7811 FX freezing mid game

It has happened in Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Crysis already. I'm playing the game all fine, buttery and wonderful, then out of nowhere the picture gets stuck and any noise that was going on at the time gets stuck in an endless loop of repetition.

Recently I elevated my laptop 1.5" because I thought it was a heating problem. This helped a bit, I got further in the game than previously (talking about Mass Effect now). I couldn't get past the very first area because it froze during a conversation. Last night I got to the two trapped scientists on the first planet and mid-convo it froze again.

Should I talk to BB about it and get it replaced, or call Gateway? Any other suggestions are welcome as well.

 

Did you try updating your graphics card and sound driver? If that doesn't work, then go ahead and ask Best Buy to replace it.

If you bought the laptop in the last two weeks, you can get $200 back from Best Buy because the laptop is on sale for $1250.

 

Which video drivers should I update it to? I'm thinking 177.92 or .89?

And I have no idea where to even start with the sound drivers

 

Start > Control Panel > Device Manager > Go under Sound controllers > Right click Conexant > Update Driver Software.

 

Someone else on this forum had a similar problem.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=288453

exchanged and got a new one that works

 

I'm wondering where you see this sale at.. I was at BB earlier.. (Going back in a couple hours to pick up a 7811..) and I didn't see a sale.

 

The Labor Day Sale starts August 31-Sept 6. I'll be there at 9:50AM on August 31 for that lappy.

 

Alright, it looks like I'm gonna replace it as that other topic has almost the exact problems I do.

Anyone know if they'll do a file transfer for free? Not all that important, it'd just save me a huge hassle.

 

You'd have a better chance getting hand serviced from a Siberian hooker during an earthquake. But anythings possible.

 

Kharnet: Why not buy it now and pricematch? Much easier and less riskier of not getting one.

 

I was there today and saw two guys buying them. They will be sold out by Sunday. There is no reason to wait with the BB price guarantee.

 

I just went and exchanged it, going back on the 31st for the $200, and hopefully it wont' lock up anymore

 

And even if they are sold out, I'm sure one can get a rain check for this item. It isn't a close-out, clearance, or limited quantity item...

 

guess what? My second machine locks up! YAY

Seems like a heat issue to me, judging by the stress my fan seemed to be going into right before the freeze. tried everything under the sun to get things working properly...no go.

Its definitely gotta be a hardware issue, though im not wasting anymore of my time diagnosing it...it already destroyed my whole Saturday.

Im contemplating a return rather than wasting more time with my local bestbuy. Ive been looking into my options for a desktop replacement...but the price of this machine alone is making me want to try as many times as they are willing to let me. I love this thing when it works.

Too many users on this site are having issues with these devices to give me much confidence. Even if i managed to get a unit in good working order without defects...what does that mean for further down the road when I can no longer simply exchange it?

 

^ Keep in mind that the people who most likely visit these forums and sub forums are in search of users who have similar issues with their laptops. This is why you see this many unsatisfied Gateway users.

If you're afraid that the laptop will not work again after replacing it, then buy an extended warranty online (Best Buy's is a rip off).

 

My friend bought one the day they were launched and is probably the most extreme gamer you will come across (at least 6-9 hrs of WoW and TF2 a day) and he said his has never locked once. I will post how mine is tomorrow when I finally open it (waiting on the pricematch before I open it.)

 

How does he even have that much time!?

 

masked: yeah pretty sad.. I am starting to wonder if people downclocked the 9800 GTS if it would solve the lockup problems. Worth a shot to see if it is a temp fix or maybe the proc has poor contact with the heatsink. I am going to put artic silver 5 on mine right out of the box so i will let you guys know if I see anything fishy.

 

It means that you would have to send it in to Gateway service center with shipping costs paid by you both ways... as well as wait who knows how long to get it back (btw: where'd u get your 7811 from?)

I'm going to pick one up tomorrow, can you let me know if yours locks up at all after you put on the arctic silver as well as what the temps are in CPUID HWMonitor? Also rancid, where'd you get yours from?


@masked, do you remember the name of the company that sells the extended warranty online that the users here recommended? I was looking at the price of BB's and said "350 bucks? no way!"

EDIT: Nevermind, I forgot the search function works now. It's squaretrade.

 

Actually, the warranty on the 1249.99 price is 30 bucks cheaper than the plan for the laptop at 1449 (349 vs. 379), and it's only marginally more expensive than Squaretrade's with their Accidental Coverage add-on. The extra few bucks is worth being able to drive and gripe rather than call and gripe and pack and ship.

I have little patience for Best Buy on the managerial and corporate level (the salespeople are just doing a job), so if anything's wrong with mine I'll keep using their system until I get a decent machine.

 

You can always see if they have any 6860's left. I haven't had any issues with mine after over a month now. Just a thought.

 

Go online. The 7811 FX is now priced at $1249.99 while the 6860 FX still holds the price of $1349.99.

 

online that maybe, but i remember reading someone who posted buying it much much cheaper on a BB(i might be wrong), worth to ask if you go there. with a cpu upgrade you get a very solid performer.

 

The first P-7811FX that I brought home did this... barely made it 5 minutes in any game I tried without hard locking with a stuttering audio loop.

I returned to the store and swapped it out, the new one has not locked up once and the temps are much better... I'm thinking there was probably just some loose screws or something in there, but I'm not about to waste my time with a possible lemon.

I suggest you swap it out if you are still within the return policy.

 

Anyone run Folding on these things? I'd expect to be able to peg out the CPUs and GPU whenever it's on, but not real promising with all the lockup issues just gaming

 

The 7811FX definitely runs warmer then the old 6831-fx I had. I did put AS5 on the heatsink and the proc so I am waiting for it to fully cure, but I don't think it is going to help as much as I hoped. So far I have had the laptop on for 5 hrs today looping 3dmark06 with 0 lockups thus far. I am going to try and install XP and see if I can dual boot. Out of the box with bloatware and updated nvidia drivers it put down 8764 in 3dmark06.

 

what runs warmer ?
probably hdd (7200rpm) and gpu (higher clocking and has to suport 1920x1200) the rest should run cooler.

 

If I'm remembering correctly the 7811 actually draws less power than it's predecessor in Anandtech's tests (probably because of the CPU), though the GPU might run hotter.

 

Just purchased the FX 7811 for my son and same problem...while playing Call of duty it locks up and requires a total power down to reboot, then goes through a restore process and continual reboot loop.

Took back to Best Buy and was told by one tech that he hasn't seen an big problems with the laptop...another tech said he's seen quite a few. We got authorization for a refund and wandered around looking for a replacement...stop to play with the FX 7811 that was on display...same problem. Great computer, awesome performance and features...but this appears to be a problem that has not gone away.

Really wish there was a fix. I going to return this computer and see if there is another one that is of later manufacture date and hopefully a fix...can't believe that Gateway builds a gaming computer and didn't see this problem considering the number of posts I've read about this.