3-day old MSI computer has problems - should I return?

I bought a MSI GX740 off of newegg.

The first few days, the computer ran several games fine (including SC2, Fallout 3). Today, I played a few games on WC3. Each time, without failure, the game lagged unbearably.

1. I flashed to all the latest BIOS.
2. I updated all the latest video card drivers.
3. I looked at the GPU temp, and it didn't go above 80C.


And yet I keep having the same problem.

This is a brand new @!#$ computer that I just spent nearly a grand on. It has a Radeon HD 5870. And yet it's having this problem. I'm so pissed.


Q: This was an open box computer, but form file recovery records and other signs, it was returned without use. Should I return it, or should I try MSI for repairs?

 

Oh great, and now that I try to register it, it says serial number can't be found.

 

Did you try a system restore?

 

Try reinstalling the video card drivers. This seems more like a software problem.

 

Yup should not be a faulty unit try reinstalling the drivers or roll them back.

Try system restore.

OR download 3DMARK and see your score if its botched you may have something wrong .........

But then again your laptop could be that 1 out of 1000 that are broken maybe ?

........... NOT SURE.

 

yea, run vantage and see if you get normal scores.

Did you underclock and forget to put them back up before playing? (doubt it but you never know)

I'm pretty sure this is a software issue. For a while I was getting lag in torchlight and even civ 4. Had to clean out all the drivers and reinstall then all good.

 

On the 740 I don't believe there's need for manual downclocking as it's all handled by the vBIOS automatically.

I would not be trying to register this on the MSI website. The serial key you used should contain E7405 in it.

 

If you cannot find the SN, remove the battery. It should be in the compartment.

 

Strange thing is if his laptop is running cool without any shutdowns or BSODS W-T-F is causing the lag ? the 5870 can handle a good 90C with normal FPS i have read this in the ASUS J73-JH thread.

It cant be an Auto downclock because the chipset does not support that i think ?

Anyway please report back i am eager to get this fixed and sorted as it will help others i know to .

 

Ok, I'll reinstall the driver and see if it makes a difference. I didn't do a "delete-reinstall" - I just let it go through. I didn't downclock anything...

This is the 3dmark.


Result
Is there anything wrong?

 

....That's pretty much ballpark for a 5870 on Mark06. Doesn't look like a GPU issue.

You said the issue was with WC3? Hrm. I haven't tried any legacy games yet on mine (Well okay, Civ 4, and Medieval Total War II - because that's the best Total War game in the history of ever ), and so far it's worked out okay. But I have a 660R. Hrm. Someone else is more savvy than me when it comes to this stuff.

I'm just a poor liberal arts/grad student who loves technology even if he can't figure out a graphic calculator ;D

 

WOW.

Seems fine to me are you using a cooling pad ?

And are you using the laptop on a smooth surface with decent ventilation ?

Now it seems that score is good for your machine im confused.

Temps are fine it seems with 3DMARK.

Could be a game problem.

Your machine looks healthy.

try a few different games and report back.

 

Result

And here's the results for 3dmark11. I got p2005...

 

Yeah, comparing with some other scores online, it is comparable...

The only thing I can think of is I switched between different resolutions a lot, as the warcraft 3 doesn't support the weird resolution gx740 comes with. I'll keep testing and report back.

 

Its warcraft 3 try a different game obviously and make sure the laptop is cool ................

 

It's not the gpu or temps. I would pin that on drivers or corrupt game installation. See if theres an option to "repair" the games where your computer is struggling and reinstall drivers. Also check to make sure nothing else is pounding your internet/hard disk while you're playing the game.

I would also suggest that the game is just unoptimized but we can rule that out for WC3.

 

If it does not work, give it to me. I'll be happy to take it off your hands for free (you pay shipping).

 

Yep. Because in this day and age when we own something that doesn't work we just give it to someone else. NOT OUR PROBLEM ANYMORE LOLOLOLOL!