M4400 Quadro FX770m BSOD Latest nVidia drivers

Hey,

I've been getting BSODs when updating my graphic card drivers. I bought a Precision m4400 in January, 2009 from Dell Outlet. I'm running Windows 7 64-bit, and the graphics card is a Quadro FX770m. Last November, I updated the graphics card drivers to the latest nVidia had at the time. After the install, I received a BSOD. I thought it was isolated, so I rolled back to the previous drivers I had and forgot about it. Over the weekend, I tried updating it again, with the same results. I can install the new drivers fine, but after a few seconds, I'll get a BSOD. When I boot back into Windows, it runs fine until there is a visual effect, like closing a window which fades out. To fix it, I'll boot into safe mode, uninstall the drivers for the display adapter, reboot into Windows, then install the old drivers.

Searching around, I haven't found much. There is this post: Quadro FX 770M 296.35 bluescreen - NVIDIA Forums - which sounds like the same problems I'm having. A person there said that the GPU needs a BIOS update, and that can only come from Dell. Does anyone have any leads for me? Am I stuck with the current drivers I have (285.62), or is there something I can do?

Thanks

 

Ditto here. I have had a couple of my Nvidia based machines BSOD after the latest driver install. Reinstall the old driver and all is well again. One of the machines is a M4400 w/FX770M also.

 

HERE IS SIMPLE SOLUTION I SHARE WITH EVERYONE...

The SolidWorks drivers are rigorously tested. Just go down the list to Dell, M4400...Then, when you get to SolidWorks version, choose 2012--you don't need Solidworks on your machine!

http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/videocardtesting.html

Happy computing on your M4400!

- Don

 

Hi, all.
Does anyone have a comment about the "solidworks.com" link in the above post?
As in., Negative issues of any kind to report?

I've seen it posted "off and on" throughout this site. I can deduce it's an obvious promo to a "drivers" link, but...

Having BSODs and Dell M4400 Notebook with the final bios ver. A29...
I wonder if the the GPU is getting the best performance,compared with previous drivers?

Dell has a 2012 set of Quadro drivers for the M4500's FX880m that perform G-Force like behavior and will run in the M4400.
A known improvement over the M4400's 770m Quadro drivers.

I guess the question here is... Are the best drivers already present in the A29 Bios?
Or., Should be looking for a previous GPU driver set, behaving like the Quadro 880m drivers on the M4500's bios from 2011?
That is ... If they haven't made further gains since then. It's the improved OpenGL attributes I'm looking for.

-Edit
Here's that old post that tells of where I found the idea in reference to the M4500 option.

Dear M4400 Owners,

For the newest (Dell) drivers for the FX770m, get the ISV Certified A01 Driver for the Dell Precision M4500 (normally for the FX880m).
Ive been using it since it came out, its working fine, its got proper OpenGL acceleration (unlike the nVidia drivers for the FX770m from the nVidia site(which work the same as Geforce drivers - even though they say Quadro)) and its got the newer features..

Thought i'd share this with you!
Peace
mrtoshko88, Feb 27, 2011

Edit-

Why Nvidia is not the" go to" place for my request here is still in question.
Apparently, improved OpenGL for the M4400 is in the Dell M4500's A01 bios.

I will post this post on the M4400 User's Lounge pt. 2 as well.
For any pertinent info...
Thanks everyone

 

@stringbuzzzzzz the SolidWorks driver may be fine but it sounds like the newest drivers from nVidia's site work without the BSOD. I have been using the PowerMizer Off trick to get recent nVidia drivers to work but I'm going to try the newest drivers myself and see if they do indeed fix this problem. Really, the old nVidia driver from Dell's site is probably fine for almost all purposes -- I've never seen a major performance boost from all these nVidia driver updates, although some specific application compatibility might be better.

 

Drivers and BIOS are completely unrelated and independent.

 

Yes, now that you mention it... That could have been misunderstood with driver access protocol. I assume it wasn't a distraction to the meaning of this post. Goes to show how long
I've been out of personal PC management.

I think reading up on the entire history of the M4400 has me prematurely favoring old news just because it's sounds fresh in forum... Like giving way to a 2011 claim going back to ver. A01.
That post in reference was ever confirmed or rejected.

In 2011... M4400 system crashes were still prone "off and on" behaviors due to the evolution of bios updates. With Nvidia's PowerMiser making things worse. Of course, looking back now in retrospect.,
I realize there's been other reasons why those BSOD's were not quickly resolved.

*And with 2016., Just a couple of months away...
Still lingering, I might ad.

 

Hey thanks EXParrot. That helped with a few questions.
I remember reading back, That the M4400's GPU was able to be over-clocked with some Nvidia Control Panel. Do you know what that's all about?
I'd liked the name and ID for that app. Overclocking isn't my thing as much as Headroom is in hardware. This Nvidia panel apparently got pulled at one point due to too many ruined GPUs getting toasted. Although Nvidia returned the panel with the same potential due to more complaints from supporters of that same control panel. So tools were returned. Sound familiar?

Once again... Thanx

 

@stringbuzzzzzz I have used nVidia Inspector for newer GPUs and I imagine it works with the 770m also. I would use it very gradually and make sure your GPU isn't overheating or throttling. If you do a copper mod and quality repasting you might be able to push it harder. If you enjoy this sort of tinkering then great but otherwise I'm not sure what the point is: you can get a little better Autocad performance maybe but you aren't going to play any modern games on the 770m.

I'm still fond of my M4400 and use it for Windows 7 testing and I dual boot Fedora on it, but it is now relegated to a secondary status behind much lighter and faster XPS 15s. The wavy lid is still unique and weirdly awesome!

Enjoy!

 

Hey.. . Your on top of things out here. Well done. ++

I understand 100% I have this curtain like for the M4400 that no other can produce. It's uncanny
that even when I'm ranting at Dell for being... Well .. you know... DELL

If I manage to turn a corner with the BSOD,crammed "back in the bottle" for a consistent run
of a 6 months or so... Which is the recommended re-paste cycle for the M4400 I here...
I have a good feeling thing will get handled for the better with this piece more adventurous
with it.
Anyone ever try getting a G-Force GPU in the 4400? I know it would be a yet...
Another gamble to some proprietary impasse that hoses the dreams of all the little kids
needing more than a nipple.
OOOOoo keh... ranee it in, I say wOOw! stringbuzzzzzz...lol

So you read my mind...That's good information.
I have a game decent game collection from the 2005-8 Ara...With heavy emphasis on flight
simulators and notable first person shooters.

Was marveling at the MSI's GTX 980 SLI.... And that's reaching to the sky with VR head set
and synced monitors... Better sell a Les Paul.... or not.

I would love to get a full version of "Motorcycle Madness. and not the trial version. You could
play that game on Win 98'
But there's something to say about "The Chopper" in 'Battlefield Viet Nam'1.




Phase 1.
Unless you're aware of resent posts of mine of here and there.

I've repeated myself on other posts over the install of a T9900 as soon as all
parts are present.

The quality re-paste is on my agenda in coordination to a Copper mod attempt.
It's true... I've been waiting for parts, until the final part got delivered yesterday...

So there's these final steps I created that honestly warrant careful consideration...
With your experience with the M4400... I'm curious on your experience with the
tear down process. And to what extent. I'm aware of the Service manual.

I'm going to ask a few Q's as to your best recollection to the M4400's airflow
patterns, That is, If you don't mind?...
If you might. I understand.

1. does air get drawn in from the keyboard surface?

2. does airflow pass through the the entire machine and only exiting at the fan vent?

3 . does the underside's bottom cover receive or emit air flow?

4. do any of the ports and hubs allow for air passage?

.... And this last one is more of your own opinion based on a scenario I will suggest.

5a. If I were to attach a fairly good quality, Vent Fan Vac, known to be very sufficient at
air extraction, from the vent itself. Able to handle all heat extraction from the vent alone.
While at the same time...
5b.Run an additional fairly good quality Cooling Pad, that's been shrouded and modded to
extract air and heat only from the underside vent locals.

5c.If you were able to assess the two examples in real time, both doing their intended process...

5d.What would you say about the entire process, with both systems drawing in any all air through
where ever source allowing extraction?

6, Would you think there's a deficiency of air movement?

7. And if so, how would you address it?

........many thanx..........................


Phase 1. cont.
I feel my workmanship is up to the task.., Yet, I will admit...
Reviewing my final approach is a gamble with high rewards if non-problematic.

Of course, The flip side to high gain is significant lose.
I should have my Desk Top out of storage just general purposes... but that's a
another update in itself.
Oh.. hell.. I'll stop whin'in and Getter dun.

The install of CPU / GPU should go smoothly. ICD 7 is the thermal choice.
An inclusion of one, 15mmx 15mm x 0.3 mm shim will be the GPU mod.

Along with CPU receiving it's ICD-7 application., A 15mm x 15mm x 0.3mm
shim will be designated and sandwich-pasted at GPU and in process of
heat pipe's re-installation.

The 0.3mm shim may be excluded if tolerances are exceeded or If sufficient
contact is favorable.

Positive Indicators warranting no shim insertion:
Seeing no bubble pattern present on both surfaces with indications of a
tight contact, uniform in appearance at all points, along with very thin, evenly
similar paste residue suggesting a tight fit of the remaining paste upon
/GPU extraction

Negative Indicators warranting shim insertion needed:
/GPU contact points, corners uneven, as in, adjoining sink, with old paste
pattern as reference, the .3 mm shim will be the GPU's mod., placed bet

( Note. Attempted to locate preferred, 0.2 shim. As mentioned in another
post, regarding exact procedure. Where they can be found is still pending.
In addition...
Need: Machine-threaded, self-tapping, bevel-headed, Philips screws,
- (1cm x 2mm x 20 each )

...................................................

That was Phase 1. in general.

Thicker copper shims are replacing the thermal pad locations.,
And going to be center tapped for the screws types suggested above.

Would like to find copper friendly alloy in the screw dept. I chose the
screws as a safer choice for the M4400
I was contemplating that hard drive screws just might be the solution...

Lower impact on system alteration... Reasonable strength.
I can be sure I won't go through the heat pipe with these little nads.

And I have a little bag of 60, most likely in arms reach.
Question is....
WHERE?

Hey, Thanks again for step'n in, ExParrot.

I gotta bail... I will check in for last pre-review before I begin the Mod.
Late.