Bought a 7811FX, 2887 SN, BIOS update didn't fix game lockups

Hello all,
Like the subject says, I bought a 7811FX and ran into problems with games locking up after the graphics card and/or processor overheats. The vent on the left side of the laptop gets extremely hot.

I tried the BIOS update linked on this forum, but it didn't fix the issue. I'm going to head to Best Buy to exchange it, I hope I can track a 2888 serial number model down. There must have been a hardware revision between the versions, since the BIOS update didn't fix my issue.

On another note, I can see a large white blotch from the backlighting on my screen when it's the screen is black and I look at it from the lefthand side (say like during startup). Not that annoying since otherwise it's not visible, but I got this laptop as a gaming laptop and the overheat/lockup issue is a dealbreaker.

One last note - I'm hoping that the exchange process will be easy, but I'm planning on erasing the hard drive before giving it back. If they ask me to demonstrate the locking up, does anyone know of a bootable CD I could use, maybe a benchmarking thing, to cause it?

 

Jace217 Download 3d Mark05 or 06 is free and is ment to test your GPU(video card) if a game locks it the program will lock it even faster!!! also, dont be fooled by what ppl say here 2888 is not lemon free. I bought a 2887 (like many of the ppl out there) and had no problems what so ever. At any rate the program is called 3D Mark 06 and its free to download. Good luck with your return.

Mine runs great and its even OverClocked (produces more heat drains more power but gives me more powah!) never had a lockup good luck.

 

Thanks for the well wishes. I just returned mine at Best Buy - unfortunately I got a 2887 again, I hope it's one of the OK ones. I checked another store previously that had 10 in stock, but no 2888s.

I had to pay sales tax too . I'm from MA and originally bought it from NH, but it looks like all NH stores are sold out. At least everything remotely closed to me.

I'll end up buying a cooling pad anyway, but here's hoping my new P7811-FX will be ok without one. I'm in the windows/driver reinstall process right now.

 

jace, a lot of the issues in this forum are created by people thinking there are issues.. IMHO. This is a very stable computer, and I've only had problems with one of 6. I thought I had "ghosting" issues, like yourself. Dont use that Gateway black background. Its the background that has issues...not ur screen. Swtich up to the city backdrop black background..or any other black background, and youll notice it is fixed.

EDIT: Cooling pads aren't going to help, and you dont need them. I bought a targus lap stand..just one of those rigs to allow airflow beneath the comp. That's all u need. Those coolers will not benefit you, as much as we'd both like to think they would.

 

Thanks E-wrecked. I actually noticed the backlight issue when rebooting, on a totally blank background - never did use the Gateway one. What it looked like was a large splotch of white "bloom" visible more from on angle. I'm thinking it wasn't what people were referring to. But the new laptop doesn't have that issue.

As for overheating, this was while running on a desk or table. Crysis at 1920x1200 produced it quick, the game ran for a bit and then locked up (I don't expect that res to be playble, it was just the quickest way to get it to happen). It should be choppy, low framerate, but not lock up the entire system. The locking up thing also happened in S.T.A.L.KE.R. after playing for a while.

 

I agree..you shouldnt have lockups. Have you tried running HWMonitor in the background to check temps as this happens?

 

Nope, but I will if I start seeing them with this new laptop. I'm downloading the Crysis demo right now, still a ways to go. Thanks for the tip.

 

So Crysis locked up your previous computer or the current one? Btw, like E said.. if you have the extra cash, purchase the Targus Mobile X Stand.. (It's what I have, not sure about E..) but it lowered my temps almost 20 degrees!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=436516001&pf_rd_i=507846

 

jace.. here's what I use. $29.99 at Target.






It allows the rear vents to be completely free of any blockage. And keeps airflow under the entire notebook. It doesn't steal power from your USB, drain your battery, or make noise. I love it.

 

It took 24 hours, but the guys at the local Best Buy were able to locate a 2888 model at another store, transfer it to their store and exchange the 2777 model I had (I was experiencing lockups). It was late when I got home and I have a 4yr old to contend with, so I didn't get to play with it much, but I did put furmark on it. It ran for 10 minutes and hit 81C (and still seemed to be creeping up, but I chickened out) before I raised the back, at which the temp dropped to 74C. On the previous 2887 system, Furmark ran for 5 minutes, shot up to 85C and locked, but with the back raised, ran at 81-82C for long periods. So already, the 2888 model shows about a 5C to 7C drop in temperature. I'll try Crysis tonight to see what sort of temps I get.

As for physical differences between a 2887 and 2888, I'll have to take a look at my pictures of the old one, and although that same copper radiator is visible through the side GPU exhaust, I think the fan (viewed through the bottem vent) may be different.

There was the raised circle on the windows key that wasn't on the previous model, which is a good idea because the keys in the bottom row are sized slightly differently than a standard keyboard so that there is room for the arrow keys.

And finally the CD/DVD still shows up as an Optiarc, but it seems quite a bit sturdier. On the 2887, it flexed so much when I pushed a DVD onto the spindle that I was afraid I would break it. On the new one, it feels sturdier, and it may just be my imagination, but it looks like the tray has more support than the old one. IT also closes harder (not sure if this is intentional or if the unit and chasis are slightly misaligned.

I have not noticed an increase in fan noise when running in 3D.

 

What exactly does Fumark do and would you recommend running it?

 

it stresses the gpu so you can get an idea of how hot your gpu can get. and yes, i would recommend running it.

 

The old one locked up when running Crysis at high res, the new one doesn't (both P2887s). Thanks for the info on cooling pads guys, I'm planning on getting one. The Targus one looks handy for storing away.

Sounds like your Best buy was easier to deal with than the ones I went to. One seemed ready to exchange but only had 2887s, I tried another that made me run through a Geeksquad benchmark, but they only had 2887s also.

My coworker and I both bought these laptops, he got a P2888, I got a P2887. We compared them yesterday and they looked the same. I have that circle on the windows key you mentioned (even had it on the laptop I returned). Maybe the fan is different, I'll have to check.

One strange thing we've both noticed, the fan revs a little bit while idle or doing low cpu usage stuff like surfing the web.

 

hey guys i have a 2887 and it never overheated or had any problems. i even played games on a table with the laptop being flat and it never over heated it got in the 70s. but i dont think it ever got over that and i played for hours one day i played for like 12 hours and it never overheated.

 

I believe your temps can also vary depending on what games you play.

 

When I returned my 2887 to the BestBuy they didn't hesitate to offer me my money back. In fact, they were hesitant to allow me to exchange it (which I did), and even re-started the 14-day clock on the return policy. They have seen a LOT of these come back to the store. And they did tell me that they were able to reproduce the lock-up issue on ALL the lapptops in the 2887 range that they got back.

If you look at the forums here, there just isn't that much chatter on ANY other notebook model that talks to lock-ups like the P-7811FX. There are just too many people that had issues (me included) that were able to fix them by getting 2888 models. Gateway MUST have known something was up and fixed it.

I have had mine now for almost three weeks and so far it is running well - but the original one locked up after only running for 10 minutes at the BestBuy store running 3DMark-Vantage on stock settings. This one has NEVER locked up yet - knock on wood .

 

I thought I'd add my story as well
My 1st 7811 was 2887 and for 10 days it was great.
But on the 11th day it died. The machine would not turn on. The media key lights would flash but nothing else.

So off to Best Buy to exchange. This time they had one with a 2888 SN so I thought this time it would be good. Unfortunately this one has two problems. One the left button on the touchpad sticks and the machine will lockup with any USB device connected whilel trying to do anything that taxes the GPU.

So this morning I will be off the Best Buy again for one more try.
Hopefully they will have another 2888.

 

I just wanted to toss in another comment on a 2887.

I bought my 2887 at BB when they offered the $200 off and free game deal. I used it for daily PC tasks such as email, web browsing and watched a few movies. Never had any problem.

I installed The Withcher and played that (on my lap in bed) for as much as 5 hours in a row without any issue. I was even blocking the vents most of the time with my blanket. The exhaust vent did throw out some pretty hot air (my cat loved it - she would lay right in it's path and got all toasty warm).

Later I came here and read peoples issues with the 2887 (and other series too) so I installed Crysis and all my other Steam games. I played the heck out of Crysis and Half Life 2. I never once had a lockup or any other issues. Again I mostly played with the laptop sitting on my bed (pretty poor ventilation) and didn't have any overheating issues.

So to those with 2887 model runs - I wouldn't worry about it. While there are obviously some lemons out there having a 2887 doesn't mean you have a bad system. Mine is proof of that.

 

I believe this has been said before and here's proof. People who don't have problems won't post as much as people with problems.

Glad you love the laptop! I love mine as well!

 

Ya in theory if they sold 50,000 thousand of these machines and they probably sold more who knows with all the bestbuy stores there are out there and lets say 400 people had problems and came here to complain about ,were never going to hear from the 44,600 people who are happy so in the end there are always going to be bad batches of everything no matter what it is and im happy to say my machine as served me well so far.

 

2887 here.. no problems... and btw, I run the computer department at my local Best Buy and had 0 returns (that I came across anyways) on the FX's. Had a couple customers come back to talk about them though.

 

yeah 2887 here too and no problems at all

 

I have a 2887 and I've had no issues so far..It just does the "regular" rev up of the GPU fan but...No biggie.

EDIT: I don't do much gaming or anything but Adobe Photoshop runs fine and some other crap I do works fine.

 

Bottom line, if you have a working P-7811FX, it's by far the best!