*** Official Clevo P157SM-P150SM / Sager NP8250 Owner's Lounge ***

So I am getting an error message saying "display driver malfunctioned (might not be the right word) and has recovered". It does this a sometimes just a time or 2 (one right after the other) or sometimes it will do it more times and then force a restart with a message saying that they are collecting data and "video-tdr-failure". I have a ticket in with mythlogic and I am sure they have a fix for it, but was wondering if anyone here had any idea's?

 

Quick Question, I am currently using HDMI output of the laptop to use my monitor, so I am stuck using the Intel dedicated graphics. Which one of the two other ports allow me to use the GTX 770m with my external monitor? the DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort?

 

All of them are connected to the intel chip so it makes no difference which you use. Your 770M should still drive all 3d work using optimus.

 

I get that on my desktop sometimes, but I have no idea what it is. I have also gotten it about twice on my new laptop (also from mythlogic). The only game I remember getting it in is Crysis 2, so I thought it might be a power issue (like if the gpu tried to draw too much power and then crashed itself). For me it just said "display driver has stopped working and has recovered" and didn't force a restart or anything. From what I can tell it seems to be a software glitch.
I would be interested in what mythlogic says if you wouldn't mind posting it or PMing me when you get a response.

 

yah I seem to get it right close to start up. I don'tplay any games so there is no way it is overheating. It happens to my girlfriend when she plays the Sims though. After I start up sometimes it works fine for a little while then I start getting that message over and over again and then soon after that it restarts. after that it will run really slow for a while and then usually starts working fine after some time. I really hope I don't have to send it back, I really don't want to lose my computer for another 2/3 weeks right after waiting 3 weeks for it to begin with.

 

Larry, do you find any other issues when you get that message? for me it really really slows my hole computer down.

 

No, the game crashes to desktop and everything is fine after I get back to desktop. I noticed you have the AMD GPU in your sig, I have an NVIDIA gpu, so I'm not sure if we are having similar issues or completely different ones.

 

ahh Probably different ones. Just kinda scares me that I paid extra for the "testing" that mythlogic does to still have it come out with an error the first day I have it. Now I will say this for mythlogic they have been very prompt with answering my questions, and I have sent them my logs and hopefully they can fix this without me having to sent it back.

 

well so much for there extra testing that I paid over 100 bucks for. They want me to send it back now, just buggs me that something that showed up in the first couple of hours I used it didn't show up in all of there "testing", on the other hand like I said before they have been very prompt in replying to my messages. just sucks that it is going to be well over a month between me buying it and actually having a working computer.

 

It's pretty tough to test for absolutely everything but your situation does seem a little odd.

 

I was going to suggest reinstalling windows (like make a 50GB partition and install another copy so you dont lose everything) and installing only essential drivers (graphics, sound, networking). I have had some driver problems in the past that have come from my graphics driver and some other driver not playing nicely with each other.
That really stinks that you have to send it back, but hopefully you will have a working system after you get it back.

Good Luck!

 

Even though you don't play games, it could be over heating. It is easy enough to check and verify. And the issue may have happened in shipping. So the first two hours was fine, now it shows up everytime you boot? Could it be something you installed?

 

I have experienced that “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” error many times over the years on my Toshiba laptops. The problem has always been driver related and resolved with updating and/or re-installing the drivers.

 

the only thing I have installed is the sim's 3 and it happened once before I installed it. It does not happen every time but it does happen alot. just sucks because this is going to go snail mail both ways so will be probably at least 2 weeks before I get it back

 

I would reinstall the Intel and Nvidia display drivers that came with the unit. This might help http://www.reviversoft.com/blog/2012/12/video-tdr-failure/

 

Ive experienced that with a desktop graphic card (nvidia) and I tried everything, but the only solution was to get the graphic card replaced. Surprisingly it worked and that message never came up again. I'm not saying it could be an issue with your graphic card, but have that in mind, when reinstalling drivers and all that doesn't work.

 

I've had it happen on my desktop a few times a while back, just randomly out of no where. Changing drivers didnt seem to change anything, it seemed to just work itself out since I never see them anymore. I never did find an actual reason or solution.

 

Likely a driver conflict somewhere, worth trying replacing the drivers.

 

Yah they want me to just send it back. and honestly I don't know the correct procedure to replace the drivers. besides seem's like they would have used the newest drivers considering this machine was built last week. Really it is just the snail mail thing that sucks because I need this for school.

 

Remove the drivers normally and then install the intel drivers followed by the Nvidia ones. Don't use driver cleaning software unless you keep running into issues.

 

well It would be amd drivers right? I didnt' go for the nvidia card because I don't really play games and just needed it for Photoshop.

 

Yea, just go into Programs and Features

- Uninstall the AMD Drivers (Reboot)
- uninstall the Intel HD Drivers (Reboot)

Installation is the reverse (Install Intel first then AMD)

 

well, that didn't work. I did the re-install and am still getting the error.

 

I would not expect they used the latest drivers. They normally create a build, with all the drivers and software. This build is then tested extensivly for problems. This takes a lot of time. So no, they can't just drop a new driver in without retesting everything. Normally you only make a new build when there is an issue, or something else changes, like a new operating system. Oh, when I say they, I mean manufacturers in general. Clevo/Sager may be different.

 

No it will be the same for them, drivers are then updated if there are big issues or after a certain amount of time.

 

Mine1, Did you ever check temps with something like hwmonitor? Other than temps, my only other suggestion would be a full wipe and reinstall. But it looks like you will have to send it back.

 

is anyone else getting a static noise through the headphone jack of the P150sm?

 

I'm wondering if anybody's--anybody's at all--internal microphone is usable or if it is only for a select few (noticing similar reports like this).

Put simply: the internal microphone cannot be used for anything. Regardless of any of Windows' settings on gain or suppression (running Windows 8), all input will sound extremely muted. From a distance of even 1.5-2 feet away from the microphone, speaking at a normal volume will make muffled noises but otherwise not be intelligible in the slightest. Speaking from literally an inch away or tapping on the microphone will sound more or less normal.

Is this ubiquitous? I have had laptops in the past with microphones that, while not of fantastic quality, can still be used. This can't just be passed off as working-as-intended for these particular models when other notebooks' low-quality built-in microphones sound infinitely times clearer. Yes, external microphones sound fine (although I need to turn on noise suppression to eliminate a pervasive noise and buzzing sound, which I've never seen in any laptop or desktop before).

 

I know MSI ones you need to be close and looking straight at the MIC to pick anything up, I really would recommend an external MIC or headset.

 

Just ordered a P150SM from LPC. Looking forward to getting it. First laptop in 7 years since my Asus G2S-B2 croaked

 

Does anyone use an external battery with the P150SM? I'm seeing the power specs to be 19v @ 9.5a.I can't find an external battery that can provide that power.

 

probably a silly question, but does Intel still use the turbo boost (like how my old i5 was 2.5mhz and had boost up to 3.1) Do the new haswell cpu's use this as well?

 

Yes, Haswell still does Turbo boost. They have improved it a little. I haven't seen benchmarks of the turbo boost itself. The range depends on the chip you have.

 

Yes.

I'm not sure why Intel advertises the CPUs this way. Why not just "up to 3.1G" instead of "base 2.5G but with Turbo Boost"?

 

They have to do it this way as there are some manufacturers who disable the turbo boost on Intel's chips so they can have less heat and better battery life. Lenovo is very common to do this.

This way if I go to Intel's site they are still correct as they are giving the correct base clock.

 

The base clock is guaranteed with any load too.

 

So this is what they have to do in order to be technically correct.

The whole "base freq at X and may jump to Y under load" advertising is misleading. I remember the first time I got my hands on a "Turbo-supported" system, I thought my CPU governor no longer has access to the higher range of CPU freq and the CPU will be asigning freq by itself if OS has requested 100% freq. Took me quite some time to figure out what was happening after setting CPU governor to performance (Intel P state driver didn't exist at that time) and seeing freq value staying at the advertised Turbo limit.

 

I have used the internal mic for skype calls before with no problems (windows 7). Maybe you just got a dud.

 

Basically no matter the load your system is under it will always run at the base frequency unless there is a critical cooling failure.

If your CPU has the power or thermal limit to go higher it will up to the turbo frequency (different depending on how many cores are currently active).

Most of the time it will stay in the turbo state.

Nothing is misleading, in fact intel could just say it's a 3.1ghz CPU when that's its maximum turbo frequency but they don't.

 

I think it is more misleadung to imply that you can get those turbo freqs, when on some systems it isn't feasable, or reasonably feasable.

 

Those systems should advertise themselves as such but given the recommended cooling from intel you do get the turbo speeds.

 

Ok im a new Sager owner and new to pc gaming and was curious to some of your nvidia control panel settings. I'd like the best visuals but also want good fps and less screen tearing. Also what is the best driver, currently I run a 320.49 and seems ok but with bf4 coming out I'm tempted to upgrade. I have a np8250-S with windows 7. Thanks for any useful info for this newb.

 

Roll down five

I agree completely, a machine of this caliber (advanced graphics, cooling, quality lcd, etc) Should include a basic microphone that actually works...

The only answer I have received so far from Sager and Powernotebooks is "laptop microphones don't work well, get an external mic"

That is hogwash... I have owned (5) Toshiba laptops over the last twenty years and every one came with a very functional internal microphone... Not one that would just record muffled garble, but actually functional.

Is there no solution, such as drivers, open the case and move the mic, drill a bigger hole, to solve this? If not, this model should not be advertised as featuring an internal microphone.

 

ok so I reset the hole system and that seem's to have worked (no more error messages) but it does seem a little sluggish (takes longer to load a facebook game (just the graphics part of it, the actual load time is fast, but it is slow to render the map), is there a stress test or something I can do to test to see if it is running at full power?

 

scratch that lol. The error message started again today.

 

Mine1, Sounds like sending it back might be the best option. If you can do it without killing the warranty, you could reseat the gpu. Small chance that might help. Can't think of anything else.

 

Are you using the latest ones from AMD or the ones provided on the drivers disc that came with the computer. I'd try the ones from that disc since you're not a gamer the latest tweaks done on the newest drivers probably wont affect your use.

 

Make sure your OS is totally updated. My error went away after I completed all my Windows updates

 

Anyone? I got the stock sound card I'm wondering if upgrading my soundcard (the better soundblaster cards) will get rid of the static noise from the audio jack? I use headphones frequently and the static noise it picks up is really annoying.

 

The static noise is typically attributed to interference occurring on the board. The only way to get rid of it is to stop using the jack. The Soundcard itself is not upgradable, the soundblaster options you're referencing are the external USB sound cards I do believe. They will get rid of the problem as they'll be an external device through that USB that won't experience the same problem.