L502X Laptop getting locked issue

Hello all,I got a dell xps l502x laptop with i7 2630QM processor,nvidia gt540m 2gb graphic card and 2x4 8gb kingston 1333mhz cl9 ram,I can almost play everygame with full high/ultra options depends on which game and there is no problem but I cant play cod4 multiplayer more than 5 min,After max 5 minutes of gameplay my laptop freezes and getting strange sound like zııııııııııııır(sometimes at the first minutes of gameplay,sometimes 5 min of gameplay but mostly in 1st minute) and keyboard not working even ctrl alt delete,only thing to do is restarting laptop with power button,Im looking for solutions about this for like two weeks and still nothing And yes all of my drivers are up to date,using A10 system bios and windows 7 64 bit. Im sure its not about drivers update since all of them are updated,not because of heat problem because Im playing Battlefield 3 in ultra graphic options like 3 hour and there is not even one screen lock and strange sound like above,Im just wondering what can cause this problem in my system...It must be hardware problem since cannot be software problem because just did format and loaded clean win7 x64 but still my laptop freezes and locks with call of duty 4 multiplayer.Driver versions and dates are below...This issue happens in Defender of the Ancients aka DOTA too,so point is both games are(cod 4 multi,dota) getting played online and both causes my laptop getting locked,annoying and continuing sound.Found a video( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwoA61KCLVI) about this problem that happened to another user and he cant fix this too as he says(as you see pc locked at 0.59)

Note for people who thinks game data might be corrupted: Im playing cod4 multiplayer with my friends laptop(game copied from my laptop) without single freeze,single screen lock etc.Also same for Dota...




Intel HD graphics 3000 driver version: 8.15.10.2696 Release Date: 19.03.2012
Nvidia GT 540M 2GB graphic card driver version: 8.17.13.142 Release Date: 15.05.2012
Realtek PCIe GBE network adapter version: 7.58.411.2012 Release Date: 11.04.2012
System Bios is A10.
OS:Windows 7 x64 Home Premium

 

This sounds like a software issue. If it was a hardware problem, you would get the same system lockup when playing BF3 in Ultra for 3 hrs or more.

Have you tried uninstalling your drivers (nvidia, intel, audio) and uninstalling the game as well, before updating them to the newest ones?

 

So do u want me to uninstall drivers and game and reinstall again?

 

That would be my recommendation from what I have read.

If all other games work just fine (and BF3 on Ultra for 3 hours sounds like a pretty good hardware stress test), then I am led to believe that it's not a hardware issue. You would have had a freeze/crash/lockup during BF3 for sure, I think. From the YouTube video, it looks like it just locks up, it doesn't actually crash. Hardware problems usually display the ever-loved BSOD and then crash the system.

I would recommend uninstalling your Intel and nVidia GPU drivers, as well as COD4 the game. Then re-install each one, restarting the computer between each install. Then try COD4 again, see if it still locks up.

Hopefully someone else has some other ideas, in case re-installing everything doesn't resolve the issue.

You could also check your Windows Event Log to see what might be going wrong at the time the system locks up.

 

i have this problem on cod MW3............ i can play hon,bf3 any steam game for hours but mw3 locks up.....ive even repasted no luck. owell time for a new laptop.

 

Some people says this problem getting happens because of the problem between onboard realtek audio card and punkbuster and people recommends replace your onbard audio card with creative or better usb audio card.

 

Try undervolting your video card with this BIOS mod:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...modded-bioses-download-gpu-voltages-more.html

Download A11 GT540M 0.85/0.85V

It may help in some cases

 

Tryed A11 modded bios for gt540M which is 0.83V/0.85V but my laptop still gets lockup with COD4 multiplayer.Btw here is the video posted on youtube by another player who has same issue and it seems a lot more ppl having this problem as you see in comments and I tryed all the solutions that people says in comments but still having problem,only thing I did not tryed is replacing my on board realtek audio card with a creative usb audio card and try to play cod4 multi as realtek onbard audio card disabled. How could this possibly?! You are playing Battlefield 3 in ultra options without single system lockups but you can not play call of duty 4 multiplayer(which is low game compared to my system)because of system lockups.Soon gonna call dell technical service and request in home service(still got 1 year 4 month quarantee period)and check issue if I cant fix this annoying problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-msujgDmsU

possibly solutions for this problem posted by people in YouTube video comments are below...

Solution 1: Disable realtek onbard audio card and use any other audio card (usb one or anything): Gonna test this soon and I will inform you all.
Solution 2:This problem persist in win7 64 bit,try xp: Seems pointless solutions since my friend plays game on his laptop(os:win7 64) without lockups so:Im ignoring this solution
Solution 3:Call of duty antihack program named punkbuster got problem with cracked windows: My os is original so ignoring too.
Solution 4:Test your RAMs: I tested game with the rams barrowed from friend and still there is system lockups during gameplay.
Solution 5: Test your cpu and gpu heats: My cpu is max 70 degree and gpu is between 80-85 and they re normal summer degrees I think .
Solution 6: Make a bedsector test for your HDD: Done but still there is system lockups.
Solution 7:Reinstall your OS and Game: Done but still there is lockups.

 

Figured out something,playing a game in a not recommended video resolution for example,my laptop screen is 1920x1080 resolution supported and if you play the game in a video mode 1600/any resolution could cause system lockup?

 

As far as I know, that won't cause system lockups.

I only briefly read the YouTube comments, but perhaps you are correct that this is a unique hardware issue (but not hardware failure) between the RealTek card and something in COD4.

I play many games at 1280x720/1366x768/1600x900/1920x1080 resolutions, and have never had a lockup that you are experiencing. Mind you, I have not played COD on this L502x, only on my old 1645 that was replaced.

Sorry I don't think I can help you any more since I don't have COD4. HOpefully someone else can help you with a resolution!

 

Well it still locks up in any type resolution... so resolution is not the problem, at the end I will test realtek audio card,gonna replace it with any kind usb type audio card and will post back again with the news.
By the way whats your audio card within your xps l502x? Also how could I disable onboard audio card in bios? I cant see any option to disable audio card there in my bios(A11)

 

I also have the RealTek audio adapter.

I don't recall being able to enable/disable the audio adapter in the BIOS, but you can enable/disable it in Windows 7 itself:
Disable Device Windows 7 - How to Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows 7

Maybe that will help?

 

I know how to disable device in windows 7, just need to do that in bios but thanks anyway

 

I doubt it is related with the audio card.

this sounds the infamous GPU crashes for the 540m

if you already tried the modded bios and still no luck, you can try the modded A09 bios for gt540m 0.83v / 0.85v (someone said it fixed it crashes.)

if the modded bis still dont help, you can try underclock the card, this will result in a little performance decrease, but this is the only 100% guaranteed working solution.

pick any overclocking sofware like msi afterburner.

for gt540m the default core clock is 675 I think.

try lower it to 600 mhz and check if it still crashing.

 

I will try gpu clock 600 and let you know soon...

 

I tested game with gpu clock 600 but still there is lockups.This problem makes me crazy,cant find solution for the 2 weeks right now...:S Whats point of buying 1300 Euro laptop for gaming if you cant play game like call of duty 4 because of full system lockups and my friends plays cod 4 stable ,not even single lockup with the deskop pc(almost double low price)compared to my laptop. Dell realy blowed up this time and soon I will want them to provide me new graphic card or provide any hardware what causes this problem...

Intel i7 2630QM 2ghz-2.9ghz(turbo boost)processor, 2gb Nvidia GT 540M graphic card,8 GB (2x4) Kingston 1333 mhz DDR3 cl9 rams and you cant play game like call of duty 4 because of system lockups,realy shame to you DELL!!!!

 

Are you still within your warranty? I would contact Dell Customer Support. I might be a faulty motherboard/GPU. See if you can get them to replace the motherboard (because the GPU is soldered on to it).

I really like my L502x. It's not a super powerful gaming laptop, but it is a very well-rounded laptop (though I wish it were a bit thinner so it would fit in my carrying case ). I haven't had any problems with mine yet, so hopefully replacing your motherboard will help solve you problem.

I was a bit skeptical that the problem rests solely on the Realtek audio adapter, because Realtek is used in MANY notebooks and it would have been a huge stink across the internet if punkbuster craps out on Realtek audio adapters.

 

you mentionated it just crash with that game and you can play every other games on ultra settings.

did it crashed on any other game? (specially directx9 games)

or the only game crashing is cod4

it could be only cod4 related issue.

updating video drivers may help, there is a new beta driver from nvidia.

304.48


well, anyway it could be trully about the sound card as problem source.

COD 4 MP Crashing in Windows 7 - PC-Gaming - Games-General

also since downclocking didnt fixed the Issue, I suggest set the clock rates to default (675 mhz), you can also try some overclock when you fix the problem.

 

It only crashes with cod4 multiplayer and defender of the ancients aka DOTA,also there is no crashes in singleplayer versions...problem is multiplayers...

 

Interestingly, COD4 and DOTA are DirectX 9.

I also suggest downclocking further to 500 core, 800 memory (or lower).

Just to try and eliminate software vs hardware issue

Even if it stops crashing, the warranty is there to be used & get a replacement

 

Not to say that you're wrong, but I say "no way" to downclocking the GPU even further.

He shouldn't have to downclock his GPU to keep his computer from crashing. I suggest getting a warranty replacement.

 

Yeah, it is best to get a replacement to fix it - just need to be certain that it's the motherboard:

Hardware problem then it might stop locking up at the lower clocks

If it is a software problem (like a realtek or dx9) then there shouldn't be any change in the crashes at the lower clocks

Since he has already tried quite a few methods to try and resolve it, I would call Dell either way

 

Ok I think problem is this... I reduced gpu clocks to Core:500/Memory:750 (default clocks are Core:672,Memory:900)there was no lockups within 2 hour of gameplay(my max gameplay without reduced clocks were 5minute before the reduce of clocks),my gpu heat was stable between 75-80 max, so whats problem with my laptop? its gpu,psu or mboard? which one has problem?

 

so, it didnt crashed with 500 mhz?

lol, it doesnt even handle the 600 mhz (stock gt525m speed) , it is even lower...

I recived many complaints about gt540m, it is more expensive than mine ()gt525m, but mine can be oced nicely without issues to almost 550m speeds, wich are higher than gt540m ones.

well,relating your issue, if it works with 500 mhz, but not with 600, then your gpu chip may sucks or its defective. (lowering that much the gpu it will be even more close to intel graphics performance)

I would call dell for a replacement >.<

 

Default gt540m speed is 672 and yes it cant handle it,crashes alot,only no crashes with 500, so should I call dell for replacement for gpu?

 

Yes.

Just note that you will get your whole motherboard replaced, as the GPU is soldered on to it.

If you cannot even play at stock GT525M speeds, you definitely need a replacement!

 

Ok,thanks to everybody who works out with me here to detect the problem Btw I need advises for buying graphic card for deskop nowadays for gaming,which you suggest nvidia or amd? Im thinking of buying this but im not sure. MSI GTX680 Twin Frozer O.C. GDDR5 2GB 256Bit Nvidia GeForce DX11 (Default 1006 Mhz Core,6008 Mhz Memory)

 

pleased to help , or at least tried it ^_^


well, about getting graphics card for desktop.

everyone will have different opinions about nvidia and ati.

here is my experience:


ati/amd

pros: usually better prices for the same hardware performance, nvidia is usually a little more expensive.
cons: some people ask the ati/amd drivers are not the best.

nvidia

pros: a little more extended at the gamming world, it is more famous and maybe sometimes it is a little better optimized for some tasks, but just that, driver support is usually good, with optimus drivers I am a little disapointed, but sooner or later I managed to fix the issues ^^
cons: more expensive than ati, also some people ask nvidia just rename old products with new names, and sell it a little modified.


conclusion: they both are quite similar, and usually offer good products for high demanding graphical applications

I like ati/amd a little more, but just a personal opinion

also the graphics card you said, looks nice, since I am a little away from the desktop parts those days, others may recomend better cards for you

 

Thanks for your comments mate,I will do a bit more search and decide

 

agreed with captainkasar:
ATI generally is more bang for buck, but i find that both are about equal in performance. people will likely argue otherwise, but the truth is that, e.g., $150 for either a ATI or nVidia card will get you about the same performance/experience.

Also, he is right about the drivers, I have found that nVidia's drivers are a bit better than ATI's.

 

Decided to contiune my game life with nvidia Buying MSI GTX680 Twin Frozer O.C. GDDR5 2GB 256Bit Nvidia GeForce DX11(price is about 600-650 € in germany)for my deskop and selling my laptop to someone in real life

 

hehe, expensive card, but the performance probably will be the last word

 

Noticing the dates on your drivers, they appear to all be from the manufacturer and not Dell. I would remove those and use the Dell drivers. Now that Dell is up to 285.77 of Nvidia, there's no sense messing around with the rest.

DELL DRIVERS FOR L502X:
The last release of HD3000 was on 10-11-11 (not 3-19-2012)
The last release of Nvidia was 3-12-2012 (not 5-15-2012)
Ethernet RTL8111EL was released 4-21-2011 (not 4-11-2012)
And VA11 Bios is avaialable.

Having done several clean installs of the L502x myself, I have run into many problems not using the Dell drivers.

 

Dell asked my current GPU driver version and I said its 301.42(5.15.2012 release date) and they verified my answer,also hd3000 not a primary gpu for gaming,its secondary onboard gpu for browsing,watching movie etc,hd3000 onboard gpu project for power saving by dell,the problem is simply my graphic card cant handle its default clock speeds and I have to reduce those to keep my laptop away from lockups,also just spoke with dell today and they accepted replacement for GPU. New GPU coming to my house in 2 days as technician said My drivers true as I asked service to be verified, btw A11 bios is optional I dont have to use it and they cant blame me for not using A11 if they says its optional,current recommended bios by dell is A10 and current best performance bios for l502x is A6.

 

Sounds like you've got a solution on its way. Now let's hope that this will fix your gaming problems!

 

Problem fixed after replacement and performance increased like hell after cleaning,pasting and meintenance by DELL technician,fps increased to 200 down from 125 in cod4 online multi