NP938 Error Code 43 when turning SLI on

So, I got my NP938 on Thursday afternoon, since I didn't order an OS, nothing was installed with it. I put in the Windows 7 Ultimate that I had from my M980NU, installed all the drivers from the CD apart from the Graphics Driver, which I got straight from Nvidia's site.

It worked well that night, and most of Friday, even with SLI on. I was able to play Guild Wars 2, Champions Online and Far Cry 3. However, after dinner I played a little Far Cry again and when I exit the game, the laptop just froze. When I rebooted, the resolution was reset. Nvidia Control Panel wouldn't start from the little Icon, I right-click the desktop and there was no option for the Nvidia Control Panel there. I go to the Device Manager to find this:


The screenshot was taken after a fresh Windows install after not figuring out anything. I have to use the most recent non-beta driver since if I use the one on the CD provided, Windows wouldn't even boot up properly. It would freeze on the "Starting Windows" black screen, even when the sound for Windows Startup plays, which should be when I get to the Password screen.

Anyway, the problem only happens when I turn SLI on, when it's off everything seems to run fine. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers multiple times, and taken screenshots of things I think are relevant to the error:


I also tried the latest Beta Driver and it didn't work either. I've already e-mailed my seller about this problem, and said something along the lines of returning the laptop, but since it's the weekend, they won't be able to see or answer it till Monday. So I have till then to figure this out.

Is anyone else getting this problem? Does anyone have a solution? Googling the problem gives results about Registry Cleaners, but I don't see how that would help since the problem still happens even after a clean install. Is it really Hardware?

 

According to my seller (Reflexnotebooks Canada) he asked Sager about it and they suggested that I use two power adapters when I run this laptop on SLI.

How do I even connect two adapters at the same time?

Edit:
They say they can be daisy chained together. I've personally haven't heard of anything like that being done. Does anyone else have any ideas about this?

 

How many watts is your ac? i thought that clevo is shipping all P370 family with 300watts ac

 

It's definitely at least 300 watts. Unless I'm looking at it wrong its 330 watts. The reseller said that using 2 adaptors for Sli was in the manual, but I can't find anything in there about it. Something about daisy chaining adapters doesn't sound right to me.

They said they were asking Sager about it and get back to me. I guess they didn't get an answer since they haven't contacted me back yet.

 

daisy chaining adapters used on overclocked gpu's or models that came only with smaller ac power
I have a 7970M Xfire so 200watts overclocked and no problem with my 300watt
i dont think there is a problem with the watts
disconect from internet
uninstall the drivers reboot
use a driver sweeper http://www.guru3d.com/content_page/guru3d_driver_sweeper.html
reinstall the latest drivers(not beta)

 

As far as I know, I'm running on Stock Clocks since I didn't touch any clock speeds. Also, I can now confirm that the AC Adapter/Power Bar is 330 Watts. Wasn't home a while ago so couldn't check.

I uninstalled all drivers related to the GPU, even the HD Audio ones, went into safe mode, used that Driver Sweeper, rebooted into safe mode again, used Winzip Registry Optimizer. Reinstalled the newest WHQL (I also tried it on the beta driver) version of the driver and I still get the problem. Sometimes Hotkey also needs reinstalling since it stops the LED for the keyboard from working, and yest I got the newest driver for that too from Sager's Official Site.

I reinstalled Windows again yesterday since the mSata SSD I ordered came in. Still getting the problem.

The reseller CC'ed me on an e-mail he sent to Sager asking them again if anyone else was getting this problem on this model and whether I should send the unit in. No reply from Sager yet.

Not sure if this is related, however I tried to play Champions Online a while ago, it ran properly on Thursday and Friday (it's the game I tested the 3D Vision stuff with). However, now it gives me a BSoD with nvlddmkm.sys being the problem file. Now, I just installed GPU-Z and starting that program gets me the same BSoD. Other games like Guild Wars 2, Far Cry 3, Bioshock Infinite and Dishonored work properly. Even the Unigine Dragon Benchmark thing works.

 

Two 780s should have no issue with 330W at stock speeds.

I would check that the SLI cable is seated properly.

 

I can open this thing up no problem, but after that, what am I looking for?

 

There is a cable running from one graphics card to the other, it sits to the left side of the card, I would unplug it and then plug it back in to make sure it is seated correctly.

 

Ok, just gotta make sure which is which. Processor's in the middle right? The two GPU's are the Heatsinks on the left and the right?

Also, any thoughts on the nvlddmkm.sys issue?

I opened it up, and still can't tell which cable it is. I can tell which two are the GPU's, but apart from that I'm not sure what cables to look for:


I also tried running 3DMark 11, I got the same BSoD for nvlddmkm.sys.

Sager got back to the reseller, they suspect something may be wrong with one of the GPU's and that I may have to send it to California.

 

The cable is hidden by the heatsinks on the left and right card. If you don't feel up to doing that I would send it back now.

 

Yeah, I don't wanna risk poking around in there. Considering it's still within the 30 day warranty.

Here's exactly what the seller said:

So, I'm waiting for a reply yet again.

Thanks though. Do you have any idea about the nvlddmkm.sys BSoD? I keep getting it trying to run GPU-Z, 3DMark 11 and Champions Online. Trying to run these three gives a BSoD Crash Dump, and nvlddmkm.sys seems to be the problem.

Also, just want to know for future reference, is this the SLI Cable?

 

I just got an Error 43 on one of the cards even with SLI disabled right now:


I'm still waiting on their decision on sending the laptop in. I was wondering why Champions Online started working again, wonder if this is why.

 

What's you system bios? It might be that one of your cards is dying and needs a replacement. What you could do is take both cards out and check which one bad by installing only 1 GPU at a time. If the other one is dead (i guess it's MASTER GPU) you can just send the card to SAGER or reseller you bought from, while having the working system with one card! Or, like Meaker mentioned, if you're not up to do it yourself just send the whole system

 

Yeah, I'm a bit incompetent when it comes to tinkering with laptop hardware, so I'm not too comfortable actually messing around taking cards out and stuff. I'll only take out the components that I put in myself, or ones I know I won't mess up. If it were a PC, I'd have probably pinpointed which card it was the second day I got the problem. I'm just waiting to hear from the reseller at this point.

Why do you suspect that it's the Master GPU?

I'm gonna try GPU-Z and 3DMark 11 right now to see if those work.

GPU-Z works now, and it seems to be picking up both cards. One card looks like it's more active, guessing that's the card I'm running on right now.

 

What drivers did you install when you first got your laptop?

It may be something as simple as a missing chipset driver. You're also missing other system devices per your Error 43 screenshot.

Of course sending it back is probably best, but if both of your cards are fine, then it might be a driver/software issue.

If you haven't sent it back yet, connect to the internet and use Windows Update to try to get some of those missing devices installed.

Edit: I agree with the others here that say it is NOT an AC 330W issue. That should be fine considering SLI laptops from other brands use the same. (if it were a 95xx then it might be an issue).

 

I installed the GPU last.

I went in order from the Driver CD's autorun skipping GPU and Hotkey. Chipset first, Intel Storage last.

I don't think it's an issue of missing drivers for other components though, I only got the error for the one card yesterday. Other times, I only got Error 43 when I turned on SLI, other than that both cards worked properly.

What's a 95xx?

 

Oh and yes, that is the SLI cable there

 

Sweet. thanks. I was expecting one of those thin black wires, forgot that those thicker ones existed in the computing world.

UPS is picking up the notebook on Tuesday. Now I just gotta pack it up. I went and got the Reseller Warranty and 2 years of Sager coverage on it.

 

Oh ok. It's whatever model that has the desktop CPU. I was thinking if power was an issue, that would be the only model it would really apply to.

 

Gotcha, thanks.

 

NP9570 or P570WM.

 

Where exactly do I find that?

 

Many resellers offer that model

The NP9570 uses a desktop 130W CPU instead of a mobile 47W CPU hence the power draw difference.

 

Well, I got this NP9380 from Reflexnotebook.ca not sure what they're packing it with though. I got the i7 4900 Chip. Not sure if that's what you're saying.

 

What was mentioned is the 570WM can ship with the dual brick adapter since it can go over 330W with the desktop CPU and two GPUs (130W + 200W) you do have some leeway with the 9380, but if you want to overclock with custom vbios files for the 780Ms they get power hungry pretty quickly.

 

So did you fix the issue?

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