NP5793: Memory Parity Error

Howdy, folks!

Yesterday, while gaming, my display suddenly garbled for a few seconds, then I was sent to a BSOD giving me a Memory Parity Error.

When I attempt to reboot, I get the same BSOD right after the OS load screen (before I make it to the login window).

I am able to load everything just fine in Safe Mode, but the display is still garbled at all times (including the BIOS, boot screen, and in Safe Mode).

My first guess was that my monitor connection was loose. I've been missing one of the hinge caps for a couple weeks now, so I figured maybe a cord was being pinched or came loose. I popped open my monitor tray, took a good look, but everything appeared to be tightly connected, and the cords did not appear to be damaged. Furthermore, the screen "flickering" does not seem to get any better or worse when I tamper with the exposed cords - the problem appears to be unrelated to the monitor connection.

I have not had the opportunity to test with an external monitor yet.

My next guess was that I had an issue with my graphics card. My graphics card does seem to register when I run DXDiag in Safe Mode. I can't actually use it in Safe Mode, but my computer does still seem to recognize it. Anyone know of a decent way to test to see if this is the issue?

Windows Memory Diagnostics turned up nothing. I'm planning on running memtest86 when I get a hold of my brother's machine tonight (I'm unable to burn the ISO to disc from Safe Mode, unless one of you has any ideas).

I tried removing the RAM sticks, one at a time, and booting. No change.

I popped everything open and gave it all a good dusting. No change.

Any thoughts?

 

Wow, another one. I would wager that your graphics card has died, there have been loads of Nvidia GPU's failing recently which were purchased 1-3 years ago. Mine went a couple of months ago, first sign was the NMI parity error.

The fault is caused by connecting bumps on the chip cracking prematurely due to shoddy design and poorly chosen materials. There are a couple of links for you to do some research in a post I made here.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=463385&page=5

There is a chance this has nothing to do with your problem I suppose but this looks like a carbon copy of the problem I had and a hundred others with Nvidia 8-series gpu's, and I got mine checked out by an engineer who gave me a comprehensive report including details of lawsuits that nvidia is facing concerning this issue. If the same has happened to yours then it is irreparable aside from a temporary bake, and replacement cards are hard to come by and highly likely to suffer the same fate sooner or later.

EDIT: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, btw! Some members here are hopeful that certain versions of the Nvidia 260 will work as a replacement; I'm not holding my breath, though.

 

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

I'll be sure to check all of that out. If this is, indeed, the problem, what can I do about it? Contact Sager and let them deal with it? Go straight to NVidia? Can I just get a replacement card and install it myself, or will I need to send in my machine?

 

Sager will probably offer to repair it, whether or not you pay is determined by whether or not you are still under warranty I guess. Their solution would be, in all likelihood, to "reflow" the solder underneath the chip in question. This involves the "bumps" or solder points melting, and they reflow to provide a better contact between the chip and the mainboard.

This would almost certainly fix the problem, but it is temporary. I sent mine off to get fixed, and the guys said they fixed it twice, but both times under intensive tesing it had failed again within two days.

You may be able to get hold of a card and replace it yourself, but it will be expensive and probably suffer the same fate eventually. In the UK the sale of goods act means we can claim against products sold with an inherently defective component, but in the US I'm not sure what your options are if it is out of warranty. If you are in warranty try and get a refund not a repair, because any repair will moe than likely be temporary. If you go for a repair or replacement card make sure you get written confirmation that they assure you this particular fault will not occur again within the next 3 years. They are unlikely to give you such a confirmation.

EDIT: It should be noted that the repair company I used was based in Cardiff and nothing to do with Sager.

 

if you are under warranty you should send your system to repair.

if is not under warranty: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5959694&postcount=8

 

Ugh. So after backing everything up and reseating the graphics card, I now can't get the machine to boot up at all. Fans spin, I hear the HD whirring, but the monitor never turns on, I don't get a BIOS beep, I don't hear any bootup sounds.

 

At least you backed it up I guess.

 

Uh oh. My display has gone pixelated several times in the last couple of months. I've suspected that it might be the graphics card. Oh man, I hope mine doesn't give out until I've got the funds to replace it.

 

When my 8800m gtx died I got the memory parity error message