Screen suddenly went blank, system freeze

Hi all,

I have an alienware 17 r3, running on -105mv on the cpu (6700hq, used to run fully stable on -130mv), and an OC on my unlocked gtx 965m (1.3ghz @ 1.031v).

I've had no system freezes at all ever since i got the laptop (about 2 years ago), but since we unlocked the Vbios (28th July) i've had 2 systems freezes, both during idle/browsing, the first one the system had just booted and i was launching a program (MSI Afterburner), the second time i was browsing the internet and suddenly the screen went black (as if someone unplugged the cable all of a sudden) and the laptop wouldn't respond, i had to forcibly shut the laptop down both times (hold power button).

Here's the list of changes that happened to the laptop since we OCed the graphics card:
-Reset windows using "reset this pc"
-Installed a 250gb m.2 SSD (MX500) as a storage drive (OS still boots from the HDD as it always has), and set to AHCI in BIOS.
-Reseated a RAM stick (which i'm pretty sure i reseated properly)
-Updated intel rapid storage drivers.

I ran Dell's pre-boot assessment (Thorough mode) on the cpu, gpu, display, battery, charger and memory, all passed.

This freeze never happened when i was playing heavy games (battlefield 1, planetside 2, guild wars 2, overwatch, Witcher 3), so i can't imagine the problem being power related.

I'm s****ing my pants right now, fearing that there might be a piece of hardware failing, i'm testing with a lower undervolt on the CPU (-95mv instead of -105mv), but i'm not sure of that's the cause.

Please help.

note: driver are up to date, except nvidia (running 384.94 because that was the most stable for me)

 

are u getting any BSOD or GSOD ??? and which version of windows you are on, try to clear CMOS using CLR pin method.. which will sort out if any issues with ur oc / undervolt.. also try newer version graphucs driver after fresh install of OS using a USB.. most probably bad driver / oc conflict.. hardware failure i doubt that..

 

Comforting words m8

It wasn't a usb install, i choose reset pc and keep files from my current install, as for drivers i had tried a couple of the newer ones but i've heard of people having some issues with them so i chose my stable drivers for now.

I didnt get a bsod or a gsod, the first freeze the display just got stuck on the last rendered frame, the second time the screen just went blank (backlight still on), both times the pc was stuck, no response to clicking power button or caps/num lock while browsing in firefox (no other programs running).

And i'm on windows 10 64-bit build 1803

 

Had the exact same problem on my PC as well. It turned out to be Bad RAM stick from Sk Hynix. Try one module at a time.

First and foremost solution is to use inspectre and disable Spectre Protection and do a full reboot. See if it fixes the issue. I had to do this to get out of the blackscreen issue. Eventually, I came to conclusion that RAM is bad whilsy testing w/ TM5 or techpowerup RAM test on a single module and ran WItcher 3,Firefox w/ 10 Tabs to get to problem way faster than stress testing.

 

Why now though, it was working fine for 2 years, this only started literally 10 days ago, and i've had planetside 2/bf1 running with firefox and not had a single crash these 10 days except the two i've mentioned

 

Precisely. After 2 years it suddenly died w/o any event logs in Windows and Dell ePSA passed the faulty RAM with flying colors. Had to go extra Mile to conclude that module itself was bad.
Look at gold contacts on RAM, if one stick has the contact worn out it won't work. Learned it the hard way.

 

Hmm alright gonna see what i can do

Could it simply need a reseat?

 

Clean it with microfiber and keep it aside for 30 secs.

 

hmm, you think finger oils on the pins could be the reason?

 

Might be.

 

Best thing to do for things like this is to have a can of this stuff available.
Doesn't matter where you live. I don't care if it's in some third world country. You need a can of this stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/DeOxit-Cleaning-Solution-Spray-spray/dp/B07CG8YVFN/
or

https://www.amazon.com/CAIG-D5S-6-Contact-Cleaner-Rejuvenator/dp/B00I3G272M/

Not sure what the difference is in them.
You can use that to clean contacts. It's also not conductive, but always unplug the battery connector plug before attempting to spray anything or even removing anything first.

Before you blame the RAM or contacts, best to test a lower undervolt of the CPU, like -80mv, just to make sure it isn't something else.
Then if it happens with -80mv then you know you need to service the laptop.
Try the deoxit first and clean the contacts on the RAM and the laptop itself.

If that helps, great.
If you still have problems, then you need to do a better RAM test.

memtest86 works, in UEFI mode. I recommend memtest86.

You can also do prime95, custom blend test, with FFT size range 512K-4096K, with ram to test equal to 75% of your available memory. for 32 GB this would be 24576 (32 GB would be 32767 as a baseline, so 75% then is 24576), but only do that AFTER memtest86.

 

i do have contact cleaner, although it's some weird brand but it's what i could get my hands on.
I wouldn't trust it to clean anything on the mobo though.

I lowered my Undervolt from -105mv to -95mv after that second crash (idk how it used to run fully stable on -130mv before but now freezes on -105mv), i also installed one of the newer intel graphics drivers (v 6136), intel management engine interface, took out the ram stick and cleaned the contacts with microfiber as @Vasudev has suggested and made absolutely sure it is seated properly.

I also disabled MSI afterburner applying the OC on startup (my modded VBIOS base clock is 1278 on load, +25mhz through MSI afterburner), and i exit throttlestop after it launches on logon.

Hopefully it gets stable now, gonna post back if i get anything

note: tagging @Danishblunt ,he's the one who did the VBIOS unlock and OC for me, just to keep him followed up.

 

Hi, just want to add my suggestion of your problem. I have a alienware 17 r3 as well.. From what I have read on the changes you have made.. It is most likely just a software issue.. You mentioned you did a reset pc in windows.. I dont trust windows as of the moment.. If you reset it and your on windows 10 I suggest do a proper clean install using Phoenix guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/nbr-windows-10-clean-installation-guide.781178/
I know it is long and a hassle process but you only have to do it once and after that hassle free.. Follow the guide religiously.. If it fixes the problem then we know it is a software issue.. If not we need to investigate more about the hardware side.. Take your time to prepare all the necessary software you. need and to backup your data.. hope this helps..

 

Thank you for your suggestion.

I tried updating/reinstalling some drivers, and gonna try an sfc /scannow when i get home to check for any problems from the reset.

I'm also now effectively running 35mv higher than my undervolt from before the gpu OC and windows reset, hoping it's just a simple too-little-voltage-when-idle situation.

For now, reinstalling windows is a second to last resort.

 

Its not vBIOS mod, I have Prema Mod at +200 on core and mem. But, I'm running on stock clocks and games which can I play are limited since I have 8GB of RAM and other one failed.
Today Morning I had a black screen and hard reboot was the solution.
Your vbios base clocks are simply higher than mine. I take it, you have good ASIC quality. Its almost like a Pascal GPU.

 

I was having a chat with @Danishblunt and he asked me to keep him updated, i'm just doing so, not saying there's something wrong with the vbios.

Atm i'm running an sfc /scannow just to make sure nothing is wrong with OS files

 

No problem, judal57's 970M wrecks my 980M in plain sight with LM and he's way ahead in benchmarks.

 

Maybe you should just say screw it, and completely clean install your windows. We already confirmed that before the reinstall that there were some issues windows 10 wise to beign with. I think you should just make a proper clean install with Windows Tool.

 

Totally agree.. hehe..

 

well alright, if i get another hang i will reinstall

 

Remmber dont dont the backup method we did last time, instead do a proper format and clean install!

 

Yea i know, i have a couple of usb installs with me from work, done it many times.