L502x Video Hardware Errors

i7-2820QM
Nvidia GeForce 540M
8GB DDR3
750GB 7200RPM HD
15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080)

My drivers are up to date. I have encountered this error numerous times playing Guild Wars on the system I returned to Dell and the replacement they sent: "A problem with your video hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly."

http://www.bootdown.com/xely/e/error%202.jpg

http://www.bootdown.com/xely/e/error%204.jpg


Here's a link to a separate thread on Dell's own forums:

XPS 15 l502x freezes during gameplay - Laptop Video Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

Any information on this type of error would be appreciated. It's obviously not isolated to one machine, and I'm not sure that it's Guild Wars either considering that the game's been around for 6 years now. I'v had Crysis 2 stop working on me as well, minus the Video Hardware Error listing.

Assuming that it is a hardware issue, and given that I'v already gone the replacement system route once, would it be better to ask Dell for a refund?

 

Are you using the Dell video driver, or the Nvidia driver?

 

Been using the Dell gpu drivers. Nice vertex btw, been thinking about doing the same.

 

Try using the Nvidia drivers. You can always roll back if that doesn't fix the problem.

Are you forcing the game to use the 540M? If not, it may be using the IGP by default.

If you do go the SSD route, and I highly recommend it, check several of the forums on this site, and the manufacture's sites, for the proper way to install Win7. There is a wrong way, and if you don't do it right, you'll lose performance. It's not hard (at all), but the SSDs are particular about certain things, like doing a clean install of Win7 and not a clone of your current HDD image.

I wish I could be more help with your video problem. That kind of thing is getting out of my comfort zone.

 

Did you try to get a clean install of the lastest Nvidia drivers and updated your system? May be some free antivirus/security programs couses it

 

Hi, everyone!
I have such problem as synthesi for about one month - this is the period of my using the laptop. The problem is only in games.
My configuration:
Dell XPS l502x 15.6" (1366x768) WLED / Intel Core i5-2410M (2.3 GHz) / RAM 4 GB / HDD 640 GB / NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, 2 GB / DVD±RW / LAN / Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 3.0 /

I like my Dell very much and everything is excelent except a problem with nvlddmkm.sys = Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered. I have red a lot of topics and advices, "clean" reinstalled drivers for several times, tested all hardware components with AIDA, MemTest, HDD tests... But it gave me nothing. And, of course, I monitor all temperatures of CPU, GPU, HDD.

Yesterday I opened laptop and repaste thermopaste, and installed clean new Windows 7 Ultimate with all drivers: first of all Intell VGA driver and after it Nvidia 275.33 and everything works fine. But when I launched a game - Crysis 1, NFS Hot Pursuit, Mafia 2 - after 2-3 min. of gameplay came the same : the game stopped, lags with sound and PC stoped responding at all. And everytime I have to push shut down button and restart laptop. Oh... it disappoints me very much!!!!

Maybe I'm wrong but I noticed that complain about that PROBLEM only people with Geforce 540M!?

Do anyone have an assumption what a reason may be?

 

I've seen that error many times on both Nvidia and ATI GPUs, when overclocking. That's the standard error/crash/recovery you get when you turn your core clocks up too high to be stable. I've never seen it happen at stock speeds, except with my old Nvidia M8600GT, which were all defective from the factory (same defective lead-free soldier that caused the Xbox360 RRoD).

I'd blame it on the game if it was only one particular game, but if it happens on any game, it might be a hardware fault with the GPU. If it was a driver fault, a clean install would fix it, and it would be widespread among all laptops, not just the XPS15.

Perhaps your GPUs are defective, or the cooling solution on the XPS15 isn't adequate. What are your load GPU temps?

 

seeker_moc, thank you very much for reply!

I never overclock CPU or GPU.
As I can hear my ear cooling system works properly During my monitoring (with Open HardWare Monitor) I fixed the following highest temperatures:

CPU Core #1 96
CPU Core #2 94
GPU Core 91
HDD 62

That's my summary, I didn't have all these temperatures in one time. But the highest indexes were in the games like Crysis I, NFS Hot Persuit and Mass Effect I.

Here are temperatures after full AIDA stress-test:
CPU Core #1 83
CPU Core #2 82
GPU Core 60
HDD 59

 

94/96 for CPU is very high. High to the point that it's near the emergency shutdown temperature. 91 is also very high for the GPU. Your temps should max out in the mid-80s with Prime95/OCCT stress tests, and low-80s when just gaming. Even my infamous SXPS16 doesn't get near that hot. If your temps are that high after a re-paste, then there may be something wrong hardware-wise.

 

seeker_moc I will test AIDA stress-test tomorrow once again and will see difference after re-paste.

However, the PROBLEM still need a solution, because my high temps are not appear immediatly after launching, and even with low temps nvlddmkm.sys occurs.

 

If, after driver updates and game patches, your games still indiscriminately crash, then you probably have a hardware problem, and it's time to call Dell for a repair.

Also, AIDA isn't good for GPU stress testing. Try OCCT instead, it's much better, and has built-in GPU error checking.

 

seeker_moc Thank you, I'll try it tomorrow and post my results.

 

seeker_moc here are my results according to OCCT v. 3.1.0

CPU 1 hour auto test
CPU-1
CPU-2
GPU

As I saw during the test CPU temps were about 84-86 degrees.

GPU 1 hour auto test (window mode)
CPU-1
CPU-2
GPU

Max. temperatures with CPUID Hardware Monitor
CPU-1 90
CPU-2 89
GPU 65

What can you say about it?

 

The CPU temps are still a bit high, but your GPU temps are surprisingly low. High GPU temps probably aren't the problem then. If the games continue to crash, call Dell for a repair.

 

seeker_moc Probably re-paste fixed the situation with GPU temps, because as I saw original Dell thermo paste, it was not very good covered all the graphic chip. Or maybe a contact between MB parts and cooling system is not very good - there are too much chips, memory, transistors etc. under it.

And about CPU: here are the results after 1,5 hour AIDA stress-test:


I didn't finish it because was tired of its duration.

Maybe I should once again re-paste CPU?


And, to note, today I bought and added RAM 4 Gb 2Rx8 Hynix PC3 10600S to my original 4 Gb Hynix. Now it is 8 Gb in total and I was very surprised that Windows index of RAM productivity increased from 5.9 to 7.4!

 

Don't put any stock into the WEI. It caps RAM score at 6.9 for only 4GB, regardless of how fast it is. It's not that your new RAM is faster, just that it's score is no longer limited. Your score would be the same if you only upgraded to 6GB.

 

Nothing changed: in programs it is all OK, but in games is the same problem - "Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered".

I made a screenshot during my last lags in the game Mafia 2 (previos times it was absolutely "dead" - not responding - and I had to turn PC off)



Here are HWMonitorPro logs:
MB



CPU




GPU



These logs are from launching the game and till first lags during it.
I don't see anything abnormal in the temperatures, maybe is something wrong with CPU\GPU voltage?

How else can I check and find out reason of that problem?
I will be grateful for every proposal!

 

It sounds a lot like a faulty GPU that just isn't stable at stock speeds/voltage. The only thing you can really do is have the motherboard replaced. You can/should disable the Intel Turbo Boost Monitor if that crashed as well, just to see if that fixes anything, but it likely crashed because of the other problem.

 

I tried to disable Turbo Bost - turn off Intel SpeedStep in BIOS and change my power plan option (highest CPU usage from 100% to 99%) but didn't see any difference, however it was "Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered".

Did you see instability at stock speeds/voltage on the pictures or it is you assumption?

If you are true all I can do is to sell my laptop to another "lucky" guy, but won't do it, because I like my Dell XPS very much and if I can't play games - it is better, I won't waste my time for it

 

Today I tried FurMark 1.9.0 and after 1:30 minutes in BURN-IN TEST temperature of GPU reached 93 degrees so I interrupted it.


After that I launched Benchmark (no present) test and GPU temps were:


Is it critical? Or it is usual for that test?

and voltage


I don't see sudden changes!?

and total score:



Dear, seeker_moc
I'm very thankfull to you for your opinion and wish to help me