np9150 w/ 7970m would like some advice

Hey guys. Got my laptop 2 years ago from xotic. All was great and stuff until i ran into an issue that i cant get out of.

After starting bf3 display just failed. Like it froze up. But screen was dark. Like no display.

So i restaryed my laptop. But it would just freeze at the starting windows logo with the black background.

So i restarted again and entered safe mode to check whocrashed. No details there.

Restarted again and same thing. After numerous restarts i was able to luckily get in and unistalled my amd drivers. Reboot and was able to get into windows. But whenever i try to install the 7970m drivers and restart the pc, it would freeze at the logo.

I tried repasting just to make sure it wasnt hot and dirty. Vents were clean but just to be sure so i cleaned them again.

Reformated laptop. Same thing. Even using the driver that came with the cd. Still couldnt make it work.


Im all out of ideas.

Anything else i havent tried?


I also tried installing different driver versions with the same end result.


=(

 

Have you checked temps? Fans working? any signal to give you hope that the card is fine?

As a last resort I suppose you could re-install windows...

 

Temps are fine. Reinstalled windows too. But can only boot to windows if amd drivers are not installed.

 

bake your 7970m

 

Looks like you're in the same boat as i am. http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/755407-p170em-windows-8-1-graphics-drivers.html

I'm still waiting for a response from the company i bought mine from. However considering it always crashes whenever it starts installing the ATI display drivers, i am to assume that i fried my 7970m.
Btw did this happen when you installed the newest Intel HD4000 drivers and 14.6 beta drivers?

 

I was already using the 14.6 since release. Its just today that it acted like this. I was also using an older driver for the hd4000. Released sept 2013 i think.

 

Hmm no was just trying to find a link between why both of us are having the same problem at the same time, lets just call it a coincidence then. Have you tried memtest?

 

It does sound like the GPU may be failing on you. But it could also be the HDD/SSD since its a sudden freeze. Do you have another one you can try in there?

 

I'll give both memtest and new hdd today. I have a couple of hours at work that i could use for that.


Edit: well memtest passed. So that was good. Changing hdd's was a bust though. Still resulting in a black screen when trying to boot into windows. Any other ideas?

 

Run the notebook with one module of ram.
Then try the same with other module.
Post your results.

 

I was going to do this, but 2 of the screws attaching the keyboard to the body has lost it's thread. I cant get the screwdriver to grip the screw. so i'm in a bind. All others I can remove easily.

 

Sounding more and more like the GPU as you originally thought.

 

Well this sucks. =( can I get a replacement from you guys? I got it from you about 2 years ago.

 

You could try to bake the card in the oven... 200F for around 7-8 minutes if memory serves. Sounds drastic but its worked on dead cards in the past.

Definitely try to get a replacement. Send an email to [email protected] and see if they can help you to get a new card.

 

Exhaust all other options before claiming its the gpu.
My hunch is one ram module is bad.

Gpu failure would exhibit other issues. Booting into Windows and lock ups are ram issues.
Memtest is inconclusive on ram testing.

 

I've got the same problem as OP. What happened when removing my ram sticks was that it did boot however it would just randomly blue screen every now and then instead of the freeze after the windows logo or driver install. Considering my thread is pretty much dead i'll post my findings here.

 

We dont have them on hand but can see if Sager has any left. Our service dept can help with that, you can use the email provided by Ethrem, or open a RMA ticket under our "Contact" section on our website.

 

Yes your right. I still have to try this. 2 of the screws holfing the keyboard has lost grip. I cant unscrew them. Headed to hardware in abit and see if they have something i could use. Then will try 1 ram at a time.

Edit 1: I managed to try my rams 1 stick at a time and used all 4 slots. Still the same result. Will not boot into windows when 7970m is installed. =(

I also used a new ram that my friend has lying around. tried it on all 4 slots.

so definitely not my rams.

only 2 things now. motherboard or 7970m.. =(

 

Have you tried updating your bios? And should that help in any way?

 

Yeah it seems likely now the culprit is one of those two.
Check all plugs/cables to motherboard are properly inserted and if final inspection shows no concerns request rma for gpu if under warranty or look to replace.

One last thing to try if short on cash is to bake the card in the oven using this guide.

Good luck.

 

I was using the prema mod before, flashed back to the latest stock p170em bios, still the same problem so it's not bios related unfortunately. Not to say though if i was you i would at least try to update the bios of you're comfortable with that, it never hurts to try.

I've already send mine in for repair, and that's going to take a long while considering my vendor doesn't have a spare 7970m laying around and they stopped producing them when the 8970 came around.

 

Is this a warranty repair? If it is, its unacceptable that they are making you wait because they don't have a spare 7970, if its under warranty, they have a responsibility to replace it with a similarly performing part - for current generations, that would be an 870M while a 775M would be the closest performing part (slightly faster) if they can source one. I would be on the horn raising hell if its a warranty repair as that is the purpose of a warranty - to get timely repairs for covered products at no or low cost to the consumer.

If its not, of course, then that sucks.

 

No it's the standard european - dutch laws, they are legaly binded to give me a working laptop no matter what for at least 3 years. It however never states how long they can take doing that haha. If it takes to long however i can just say an end date, if they don't deliver by then i can request my money back. So i'd say i'm pretty well covered as far as standard laws go.

 

Sounds like a good deal to me, we don't have any such thing here unless you specifically buy a contract, which I did for 3 years.

 

This is really good for you. But I live in the Philippines and only travel to the US every December. I'm not sure how the warranty works, but the people at xotic pc that I've been emailing with most probably think It's a dying GPU. I just don't want to send the laptop back because I have to handle freight and it's a pretty hefty sum. They can however send the GPU to my US address and I'll have someone forward it to me. Sucks to be me. =(

 

Understandable, I wish I could help you but i'm out of idea's as well. But in all honesty the guys at xotic pc seem like a great bunch (atleast from what i gather from his comments on this forum ), the problem that comes to mind to is still the fact that the GPU's are no longer fabricated. So xotic needs to get their hands on one before they could even send it to you, have you asked them if they have any in stock?

Otherwise if you do send it back just make sure you double check the packaging and make sure it's sealed tight, use as much tape as you can get your hands on .

Everything aside i wish you and your laptop the best of luck.

 

As you mentioned we can just send the GPU instead of the whole computer to save on shipping costs.

Sager will typically have stock set aside for warranty issues. We'll be able to ask them for sure once you decide to and we open up the RMA ticket with Sager.

 

The guys at xotic have been awesome. But it's going to be around $400 for a new card. =( Add just a little more and it's a new laptop. So this is where it gets me. Purchase new card or just save the sum and get a new laptop.

Unless they have a refurbished card that they might have around which I could get for a lower amount. That would be awesome.

 

They can be pretty pricey. You can always keep an eye on auctions sites to save some money. Its too bad the GPU is one of the most expensive parts in a notebook.

 

Were they able to find out what's wrong with your unit? And if they did, was it the GPU?

I'm planning to have a replacement GPU shipped over. But I need to be damn accurate as to what's going on before I shoulder the freight costs.. =)


Thanks!

 

You windows-freaks will probably never learn it;
Load a bootable linux cd-image, burn it to cd and boot the notebook with it. I myself prefer
Fedora 18, however, to test a computer every Linux boot-cd goes. Important just to get an
original from a linux distribution. No crappy window$ $hit please!
With "alt 2" you come after the bootloader of the CD to the console where you see it
loads linux, any hardware who does not go it announces with a red written FAILED.

Et Voilà the error is localised. :thumbsup:

I changed from the 7970 to a nVidia GTX680m. When you are interested you can buy
mine. I think yours have been baked.

 

This forum mostly deals with gaming machines so it's not surprising that windows is the dominant OS here

 

Well. to quote that honest a extra contract is just a extra rip off. Bad tongues tend to say that is a typically us-american
locusts capitalism. I wish you guys in the states any best that you somedays get the 3rd amendment. :thumbsup:

 

Well, and the expert has spoken

Even linux is able to run window$ stuff with the built in simulator. I would define the difference from linux
to window$ as following:
The first present hassle-free software while the seconds still try to get the hassle out from the software.

just my 5 cents man

 

Yes but the simulator will struggle to get proper comparability and performance, also with how much I have to go in and fix linux/unix/Iseries software issues every day I know what the grass looks like lol.

 

Haven't heard back from them, going to call in next week considering they told me approx. 2 weeks. I'll let you know as soon as I know more.

 

Ahh, many thanks. =) I'll also see if I can buy Alexa's 7970m =)

Sent you a message mate.

 

You obviously haven't dealt with nVidia's drivers on Linux... Even using the PPA, good luck enabling SLI on a laptop without some serious issues and even if you get it enabled, good luck finding games that can utilize it.

The bottom line is that for gamers, which most of us who buy Clevo fall in that category, Windows is the only option.

And I don't think you're correct about "hassle-free" software either... I can't tell you how many times an update broke a package and I had to go through and fix it myself or how many times the software center in Ubuntu and other related tools in other distributions have frozen or crashed, or how SLOW Fedora is.

I have been mucking with Linux since 1998... When I want to mess with things, I use Linux. When I want to fire up my games and have them work as intended, I run Windows. There is no inbetween.

 

Don't get me wrong I'd love to see that situation change and have more (cross compatible as much as possible ) competition

 

Well, i'm using linux since 1996 and had any issues in the past few years with nvidia drivers. Even pre-bumblebee
drivers worked out the abilities of my video cards. Ati crap had and have often troubles (past 5 years..) with the
dependencies, so i avoid ati stuff. I'm using also linux on my desktop where a nvidia is plugged in.

I mean ubuntu is one of the few linux distro's where the "hassle free" vantage is not obtained. They amended just
the basics of Debian where it comes from ...and yes i agree that the most who buy a clevo or a similar notebook
play games where window$ is the better alternative. You guys shurely will know that many games run on the
crytek engine, whose is written straight for M$. Linux is just straight forward, but not a game os. So i have
no need for a sli configuration.

Anyway, my qualification to buy a clevo was to avoid the bottleneck the most notebooks have with a soldered
gpu, whose comparable samples with a hot card cost often quite more then one with a plug-in card.
The sold to a comparing MSI GT 60 was also it's price, and the ability to change the cpu & gpu sometimes if i'm not
pleased with the one who is actually built in. :thumbsup: A GT 60 with a nVidia 680m is in average a 1/3 more
expensive then a comparable clevo.

On updates by linux i suggest you to NEVER do any updates, bc upon my own long experience with linux
mostly ANY UPDATE WILL BREAK your installation. Some openSuse, and RedHat, and Debian, and at most, Ubuntu
will be broken. Never install the unity surface or you will be ed up with a similar to window$ 8 no-usability
system.
It's the same as with window$; Never change a running system.

cheers

 

@Partydonut

Any news from your supplier?

 

I received my laptop yesterday, and everything seems to be working perfectly. They told me it was indeed the GPU, replaced it and send it back. Took em quite some time though.

 

It can take time to get the right parts some times.