Vid Cards downclock shortly after boot

XPS M1730, dell recently replaced mobo and vid cards (8800GTX SLI). For some reason the video cards down clock almost immediately upon boot. I'll start the system, run 3dMark06, it will get around 90fps at start then drop to 9fps and hover there. I have so far:

Reloaded Vista 32bit.
Tested Ram/SATA HDD, video cards, video system fans utilizing the F5 function and Dell's software.
Updated video drivers to 180.40


Also, there was a Blue Screen saying memory parity check error twice while trying to launch WoW. While gaming, I cannot hear the fans kick nor do I feel air coming out. WoW runs at about 16fps. I have set the system to performance in power settings as well.

Any ideas? This is the fourth time I've tried to get Dell to get this system right, and I'm seriously losing my patience. Thanks.

 

Since you got that memory error have you tried booting with just one of the sticks of RAM installed and run your tests? If everythings seems OK try it again with just the other stick and see if any problems arise.

 

Yeah, I tried with removing one stick, then moving it to another slot, then the other stick, swapping between both slots, then I tried a whole nother set of ram from my m1530, same thing.

 

Update: Reloaded Vista32, non Dell version, loaded 175.32 drivers from Nvidia, 3Dmark06 fps Avg 14 in section 1. I then loaded all drivers from Dell's website for all the items in my system, same results, I loaded rivatuner and there is no sign of downclocking on the card, nor do the card's get above 72C, then again, how could they when they aren't even reaching the fps of my 8600GT. Someone, anyone, please help.

 

Fans aren't working, which means that every time the GPU's hit max temp, they downclock another level. Happens to your CPU as well, I'd wager.

Need's a tech to repair them. Phone or email Dell.

 

Verify that SLI mode is enabled. I know it seems trivial but I notice (at least on my system) if SLI is disabled the cards will downclock. This is a result of the 'PowerMizer' feature. When SLI is enabled my system will not downclock the GPUs.

In theory, if PowerMizer is functioning, it is supposed to ramp up the clock speeds when the GPU is under load and downclock when high utilization is not needed.

Personally, I would love for this to function correctly and the cards would downclock when in SLI mode. The lower clock speeds = lower thermals. SLI enabled however seems to cancel it all out

 

Thanks for replies everyone. I have SLI enabled, and regardless of enabled or disabled, the fps remains the same. I can feel heat coming out of the card area, but do not hear the fans going into overdrive. I tried to follow a guide to disable Powermizer, but there is not Powermizer entries in my registry. Is there a way to update bios on the gpu's themselves?

 

I wouldnt fuss with a BIOS update/change. There's an issue with the cards and they need to be replaced. Why you have the Dell coverage Just call em up and demand replacement again.

 

Talked with Dell on Saturday. New vid cards should be here Tuesday. We'll see what happens

 

This makes me laugh inside

1 XM888 Card,Graphics,Nvidia,IUPGA5C G92 $2654.95
1 RY946 Card Circuit,Graphics,Physics Processing Unit,128MB,Notebook $169

These are the replacements parts they are sending out. Is that really the price for the graphics card? OMG!!!