Sager NP9150 - huge geforce 675M driver issue

I got a sager NP9150 through XoticPC with nvidia geforce 675M card, and for about a week now I'm unable to get the 675M card installed. When i try to install drivers on first reboot i'm getting BSODs, most common code is 116 and culprit nvlddmkm.sys but there were others.

Things i've tried so far:

- clean install of win7, no updates, first attempted with 295.62 from sager site, then with every possible driver version up to 310.54 (from sager, nvidia and laptop2go)
- clean install of win7, fully updated, first attempted with 295.62 from sager site, then with every possible driver version up to 310.54 (from sager, nvidia and laptop2go)
- clean install of win7sp1, no updates, first attempted with 295.62 from sager site, then with every possible driver version up to 310.54 (from sager, nvidia and laptop2go)
- clean install of win7sp1, fully updated, first attempted with 295.62 from sager site, then with every possible driver version up to 310.54 (from sager, nvidia and laptop2go)
- clean install of win8, again with every possible driver version up to 310.54, no luck

Every driver change was done properly (full uninstall, removal of nvidia entries from registry, 2 reboots)

The most successful attempt was with 306.23 which held for entire 15 minutes on first attempt then - BSOD.

Also tried with both versions (win7 and win8) of intel drivers from sager site, no dice.

Basically, even if it gets to windows desktop it's impossible to make the card/driver do anything (3dMark vantage won't start, WEI hangs, gpu-z usually hangs etc.)

Called XoticPC to get the info on system/drivers used for testing the laptop, but was told to contact sager directly(???). RMAing the laptop is out of the question since i'm approx. 7000km from nebraska and shipping would cost more than buying new mxm card myself.

I'm completely out of ideas what to try next.

 

I would try to reseat the card and see if maybe it got jarred loose somehow. It would be a good idea to have thermal paste on hand before trying this.

 

Well, I did check to see if everything is fitted properly, and visually it seems ok. I'm still in software phase of resolving this, since it seems that issue is not uncommon, but I will disassemble and rebuild this thing when I get the time (and the paste ).

BTW, are my eyes failing or CMOS battery is on top of the board?

 

Sorry to hear about the problems it does sound like a GPU problem but to narrow it down could you download and install WhoCrashed. This will make a crash log which will identify what exactly is causing it. Usually MrDJ comes along with links in his sig but heres a download link Resplendence Software - WhoCrashed, automatic crash dump analyzer
After the next BSOD open that and click Analyze to see the log.

 

I wonder how many folks have had/are having this issue.

Did it work correctly straight out of the box?

Edit : I have a similar build on order from XoticPC.. 16GB, with the 95%gamut matte screen...

 

Problems with the Nvidia cards are rare but just like any electronics they can happen. We'll do whats needed to get it up and going as it should be

@skeeter1 did you also have problems?

 

Haven't received it yet. Just entered Phase 2 today.. Hopefully any issues will be caught before shipping...

 

i have the 675m, absolutely perfect, over clock it, gaming sessions on it, takes it like a champ

edit: also i am selling my 675m, if you are interested drop me a pm

 

Nope, it came without OS so there was no "out of the box". Since you have one on order, make sure that windows is installed by sager (regardless of extra cost), so any driver issue is handled by them from the start.

 

Point taken, Good Sir/Madam. Yes, XoticPC is installing the OS. Hopefully, without issues.

Is there any chance the on-board GPU (intel) is conflicting with the GPU card? Yeah, it's a long shot, but hey...

 

i did not have OS installed on my either, didnt use any of the CDs they provided, just went online and downloaded what i wanted, i dont think kkojot's problem is driver, its most likely hardware. i think most hardware are tested with reseller's hard drive before shipping out, maybe just one of those that slipped through the net.

dont think nvidia has the conflict issue, since you cant install nvidia driver without the intel driver anyways

 

Yeah. Agreed. I wonder if kk's reseller/Sager could cross - ship a new/refurb card as a "good will" gesture. Might be a more cost-effective way of handling your situation... Just thinking out loud...

 

Oh. One other possibility: remove the card and do several boot cycles using only the on-board GPU... Maybe?

 

they might do that if you let them place a $400 hold on your credit card

I tried that before, it won't work. i manage to boot up to windows, but the CPU fan went berserk, and i got shut down in about a minute in windows

 

Yeah. As always, the devil is in the details... But I just know you want your "baby" up and running like you paid for...

Worth a shot for sure if you can swing it...

 

if there is no way you can return the card and are stuck with it, you could try to stick the card in the oven and bake it for a while. it will allow the solder to reflow and maybe fix the card

 

And here's the report (driver version 295.62 from sager site):

310.54 beta results:

 

update:

i tried again, but this time with enabled logging as detailed on How to enable NVIDIA graphics driver installer logging

the results were as expected - card is still not working. The logs are attached, just in case someone might interpret them

View attachment NvidiaLogging.zip

I've also attached msinfo32 page on conflicts/sharing

View attachment msinfo.txt