*Official*P-7811 FX Info Thread

this person was having the SAME problem with GPU at idle. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=351332

 

I have the same problem as Scapenz and Zoytoy, with random lockups after sessions of gaming 30 minutes or longer; it's peculiar because I've never had a lock in CS:S, but for Left 4 Dead it happens all the time. I would be grateful if anyone could direct me towards a solution. The big lesson for me is to buy refurbs from stores with exchange/return policies instead of ebay.

 

I tried everything as you can see above, its hardware.

I took the HD out of the freezing one, plopped it into the working one, and it worked great.

Maybe call gateway and try to get them to fix it under warranty. Some people have had luck even though it is a refurb.

 

If you have an automatic restart like I did try resetting the cmos battery. Worked for me.

 

"Sound is software run, TRUE 5.1 or greater requires an external sound card or an express port sound card, or through HDMI."

Hi everybody. I'm relatively new to computer lingo... so bear with me here. I really don't want to spend money if there is a work-around. I'm going into this for two reasons:

1) I play CS:S and I need 5.1 or 7.1 sound.
2) I'm going to be recording audio from a condenser microphone

I was going to purchase Sennheiser HD 555's or Steelseries 5H v2 Gaming Headphones. Do they have to be USB or 3.5 mm to receive 5.1? Am I going to need a converter of some kind?

Basically, I'm just wondering what I need to buy in order to just plug in a pair of these headphones (and speakers possibly? for parties) and have nice 5.1 or 7.1 sound. I'd also like to know if the sound card is sufficient for my recording needs. I'll most likely be using a Shure 58 for vocals.

Sidenote: I'm experiencing big problems with permissions all the time. I was thinking about just reformatting the entire computer and starting from scratch with fresh drivers. I see random files in root directories, I have a bunch of software installed that I don't even use that came with the computer... ugh. Somebody send me a PM, or even talk with me on the phone? I can offer some money in return if needed! =D

Thanks!
- Mike

 

I have a P7805u, and while I had not used the "SPDIF" look at properties. In the advanced section it has only 2 channel modes selectable under advanced. So for 5.1 it appears you will need a sound card.......

Edit: It does support 2 channel Dolby DTS so it may support Dolby Pro logic. This however is not true 5.1

 

The SPDIF output is intended to connect to a Digital Decoder which will then do the heavy lifting of conversion. Your home theater surround receiver for example... That is why there is only a 2-channel output. If you require surround without using a home stereo system, then some other type of external decoder is required. Either that or an ExpressCard with multiple analog outputs.

Apparently Logitech makes a surround speaker system with an optical digital input (covered in another thread) that can do the same job.

Neither of the headphone models have more than the standard compliment of physical drivers, so there is no actual "surround-sound" (5.1 or 7.1) involved. They use custom acoustical tweaks to improve the gaming experience. Just connect to your analog 3.5mm headphone output and go.

 

I have had the same freezing problem despite multiple OS reinstalls, driver updates and decrapifying. The freezes only happen with GPu-intensive games (most notably, the Dawn of War series and Steam-installed DoW 2, and World in Conflict) only when I am using a USB mouse - tried 3 different mice, different manufacturers, one wireless, 2 wired. I can play games for hours without a mouse attached, but if you're tried it, you know how NOT fun it can be.

Just recently had the HDD replaced under manufacturer warranty as it failed BestBuy's super-duper diag scan, reinstalled the OS, updated drivers and coming as absolutely no shock, THE SAME *&$@ING THING HAPPENED! I have the 'top for about 8 months and want a new one. Is it possible to get one at this stage, or will Bestbut/Gateway just keep replacing crap that isnt broken? Also, if the problem is not the HDD, what exactly is causing the conflict between USB devices and GPU-intensive games? any advice is appreciated.

 

Weird, didn't ever notice the relation to the mouse with mine. I always tested it without the mouse so I know that wasn't my problem

I would call gateway, you should have a 1yr warranty.

 

For anyone having issues with a clean 64 bit Vista install and getting their Audio to work :

Gateway's drivers work.

The trick is that you have to unpack the zip to a folder first, then run the installer.

I ran the audio driver install first, then the nvidia HDMI audio.

Sound works and so do the headphone / mic jacks

Apologies if this was already found.

Enjoy.

 

Hi, I think I really need some help with this.
I own a P-7811FX (of the 2887 series) everything at stock speeds except I've installed updated drivers! Lately I've been having trouble with temperatures!
I have the 185.20 driver and right now (internet explorer, livemessenger and everest working) i have a 69(!!!!) degrees C GPU temperature and 46 cpu!

I started to notice that something was wrong a couple of weeks ago when playing PES09 which is not a demanding game and still it would skip frames!

I then realized that the fans are now always working 100% and HOT air is pumping out!

I can only assume that this is a driver issue, because if it's not I'm afraid I'm #$%$#!!!

Which driver should I install?

Thank you.

EDIT: I am also using a Zalman NC-2000 cooler (can't imagine what could have happened if i didn't)!!!

 

Well, i suppose you haven't changed any paste uner the cooler? I have changed the CPU anf GPU paste and my GPU max temps changed -20C which is pretty massive change. And i use 185.20 as well.

 

Arctic Silver 5 FTW! Again, I know there are strict rules about opening up your notebooks, but there are some basic steps you can take for preventative maintenance that can help your notebook live longer. We wouldn't have to do them if the factories would do it right.

 

I've had the same problem with it sometimes freezing up as a result of USB devices. Thought it could be my MX518 mouse (which has some issues on 64bit machines) and while it does cause the OS to freeze from time to time (i.e if I keep unplugging and replugging it), I do think it is unrelated to the GPU freezing error, namely because I have taken all of the USB devices out and played Crysis and still had the problem of it freezing after a period of time.

Saying that - it does appear to make the problem come about sooner - but given the diagnosis that me and zoytoy came to earlier in this thread, I would say that it is a coincidence that this is happening and that the problem lies deep down in the hardware side of things.

One thought I had as more evidence to determine whether it is software/hardware was to try a different operating system. I installed Ubuntu linux the other day and I plan to try America's Army out on both vista and linux and do a comparison of what happens. Should be interesting to see. America's Army is practically the only decent, demanding 3D game that I could find that installs natively on both Linux and Vista. (So no patches or WINE thingies to get the game to run). I'll post back when I finally get around to doing it.

An interesting thing happened the other day when I went to plug a camera SD card into the slots on the right hand side of the machine; the sound stuttered and the screen froze for a brief few seconds - exactly the same way that it does in games. The machine came back to normal after about 5 seconds, but it does pose some interesting questions into perhaps whether the CPU is involved in any way with this freezing issue.

Now I know Zoytoy tried switching the CPU around and still had no luck, but perhaps the connection between the GPU and CPU is the thing that is at fault? The fact that the SD card issue is so similar to what I experience in game, gives the impression that the same components are involved. Maybe the CPUs attention gets diverted somehow? On the desktop the effect on the other components isn't as bad, but in the middle of running a GPU and sound intensive program it is unlikely to be unable to catch up to where it was? Is anyone else is experiencing something similar with their SD card slot (have some music playing in the background before you try it)? Gimme a shout if this is the case.

 

I finally have a stable version of x64 saved(acronis 2009, big THANKS to everyone here! =>), so now i feel comfortable to experiment with other OSs... Mostly i'm trying to decide between xp32 and xp64. XP64 seems attractive to me because i can utilize the architecture and ram of the p-7811fx, but i'm afraid of compatibility issues and driver support.

Any comments suggestions would be appreciated. I've read most of the p-7811fx threads, but haven't noticed to much info about xp64... also, are there threads dedicated to xp64 and xp32 for the 7811 or no? (i haven't been able to find any yet)

 

Hi there, I was wondering if there are any UK vendors or US vendors who could ship the gateway p78 series to the UK? because All there is in the UK is over priced clevo models by independant compnies and there are no budget high end machines. Its really annoying.

 

@viilutaja, how did you access the GPU? I practically disassembled the whole laptop and the gpu seems hidden away under the left corner of the lower plastic cover. Is there a how-to guide to easily access it to change the thermal paste?

Btw, I swapped out the stock 200gb drive to an Intel X25-M 80gb SSD and that area is WAY cooler. All temps run in the 40s - 50s except the GPU which maxes at 72C with L4D. Before my HDD was running at 58-61C consistently.

 

@fire268 there are 1 or 2 disassembly guides oute there for the P-7811FX.
However, no I did not change the paste, or anything at all, I am planning to change/add a hard drive soon.

I changed (downgraded?) my display drivers, downloaded 179.48 (I think) from nvidia website and idle gpu temps went from 70C to a freezing (!!! ) 37C!!!

But I was once again very disappointed when I tried playing PES 09 for an hour and then realized that my gpu was running at 105C!!! A few months ago I would play Gears of War and Far Cry 2 with temps no higher than 90C!

Maybe I try more drivers and see...

 

There is hidden screw underside the laptop. Under little rubber covering next to the HDD bay door. If you remove that screw, you can pull out the DVD rom. And that i guess you missed the first time. Me too actually

 

Hi. I have just began having issues with static on the screen while gaming. Things start out ok, but after 15-20 minutes the static begins. The laptop is also getting hot. I am assuming this is the same overheating issue that others have been having, but I have not read any replies so far that are identical to my issue.

I suppose a trip back to the manufacturer is in order.

Any suggestions or idea?

 

I would recommend trying to cool down your laptop right away. Have you tried a laptop cooler and/or elevating the rear or the machine about an inch? I myself have put the 1/2" rubber feet (at Home Depot) on the bottom of mine for better airflow to the fans. I did get a cooler but it was too cumbersome so I stopped using it. Also since my return period was over I replaced some thermal paste under the heatsinks. (google thermal paste and gateway 7811 for further info). Hope that helps.

 

Hi all! I have Gateway p-7811FX with freezing problem. Here's what I've done in this case:

- unscrew whole parts from laptop
- remove old thermal paste (I don't know what was the old one) to Zahlman ZM-STG1 - temperatures drop down to 71deg on GPU (full load) before - 85
- radiator from GPU had fitting loose so I screwed it harder

Laptop have still freezing effect...

Last thing is hard disk: normally temp for ST9200420as is 40-55deg, but my have 50-68deg in full load. I think that's the reason of freezing in games.

Tomorrow I'll check in cooling hdd

For testing I'm using OCCTPT 3.01 (GPU test)

Greetings!

ps. sorry for my language but I'm from Poland

 

Does anyone know, if this kind of Intel Turbo Memory fits in P7811-FX?
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Intel-Turbo-Memory-4GB-Jump-Start-Your-Laptop_W0QQitemZ290301905917QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item290301905917&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

And how much faster does it make my laptop? Does it help in games, like Crysis?

 

What is the highest temps the GPU should reach when under load? (mine gets super hot too when i play L4D, but i don't know how to monitor the temperature, so i don't know how hot.) What softwares would you recommend to monitor GPU temperature?

Also, i'd like to try the thermal paste, but will it void my warranty with best buy? (i bought the 3-year extended)

Thanks all in advance for replies1! = )

 

I think that you'll loose your warranty because you have to unscrew whole stuff inside. Temp for GPU should be 60-80 full load. yesterday I wrote that I'm using OCCT for testing GPU.

 

So I have tested my laptop under load with cooling hard disk...cooling was from the one side (temp. 41deg). I've pass the GPU tests in OCCT and then I've played some games. After 30min of playing laptop freezes...I have no idea what's happened...everytime it locks up :-/

Other thing is radiator from CPU. one CPU have radiator is made with cooper (aluminium is outside) but second (that one below ram) is completely made with aluminium. Maby I'll check that with cooling pads from Coollabolatory Pro.

 

Is it random static or horizontal lines? Cause I had horizontal line static, and fixed it as recommended in this thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=334705

 

@ Captain Terror, I use HWMonitor and you probably can find it by googling it or go to majorgeeks.com I run that in the background while playing L4D and I get 71C max temp. But I did use the silicone rubber feet that I bought from Home Depot to raise the laptop about 1/2 inch off the table. I'm in the process of trying to change out the thermal paste and will post any change in temps when playing L4D...

And, yes, you probably would void the warranty you have with BB.

 

will Turbo memory fit the 1/2 sized slots?

 

deejay/fire268: Yeah got speedfan and i like the way it works, but i'll try out OCCT and HWMon too for kicks...

I haven't tried the rubber feet underneath yet, but i notice my temperature goes down RAPIDLY when i take it off my lap... Not really a good idea to do gaming with your legs covering up the vents i guess! = )

I'll try to see what temps i get during L4D (on and off lap, lol) later.
= )

 

Thank you. I am going to give this a go.

 

update:

prolonged L4D on my desk (no rubber pads or cooling mat) runs at 61C. prolonged playing with the 7811 sitting on my lap(and partially covering up vents) surprisingly ran cooler, at 59C...

So i guess i should be happy with these temps? My nvidia drivers are 179.48 btw..

 

^ Yup! Indeed. With the NZXT cooler and L4D, I think I top out at 76C. Are your settings in L4D maxed out? As well as what resolution do you game at?

 

Listen up everybody...I think finally I've got solution for overheating in games. Reason is hard disk! I have mounted 2 wents on hard disk cover and cooled to 35deg C. After that I can play over 5 hours in GTA 4 or Mirrors Edge. I've even passed tests CPU,GPU in OCCT! Maby I'll make some photos of my ideas and show you to test

 

wents = Vents? might be a good idea

 

Here's my idea of Vents

 

Eurasianman: Yeh my settings are not maxed. i'm at 1680x1050 for resolution, and i have everything set to medium. also i found my actual temp whilst playing on my lap turned out to get much higher sitting on my lap--up to the low 70s, but i found just lifting it off my legs every once in a while, kept the temps right around the same as using it on my desk, without any rubber feet or other method to prop it up.

deejay yeah i'm having temp problems with my hdd0, it's running at 50 right now and speed fan puts it it the red at anything 50 and above. I've been compiling a map HL2 for the past hour, so i'm guessing that's why (resting temp is low 40s or very high 30s.

do those fans lie flush with the ground, or do you need feet in the back/front to make them clear? did you find any significant temp reduction for your HDD by simply lifting up the back with rubber feet, or a book, or whatever?

 

Yes, I have front and back on the higher feets right now. before I was trying something with cooling pad but when I placed fans directly on hard disk the temperatures really dropped. Now my hdd has 30deg C. and 45deg on load. Remember that recomended temp of this hdd is between 30-55(max) and I had almost 65.

 

what do you get on rubber feet with the fans turned off?

 

Below the feets I got something like that on photos. These are cut from old cooling pad

 

Here is a like with some rubber feet add ons, and Chris Pirillo rambling on about them

Chris Pirillo;
http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-cool-your-laptop-notebook-computer/

Laptop Lifts;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001LT2OAS

 

GPU temp update:

My normal temperature max--low 60s-- on a wooden table, goes up to high 70s and low 80s on a table with a plastic table cloth!! The plastic must be reflecting the heat right back up to the gpu, and/or clogging the vent a bit. neway, i proped my headphone case under the middle-back of the 7811--under the battery--, and temps returned to normal...

Deejay: that looks pretty cool.. i'm thinking bout doing something like this too because my HDDs are running too hot pretty much all the time too.

flynnaz: looks pretty cool. i like the second link with those laptop lifts... i'll probably get some tomorrow.

 

I've made new connection for hard disk fans (12V) and placed near left gpu radiator (just some grinding and it's done ) There's no open wires and I have my usb connection back

 

deejay4u my Zalman NC-2000 aluminum cooler sitting on top of a wooden table should still be doing a better job than your custom-made fans (i guess).
I can feel the surface of the cooler being beyong just "cool" (it's freezing) and the bottom surface of my P-7811 FX is just as cool!
But still the air that's pumping out the heatsink is ultra-HOT!
Hard drive temps are rarely above 40C.

So I'm guessing it's some driver issue... Didn't have such problems back in Semptember when I bought it. I hope they come out with some new and better drivers soon!

 

Gah, the thought of carrying around a laptop cooler around in my already heavy laptop bag, is not encouraging. On the same note i want to replace "the brick" becuase it's too bulky/heavy. (looking up prices/models now)

Also a question: should we post any questions related to the 7811 in this thread? or would it be better to start seperate threads for new issues?

New Issue for me on the 7811: Unrecoverable crashes. Previously with all my other issues with the 7811, i still NEVER got a bsod or an unrecoveralbe crash where even the task manager would not work. now i found two things that do:

1. Avast Antivirus x64 never completes(c drive, no archivees, thorough scan), and eventually freezzes my system to where nothing works, and i have to mannually shut it down.

2. Defraging my d drive(50gb free) causes the same unrecoverable crash as above. I got a 3rd-party defrag (auslogics, freeware), and it defrags fine. I find the defrag for windows vista in general to be "unsatisfying".

Anyone else have these issues?

 

A third party software you have installed is causing the issue. There are several complaints from people who use software that LOCK folders with a password such as Folder Lock.

Check out this discussion:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=409328

 

kk. I don't think i ever downloaded/installed a folder locking software, but i;m doublechecking now.... I'll also check out that forum = )

Btw i was planning on buying the Zalman NC-2000 or equivalent from best buy tonight, but BB closed before i got there. So instead, i went to WalMart and bought one of these:

Targus Portable Lapdesk

After 3 hours of playin L4D, my GPU temp never went above 60(normally goes as high as 77C when sitting on my lap), and the HDD topped out at 54C. HDD temp is still WAY higher than i prefer, but it's still better than if it were just sitting on my lap.

Ima buy the laptop cooler tomorrow and will report back. = )

 

That's strange, cuz I play L4D at 2xMSAA and 4x anisotropic filter, 1920x1200, everything on HIGH except effect detail which is on Medium and according to HWMonitor, the CPU temp always avgs a max of 72C no matter how long I play (1+ hours). I have the rubber feet added to the bottom to raise the laptop about 1/2 inch. How are you getting 60C? Also before I switched to the Intel solid state drive I was avg about 58C on the HD, now I can't tell (no hardware sensor on the SSD). I guess my temps are a little higher than yours Terror.

 

EDIT: I WAS ON POWER SAVING!! = }

The power went out the other night, and i switched to power saving mode. Stupidly, I thought the Windows automatically would switch back to "high performance" when it started to recieve AC power againe.... so that's why my temps were so low!! (i was so proud of my low gpu temps, aww)

So anyway, i'll do some retesting and give you my ACTUAL temp results! SORRY!
= )

EDIT x2: Running on "high performance" here are my temps, using that targus lapdesk on a wodden table:

GPU: Average Temp of 64, peak 68.
HDD: Average Temp of 51, peak 54
Core0: Average Temp 46, peak 54

I'm currently using Speedfan to log temps. It's not perfect but i like it. I also downloded HWMon64 and OCCT, plus a couple moar i found on cnet... which is the preferred among 7811 users would you say? Do they all control your fan speed like speedfan?

 

Hi everyone,

I'm an P7811u owner. So far the baby is great, I have no complaint. However there's one thing that annoys me is that the CPU has the lowest rating from Vista. I'm running on a P8400 which gives only 5.2 on vista experience index while other components give 5.8, 5.9.

So I want to upgrade my CPU to a P8700 or even P9500. However I don't know if the motherboard (and/or BIOS) supports this. Anyone has experience with CPU upgrade? What is the maximum CPU I can put in with P7811u and anyone knows how to do it (steps/preparation...)?

Thanks.