without the GPU turned on is not what you paid for... I dont think thats a good solution.

I tried down clocking the gpu, cpu and all sorts of other fixes but eventually the lock ups got worse and worse I was down to like 400 mhz at one point waiting for a replacement.

If you are still using the GPU and its plugged in the system eventually it has problems though it may play longer for your when downclocked and take longer to run into issues as your are putting less stress/voltage on the GPU.

I would not be satisfied with that solution but if you are and its playble to you then that is one solution. Personally the way games are going as new games need more and more GPU power I would not be satisfied downclocking with a known factory deffect.