GTX 460M: Any known issues similar to GTX 260M (Kernel Power Crashes)?

I just called Dell as my GTX 260M crashed 3 times the past 2 days. Since I got my M15x last August, I have had video card errors and crashes on average once or twice every month.

I have requested for a 460M or a 5850 as a free replacement as my laptop is still under warranty. Maybe Dell service standards differ as I'm in Singapore, they insisted that they will only replace with another 260M and I would have to pay if I want a different card.

I would like to know, before I pay for a different card, if the 460M is problem-free or has a similar problem as the 260M. I have always preferred Nvidia but would be open to the 5850 if it is problem-free.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I'm sorry but i have to answer your thread with another question. How does the crash like? Is it something with 'Nvidia stops working and has recovered' ? If it is, then i reckon 2 things, this is from the fellow users who answered from the past thread. The issues can be either 1) your card is dying, or 2) your driver has problems.

As for the replacement, i'd say go for it, and both cards that you're aiming for supports dx11 where as 260m doesn't.
I'm of regret waiting for another month till 5850 is ready before ordering. Now i'm still with 260m and hoping of finding 5850 from dell. Most of the tech here in Australia replies 'i don't think your alienware is capable of replacing a graphics card' nonsense. You're already lucky that they're willing to replace the card.

It also depends on your budget and playing style too, if you're only using this laptop to play games, then go ahead with 5850, but if you're doing graphic stuff-related work, then go for 460m.

Sorry for this long reply, i'm just really bored these few days hahaha.

 

lol Well to answer the thread question, I'd have to say no Kernel Power Crashes here!
The card actually has never crashed on me since I got my laptop in December '10.

 

Yes, one of the problem is exactly as you mentioned, 'Nvidia stops working and has recovered'. I have also had BSODs and flickering screens where it reboots by itself and sometimes I had to force shutdown by pressing the power button. I have tried several drivers and has been unsuccessful so far, the thing is I have had this problem since the day I got this laptop but it's becoming unbearable as it's happening very frequent recently.

I'm still waiting on Dell to reply me with their price quotes on 460M and 5850. I would like to know if there are similar experiences, crashes in particular or any other problems, with the 460M and 5850. I'm not actually looking to upgrade as I'm pretty happy with the 260M, I'm just looking for a problem-free and reliable card.

 

Great! Thanks, that's what I need to hear. Now I just hope that Dell doesn't come back to me with a ridiculous price for the 460M.

 

well i guess if you're happy with 260m then get dell to replace the card. If you haven't been playing around with overclocks or anything related to the card other than driver, then i guess the card itself is the issue here.

 

My 260M is overclocked to 650/1595/1100 with MSI Afterburner. I have googled quite extensively regarding this issue with the 260M and was somehow convinced that it's a known issue with the 260M, not in particular the card that I have is simply faulty. Other brands of laptop with this card experiences the same problem too. What is your experience with 260M so far? You have not experienced any random crashes at all?

Having Dell replace with the same card and experiencing the same thing all over again doesn't solve anything for me which is why I'm looking at alternatives.

 

They will only replace your card with a higher level GPU if your GTX 260M is not available anymore. In this case it is a bad luck for you

 

Aha ! so you have overclocked your card afterall. Did you flash your voltage up ? If not, that's quite a scary clock you have there with the core clock.

 

I only started overclocking in Dec last year but I already had random video crashes since I got my laptop in Aug. I doubt running at stock clocks would eliminate the issues I'm having. I have read about users down clocking the 260M below default values but still had such problems.

I really would like the 260M to work but I have yet to find anything that solves this issue. I'm now running at stock clocks to test. It doesn't seem that overvolting is working on Afterburner even though there's a slider bar.

 

I havent posted for ages, but I second this. Recently had random freezes, crashes, driver not responding etc. Thing is, as much as I want to call dell it won't just happen when I want it too and I don't know if I should see if it'll kind of die out, then I tell dell. Hmm

 

Haven't had a crash since running at default clocks but it's too early to say.

I can't say for sure if the rare random crashes in the earlier few months I got my laptop could be due to old drivers. I have not ran default clocks with the current driver (267.76) since I started overclocking in Dec.

I'm subscribed to NBA league pass broadband and most of the crashes occur when I was using this service which I suspected it might be due to flash player. Other crashes happened when I was gaming which is not very frequent.

267.76 + default clocks seem to be stable so far and would be glad if it stays this way so I can save the money for an upgrade to SSD...

 

I also bought my M15x from Singapore, and I have the same problem you're facing now. So far I had my GTX 260M replaced 2 times, motherboard once, CPU heatsink + cooler once and GPU heatsink twice and it's fan once.

Out come of it all? BSOD. I live in Malaysia at the moment, and still haven't asked if they can replace my rig or not. I'll call em' up in another 8 hours and get back to you on that.

 

Is this what's going on? Because this is my M15x, and it's been happening to me for months now. I have the GTX 260M. Alienware Support told me to back up everything and do a factory reset because I might have registry issues (I told them I use Glary Utilities Pro occasionally). However, I think it's just my card dying... never happens during any games though, which is odd.

 

I have never oc'ed my M15x and its currently running on those drivers and it still gets the same BSOD's, driver crashes etc.

Heres one of the dumps from "Whocrashed"

On Sun 5/15/2011 4:35:54 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: nvlddmkm.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFFA800BE724E0, 0xFFFFF880043DC408, 0x0, 0xD)
Error: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR
Dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\051511-26130-01.dmp
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys
product: NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 267.76
company: NVIDIA Corporation
description: NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 267.76

 

Say to Dell that the 260M crashing is causing problems for you. You paid for a gaming laptop, and if the card you are using is incapable of performing its role as an enthusiast graphics card, then that is unacceptable and the least they should do is provide you with a card which is up to the job.

That's how I got my HD5850. Wasn't free, but didn't cost me £400 either.

 

@own3d
I was quite convinced that the 260M had some issues. My M15x hasn't crashed at all since reverting to default clocks but it'll take a month for me to be really convinced that these crashing issues are resolved. I really don't know what to make of all the negative comments and crashing issues I have read of the 260M.

@Hobgoblinpie
I called Dell with low expectations of their service standards, Singapore has someway to go in this area. I still haven't gotten the price quotes for the cards that I requested since the day I started this thread. I'm definitely not extending my warranty if offered...

@HazenXIII
Yes, I've gotten those flickering screens too...

 

I have the exact same problem. It used to be once every week in the last two months now its like 5 times a day that i have to force shutdown my baby or it will just go BSOD. Every time i open youtube or any other flash video player, either the screen goes green, the whole screen flickers, or just pitch black and BSOD BOOOM!

I will call dell soon after im done with my finals and see if they can get me 460m for free at least.
I really hope they will get me a new card and i was wondering if very frequent force shutdown will affect anything else on this baby. Sorry i am a newb

 

@babakren: These symptoms indicate that you're card is dying. Dell will probably ask you to reinstall the OS, but if you're polite and explain them patiently what happens and let them ask you some stupid questions you should get a new card. At least that's what I got when I had these problems with my 260m, had to convince the rep that it was really the GPU (I excluded everything else in advance by doing some tests) and once he was convinced that my system really was up to date and that I tried other drivers as well he sent over the technician.

 

Alienware agreed to replace my 260 with a 460 free of charge along with replacing heatsinks and fans for this issue. Supervisors of Tier 1 service have the authority to request replacement parts different than the originals if you have reported multiple crashes with them.

Just saying, I think they are just trying to save money, and I am having the same problem with my 260m. Still waiting for the tech to call me to schedule a time he can repair it.

Unisys has been giving me crap for the past few days about the tech not being able to reach me when every person I know can call my cellphone easily and reach me at a moments notice. When I asked why the tech has not emailed me instead, they simply said "He has tried" and when I rebuttled with the fact that they can reach my email on file. I simply said there is something wrong with the tech, and he is giving you a bunch of BS.

Overall currently my experience with Dell/Alienware/Unisys as a whole is that they dont give a damn about the end user. Some of the people in the company do, but as a whole they just want to make a dollar and screw people over.