P-173XL or 8800M GTS Users

Hello, I had a question for anyone who is using a P-173XL or any Gateway laptop with an 8800M GTS.

What version of the BIOS did your laptop originally come with? (94.28/94.31/or something older) And did you update your BIOS at all? If so, what version did you update it to?

Thanks in advance.

 

My P6860-FX came with 94.29, which I think is the latest version for this laptop. However, for some reason, Gateway still lists 94.28 as the latest version on it's web page. I don't think The P6860-FX could be flashed to a later version, or if it could, I don't think it would help anything. I think the later versions are for laptops with the newer Centrino chipset.

Why do you ask?

 

Mine also came with 94.29, which has raid capability and the extreme cpu mutliplier.

 

Thanks for replying.

I am just wondering because I am having a really weird GPU overheating problem, and I am not sure if it has something to do with a BIOS. I am using 94.31, which is what my laptop originally came with. The overheating problem has been there since day 1 too . So I was thinking about flashing the 94.28 BIOS and hope that it'll fix problems because I noticed that not a lot of people use 94.31.

Gateway refuses to help me out in any way over the phone other then "just send the laptop in", and I don't have any problems with doing that but when I bought the laptop I went to another country, without thoroughly checking it (I am an idiot). Now if I send the laptop in it'll cost me around $600 for shipping and handling, and I can't afford that atm.

The problem is that when I play any game, the GPU just keeps increasing in temp, eventually hitting 95 in about 10 - 20 mins of gameplay depending on which game I am playing and then the laptop just shuts down. Everything else is normal, CPU has normal temps, ACPI also has normal temps. Also when my GPU is idle, it sits at around 40 - 50C which is also normal.

I read another topic on this forum from someone who had exactly the same problem as me. Here is the link to it:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=353712

I can't even increase the fan speeds because none of the programs have any options for me (RivaTuner,SpeedFan). My vents/intakes are clean, and I am using a laptop cooling pad.

Anyway, if you have any advice, its greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

is your gpu fan working at all? mine went out and i had to get it replaced. i had the same problems you and the other poster had.

 

Yea, the fan is working because I can feel air coming out of the vent. It starts up when my GPU hits 60C. I am not sure if its working to its full capacity but its def working.

Its lame that my 8800M GTS doesn't allow me to control the fan speeds through any of the programs.