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    Need help: Locking up when using Nvidia GPU

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Pyrok, Jan 28, 2012.

  1. Pyrok

    Pyrok Notebook Enthusiast

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    So a while back my laptop started locking up when I was playing games, it never happens when the integrated card is in use, only when running 3d applications and the nvidia GPU is being utilized. Someone else suggested that I reformat and see if that helped, and it has not. Even after running the respawn discs, the lockups are still occurring.

    Some other members said that they had had similar issues and solved this by underclocking my GPU, and I have been doing that but so far to no avail. As of my latest underclock with MSI Afterburner, I'm sitting at (425/1020/755). How much can I expect to have to underclock for these lockups to stop?

    And if anyone else has any suggestions/ideas, I'm all ears. I'm really really trying to avoid having to replace parts, because my warranty ran out a bit ago and I'm a poor college student :). So ideas that don't involve buying things would be great!

    Thanks a lot guys!
     
    Pyrok, Jan 28, 2012
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  2. Nightrider

    Nightrider Notebook Geek

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    You need to figure why it "Lock up". Obviously it seems like your nvidia overheating or crash. Download the tool HWINFO64. http://www.hwinfo.com/files/hw64_392.exe. Go to sensor and watch the GPU temperature. After start the software gpu burn-in test MSI Kombustor or Furmark. Watch your GPU temp goes up. If the temps goes up 70C+ and lockup you might have cooling issue. Might as well look at CPU temperature... Try to notice if you see GLITCH on the burn-in test. Glitch might happen only after a certain temp.

    The second thing you could try is to remove 1 stick of memory, do burn in. If lock up try the other ram. This is very easy test. ( i don't think you have a mem problem but who knows? ). Which version on M11X you have? R1 R2 R3?. I you have a R1 and have'nt cleaned fan yet , you are du!

    Rep+ if it helped thx
     
    Nightrider, Jan 28, 2012
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  3. Ryan

    Ryan NBR Moderator

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    System diagnostics can help diagnose GPU problems, if they are hardware-wise severe.

    Then, I'd recommend the obvious driver re-install.

    Then I would look to the RAM, and then I would contact Dell.
     
    Ryan, Jan 28, 2012
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  4. Pyrok

    Pyrok Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry I should have included in my original post. I have an R2 but I'm 99.9% sure it's not overheating. My temps (both GPU and CPU) never really go above 80, although I did do a stress test a while back and got the GPU up to 90 but it never did lockup and I didn't notice any artifacts. I'll give the RAM test a try, I just figured it was the GPU since it only happens when im using the nvidia gpu
     
    Pyrok, Jan 28, 2012
    #4