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    M11x, games freeze after extended play :(

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by HookemAZ, Apr 28, 2010.

  1. HookemAZ

    HookemAZ Notebook Consultant

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    I have finally been able to sit down with my machine and start a bit of gaming during down time. Mostly playing online games like wow, Call of Duty etc. and after a few hours of game play, the screen just freezes and locks up. I have to start the task manager and crash it out. After I restart the games, they either play fine for the remainder of the evening, or sometimes lock up again within the hour. Could this be due to over heating? I have it on a laptop cooling pad from Targus. Thanks for any assistance in advance.
     
    HookemAZ, Apr 28, 2010
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  2. HookemAZ

    HookemAZ Notebook Consultant

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    Well darn. Just launched wow and it locked up instantly. Just booted up machine. Def. lost now.
     
    HookemAZ, Apr 28, 2010
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  3. Ravenlocke

    Ravenlocke Notebook Consultant

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    You might want to turn the overclock off in the bios and see if that makes you more stable. A reinstall of your graphics card drivers might be in order as well. Also install a utility that will give you the processor and graphics card temperatures such as OCC. Good luck!
     
    Ravenlocke, Apr 28, 2010
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  4. HookemAZ

    HookemAZ Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks! I will give it all a try and report back.
     
    HookemAZ, Apr 28, 2010
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  5. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    Wow is more cpu intensive than COD, so it would make sense that the overclock isn't stable.
     
    Sirhcz0r, Apr 28, 2010
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  6. Mackan

    Mackan Notebook Evangelist

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    Where is the bios update that makes the overclock more stable? I guess it won't happen. Sigh.
     
    Mackan, Apr 29, 2010
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  7. surfxombie

    surfxombie Notebook Evangelist

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    I had this a lot initial - my mistake with directx.
    However, I am stable except for the odd stall. The game hangs (not responding) but I can ctrl-alt-del and get to other programes.

    Judging by the CPU picture the game is still running (though I do disconnect).

    I am still leaning towards driver issues as the PC passes all the dignotic tests and runs PCMark95 & FurMark quite happily.

    So I am left with (having looked at other threads here)

    1. HDD driver problem (Intel vs standard Win7) - but I have shifted lots of data around so probably not.
    2. Wifi driver, maybe try previous version (or run with wired connection to check), as these are online game this might be involved.
    3. Throtteling, and to try disabeling powermizer, though not realy inclide to do so if something is not working. I am getting these sort of max temps CPU0 66C, CPU2 60C, GPU 61C.

    Thing is I can't make it happen, some times it's twice in a row (following a reboot) and others it's all day.
     
    surfxombie, Jul 26, 2010
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  8. surfxombie

    surfxombie Notebook Evangelist

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    UPDATE...

    Nothing made any differance.
    The Alienware support people had me run games using the integrated GPU for a few hours, i got no fails, so they will replace the NVIDIA GPU on Thursday.
     
    surfxombie, Jul 27, 2010
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  9. ACHlLLES

    ACHlLLES Notebook Virtuoso

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    huh? I thought GPU's were inegrated to mobo.. they will replace the mobo you mean?
     
    ACHlLLES, Jul 27, 2010
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  10. surfxombie

    surfxombie Notebook Evangelist

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    I expect so.

    Still I get to see it in bits and the leftover spares when all put back together :)
     
    surfxombie, Jul 27, 2010
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  11. erawneila

    erawneila Company Representative

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    Yeah, you will be getting an entire motherboard to replace the video card. My money is on instability due to overclocking, but the problem could be the video card as well, although this is unlikely if it only fails in WoW. The new motherboard may also be more stable while overclocking, or less. No way to know for sure. Good luck!
     
    erawneila, Jul 27, 2010
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  12. surfxombie

    surfxombie Notebook Evangelist

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    The problem occurs in the two games I have really tried (WoW & DDO) all the games I have tried with the stock bios setting (no OCig). Other than games the thing runs great :)
     
    surfxombie, Jul 28, 2010
    #12