Goodbye nvidia, no more nvidia based laptop for me

I have a laptop with a quite decent (for my needs) GT 240M. With any drivers greater than 195.62 (release date 2009.11.26!!!) cause me the the same error:

Code:

'Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered'.

Drivers are more than 1 year old. What was doing nvidia during this year?

As I can see I'm not the only having this issues. I should remember that after getting this error the GPU frequencies are locked at low power 3D, meaning crap game performance (or noisy laptop in windows, even in idle state). You have to reboot the entire system.

Of course this happens with a fresh Windows 7/64 install, without any software o driver installed, only with video driver (and happens random even using windows explorer). And no, it's not an hardware fault because 195.62 works like a charm.

I will not buy any other nvidia based laptop, as I can't update my drivers to get performances, flash accelerated content, more games compatibility and other benefits. Really sad.

 

Er... Is it doing this for a particular game, or for all games? Programs? Videos?

How old is your laptop? has it ever overheated before? Do old drivers have any problems at all?

 

This problem has been going on for awhile. I'm currently running on 179.47 (driver date 1/30/2009) drivers which date back sometime and I get that error usually when viewing streaming TV video. Fortunately it doesn't appear while playing games or during general use.

 

The laptop is 1 year old and temperature are quite good: less 35-36°C idle for GPU and 39-40° for CPU. Afer playing for many hourse it never reach more tha 70° for both cpu and gpu.

Old drivers have no error at all.

 

Did you try a clean install of a newer driver (for example 260.99)? With CCleaner and driversweeper, and safe mode?

 

I would try to reinstall my OS and try again.

 

yeah- this sounds like a windows problem, not an nvidia problem. i also recommend reinstalling the OS.

 

I just tried yesterday. Clean install, no software added, no unneeded driver, just Windows + Forceware. Got that error after some minutes, just opening windows explorer with aero on (freeze just when window was opening, blank screen for 3-4 seconds, then the driver was restored).

I'm going to do some test with english version of Windows and Forceware. Don't know what to think...

 

Are you running the latest BIOS? (whatever it may be)

 

I hope you didn't leave the Chipset etc. out?

 

Yes, the BIOS is the latest available on Packard Bell website. Should I try to revert back to the original in your opinion?

 

Latest Intel chipset software available on download center.

 

It never hurts to try. (at least, usually it doesn't)

 

Try 180.86 drivers, the best drivers nvidia has made.

 

Definitely not, at least not for recent games...!

 

I had this same exact problem recently. It turned out the northbridge was overheating.

 

Why northbridge should overheat with any driver apart from 195.62

Is CUDA supported? Is flash/adobe cs5 accelerated?

I spent 1 hour to figure out how to install the previous BIOS file. But didn't work, with 260.99 (prev. version cleaned out with DH Driver Cleaner .NET) i got the error as soon as I play BF2.

 

I was getting the driver crashing error every now and then (the oldest drivers I used were 198). It was mostly when I was playing games stressing the computer. I tried everything, but could not figure it out. I improved the cooling on my Northbridge, and presto, no more Nvidia display driver crashing. It was about a week ago that I figured it out.

 

You could try cleaning out your computer vents and/or propping up the laptop on 4 plastic bottle caps to increase airflow underneath. It would be an interesting test.

If you want to get really down and dirty, download and run FurMark HERE

Careful on that link, the download button is actually halfway down the page after about 400 annoying advertisements.

Run the stability test and keep an eye on the temperature level it reports until the gpu crashes. Then boost your laptop up and clean out your vents.

 

It'a a laptop dude. Btw it never overheat. The error happens randomly even in Windows, without playing...

Still no solution!!!

 

Just because it's a laptop doesn't mean it doesn't have to be cleaned out.....

 

Hmz have you dumped your bios? Maybe you could bump the voltage for the UVD/overheat clocks.

 

It would happen to me in Windows without playing games too. It would just mostly happen in game. And the rest of the system was not overheating at all. Overclocking the crap out of the CPU and GPU or running everything at stock and the problem was the same. It was just the northbridge that was overheating.

 

Ok, I've understood the overheat stuff related to the northbridge. But, why this is not happening with 195.62? This is a no sense!

I've just played with 195.62 for 2 hours. Even with the GPU memory overclocked (just to get higher temperatures) at 900Mhz (from 790!) and laptop is still cool. Max temp: 70 CPU, 63 GPU. Quite normal, I would say even good temperatures. No errors, no driver recovery, not in Windows neither playing. Another no sense!

Just as a recap:
- not a Windows / driver conflict / crap related problem: did a Windows clean install, chipset driver + verde 260.99, same error even without playing.
- not a BIOS problem; i flashed the old one, same problem.
- not an overheat problem: everything is working with 195.62, even under an heavy GPU overlock.

Finally what I got: a big headache and waste of time.

Edit: degrees are in Celsius...

 

This is a good idea. But I can't as GPU-Z won't read video BIOS. Even NVFLASH from DOS can't read it.

 

I think you are too overly zealous in ruling out possibilities just so you can continue believing what you want to believe.

 

Believe me, I'm not overly zealous. I'm just rational. As a programmer and computer expert just like you . Just thinking straight, why 195.62 should not overheat my northbridge while all subsequent releases should do? You think 260.XX is "heavier" for the northbridge in some way?

And by now I can't remember if there is some sort of space to put an heatsink over the northbridge, but I think (being a laptop) this is simply not possible.

Any other idea is well accepted.

 

Yet you cannot rationalize any other reason for a specific driver to function where all others do not other than that Nvidia sucks. Perhaps you could try drivers older than 195.62 as well? It was a very weird problem for me too that still doesn't make any sense. I think it would not be unreasonable to assume that you have a hardware problem since reinstallation proved futile and many thousands of other people run similar software on similar hardware as you without issue. If the problem itself doesn't make sense to begin with, you can't dismiss probabilities that don't make sense to you either.

Also you can improve the cooling by reapplying thermal paste and/or a copper shim, cleaning out any dust, and having a cooling pad or fan blowing onto the bottom. You know how I finally figured it was a NB cooling problem on my desktop? I tried every other possibility. Software was ruled out by using a different OS. RAM was ruled out by running Memtest. The processor was ruled out by running it all sorts of clock speeds and voltages. The video card which was my primary suspect (just as it is yours) was ruled out by swapping it with another one. I was at wit's end and extremely frustrated. Finally it occurred to me that maybe it was the chipset, so I set down a glass of cold water on top of the heatsink. To my amazement, the problem went away.

 

Do you really need to use newer drivers? A 240M isn't exactly going to find a new level of performance with a driver update.

 

To end the discussion about the overheating (which will make your pc shut down/restart, or show rainbow colours/purple triangle lines during gaming, etc), it is not the cause of this specific error.

I had the exact same problem when playing 1 certain multiplayer map in cod4 with my 8600m gt. Reinstalling your OS does not fix that problem.

You can try a few things: First of al download the latest bios, you'd be surprised how much a difference it could make.

Then, try out different nvidia drivers while playing your games.

If that doesn't help your problem its probably related between your gpu and the specific game you play, like it was in my case where only 1 cod map would cause the error while all the other maps in the game ran just fine.

Also, I think there was already a thread about this very common error.

 

Oh really? Well it was for me. The two overheating scenarios you describe follow CPU or GPU overheating only as in the temperature of either one skyrockets and the system is shut down to protect itself. The CPU or GPU can be at unstable parameters yet not shut down or show a "rainbow," and actually have few or very narrow symptoms. Now I am not saying for sure this is the solution to the OP's problem, but it was the solution for the exact same set of otherwise unexplainable symptoms on my computer and I think it is just foolish to rule something like this out, especially when nobody has any other clue as to the cause.

 

Its wierd that the overheating caused this error in your laptop, but regarding to the person who started this thread, its useless to discuss overheating because:

and because I had the same problem without overheating. Which is why he should focus on finding a new bios and drivers.

 

Hi Guys, my tech support head came on while reading this thread.
I am a never say never type of guy I keep giving ATI another chance every few years, (and keep being disappointed )
anyway, fresh installs of nvidia drivers 90% of the time appear to completely wreck the audio drivers, (they often include some nvidia hdaudio stuff which I think may be the culprit) anyway new graphics driver even on a desktop system that is using Realtek audio, tends to suffer from BSOD or other crashes. Realtek for the latest HD Audio drivers always a good place to start, just beware of slow download speeds.

and finally to the OP, as a seasoned computer programmer and expert, why did you choose a Packard Bell? the restrictive practices of this company can cause major headaches further down the line, I will nerd rage if I think about TATOO, not to mention they often nerf cpu/gpu speeds due to cheap chassis design.

good luck getting it fixed.

 

Packard-Bell still makes computers ?

 

My laptop has a Conexant Cx20561 High Definition Audio chip. The ID is HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5051&SUBSYS_10250219, latest driver is dated Jan 4 2010. Are you suggesting me to find an updated driver for it?

I also tried a fresh install of 260.99 without HDAUDIO, only control panel and vga driver. Another install without Conexant drivers, just using those that come with Windows. Didn't fix it.

I brought PB because it was a good deal at that time and I had no time to do some intensive search on the best laptop for my budget. The GPU is quite good for my needs (basically BF2 and few other fps). The chassis and mainboard are exactly the same of Gateway NV58. It's a good-looking and solid laptop, never had a problem with it, apart this with nvidia.

And GT 240M runs at default speed clocks, PB didn't limit it in anyway (not like Sony and Vaio series).

Yes dude and it seems they will continue

Yes. How about CUDA features I'm missing and that will be added in future? How about stability and a bit of performance increase? It's always a good thing to have to system updated to all latest stable drivers to avoid any type of possible conflicts with applications and games...

 

Packard Bell doesn't really make computers anymore, Acer just sells their low-end stuff under the Packard Bell name, similar to HP with Compaq.

 

More similar to emachines, although I dont know if they ever actually made computers
Its just that compaq is not necessarily low end.

 

@Gremo
the audio driver is very often the issue, even on desktop systems.
is it possible for you to try disabling audio in the bios?

with 20 years experience with PC's I have been to Packard Hell far too many times to even think about buying one off the cuff.


These forums are a great help when choosing a gaming laptop, I initially found them after buying an Acer 5672wlmi (or something) had an ATI X1400 in it which I thought would be great for gaming, only to find out it was a severely nerfed x1600 and while it managed HL2, couldnt play FEAR. And the build quality was terrible.

I know this late advice doesn't fix your graphics card...I ws in the same boat with the x1400, 3rd party omega drivers helped a bit, and laptopvideo2go does have specially reconfigured Nvidia drivers (use at your own risk, i.e. monitor temps) but these can often overcome problems with official drivers.

at the end of the day, you have a packard bell it will have a modified bios, it will have a modified chipset (heck they even got Gigabyte to build special editions of standard motherboards with different pinouts for some of their desktops, I refer to usb board pins). Their whole design is geared towards you taking it back to the retailer and paying stupid prices to have the machine "fixed or updated"

I really hope you find a driver that can do the business, but just like ASUS with their Geforce 9650gt in their z97v chassis, you might find you are in a dark place.

 

It could be that there's a problem in between some of the other hardware (BIOS in particular) and newer graphics drivers. Find this a lot in notebooks, and sometimes in desktops where cards made by different manufacturers are just different enough to cause issues with drivers that aren't specifically recompiled to work with them. Although the northbridge idea is an interesting one. That particular temp isn't something you always see in monitoring (or gets reported properly to the program you're using). Can't hurt to try. Even if programs aren't showing overheating, it's always a good idea to take things apart every 6-8 months and clean them out (minimum) because crud does get in there. Smaller the space the more crud because it gets trapped more easily.

All else fails, it may just be that none of the drivers for that particular laptop have been updated in almost exactly a year and they aren't talking nice with anything newer than that version of drivers you have. It happens sometimes when manufacturers stop supporting their devices.

 

I forgot to mention that I replaced the original CPU Core 2 Duo T6570 with P8700 short after I brought the laptop. However new CPU is fully supported by motherboard (there are some models that comes with that CPU and BIOS correctly reports it, assigning right voltages).

It's not possible.

I replaced the stock thermal compound with Artic MX-3 about 5-6 months ago. Got a 2-3° C temp. benefits.

 

unable to disable audio in bios? thats a nerfed bios right there, also the video bios might be a custom build, hence the driver issues. It might be risky but is there another video bios that you can flash to your machine?
laptopvideo2go might be able to help there too, also look for video bioses made for machines based on the same chipset as yours, again the only difference is probably going to be cooling so that would have to be monitored, make sure you can get your original video bios back on , just in case it doesnt work well.

good luck

p.s. sometimes there is a way of getting into "engineer mode" in a bios, but I haven't had to do this in a long time. and memory fades.

 

Heat can easily discounted. Just force the CPU into idle speeds (for Core2 you can use CPU Rightmark) and drastically underclock the GPU and see if it still happens.

My guess would be if it's not a problem with your unit (still under warranty?) then it's the manufacturer who's done something strange (feature or bug) that has prevented standard drivers from working. I'm assuming you're using modified INFs to install drivers like 260.99 (well duh of course you are) but what would be good to know is if it only happens with manufacturer-certified driver releasess (is that the 195.62 that works)

edit: but also try the audio thing. I had a pair of USB headphones once that pre-driver update caused crashes on some games, it was something to do with power draw iirc, in other words the headphones would directly cause a BSOD during games.

yeah thanks for that, great insight there.

innovative heatsink design, i can smell the patents coming thick and fast with that one

 

Still no luck with fresh 266.58...

The only BIOS I've found is "Acer GT 240M 1024 MB BIOS" found on techpowerup. No chipset description at all. And because NVFLASH can't read my VBIOS I would assume that can't write to it too. So no chance to backup and probably no chance to write that BIOS.

I'm not using modified infs, just drivers downloaded from nvidia.com (now they support mobile devices). Release 195.62 (working) was downloaded stright from nvidia.com. Latest available on PB support is still 186.xx.

 

Hey Gremo
if nVflash won't recognise your chip then you may have to just shout at Packard Bell to get a new driver up.
tell them you are having issues with compatibility, they obviously have a modified bios/driver