Well this sucks...

Alright... I was loving this laptop until this happened. In one of the other threads I noted that one time when my laptop went into hibernate the screen did not turn back on, well now the same thing is happening but all the time.

Here is what is happening:
I turn on the laptop, the startup MSI screen comes on, then the "Loading Windows" screen with the Windows logo comes up and then the screen goes black, turns off, turns on (still black) turns off, turns on (still black) and that's it. I turned it off and the screen asked if I wanted to start normally or run a program that attempts to determine why the computer won't start. So I scanned the computer and after 30 minutes it told me that it hadn't found anything, and if I wanted to restore to an earlier date. I said no, and tried a few more times at restarting the computer (no battery plugged in, battery and plugged in, battery and not plugged in) and now the only screens coming up are the MSI screen and the one asking if I would like to scan the computer. I can't even start in safe mode.

So, any ideas what is causing this? Do I need to do a system repair?

I'm obviously a little irritated and hoping I don't have to drive back across the boarder to return it to xotic.

 

Hmm, well, that sounds like a PowerPlay related issue to me, though you've already mentioned turning that off. Your first step should be to try a System Restore to a point in time when it was working.

 

Alright, well I did the system restore and went to eat dinner while this was happening. When I came back, the computer had put itself back into hibernate and wouldn't turn back on. So I force shut it down and started back up, told windows to start normally and everything started up alright.

When I checked CCC powerplay was back on. Is there any way to permanently turn it off, or do I need to completely uninstall CCC? Because every time I restart the computer powerplay has been turned back on.

PS. I really hope that MSI and/or ATI figure this out.

 

Yea it happened to me, it's a powerplay thing. just ALWAYS have it set to max performance and downclock once you turn it on

 

Alright, so after the restoration a few programs were messed up, so I've fixed those now and what I've done is uninstalled CCC but not the 5850 driver. Now, just to be clear that whole 10.4 only applies to the version of CCC yes? Because when I checked it said that CCC was 10.4 but the drivers were version 8.something. Is this how it is supposed to be, or was that a result of the restoration?

 

the drivers are 8.14 so be cool

 

Great, thank you. Hopefully uninstalling CCC fixes everything. (And hopefully this gets fixed so that I can reinstall CCC at some point).

One thing though, and I am not sure if this is due to uninstalling CCC or something else, but by 3DMark Vantage score went from 7246 before this debacle to 7073 afterwards.

 

Any update on this yet Jordan?

 

Well after deleting CCC I have had no problems. That one vantage score was lower and I tried to re-test it but the trial only allows you to do it once (even though I used a new trial key) so I'm not sure if that lower score is something that will be consistent or not. I do not notice any differences in the performance of my games either.

 

Alright, so I think that it is time to RMA this thing.

Once again, the problem where the computer will no longer start up has returned. It reaches the "starting windows" screen, what sounds like the GPU starts making some high pitched noises, the images shakes once (like a small vibration almost), and then about 5 seconds later the screen goes black. I can guarentee that it is not a powerplay issue because I do not have CCC installed on the computer. I am wondering if the GPU is shot.

I sort of regret buying it from xotic now because I live in Canada and I now need to take it back over the boarder, ship it back to them, and decide whether I want a refund or an exchange.

I am tempted to just ask for a refund so that I can purchase a new one from NCIX and forget any thermal compound upgrade.

One question, do I need to register the product with MSI before returning it? I'll also ask xotic this but was wondering if anyone knew.

 

tough break, i hope they don't sell it to someone else after you return it

 

Lets hope. I have e-mailed both MSI and XoticPC to see what they each have to say. I am past xoticpc's 15 day return policy and I hadn't registered the product yet, so I still need to e-mail MSI my proof of purchase to complete the product registration.

Wishing I had purchased from NCIX now and hoping this won't cost me a fortune in shipping charges.

 

It's possible the upcoming vBIOS could fix things.

 

I got an e-mail from MSI with an RMA number for the noise that it is making. But I don't know whether I should system restore before sending it or not.

 

Also, do you think that they could claim that having the AMD GPU Clock Tool on there voids the warranty b/c I could have been overclocking? (Even though I haven't been).

 

Yeah, probably best to take that kind of stuff off, even though I don't think that kind of argument from MSI would hold up in court.

 

Damages through overdrive Overclocking is not covered as well. Get rid of it (amd gpu tool)

 

Alright. How about underclocking?

 

As far as I know,

underclocking won't be a problem..

unless you send over your laptop with those clocks

 

Sheesh, this thread is scaring me away from the GX.

 

What, one guy having a problem that requires an RMA?
You can find that for any laptop...

 

Gahh... The problem is that my laptop won't even turn on (that includes entering safe mode or anything like that) and doing a system restore I would have to wait for the problem to occur again. Do you guys really think that just having the program present would be grounds for them to dismiss the problems due to a voided warranty?

 

Well, they shouldn't be able to do it unless they can prove overclocking was the cause. However, you might have to be willing to escalate just in case.

If you think that a System Restore would fix the issue, then they might not be able to fix it properly, although a replacement ought to be fine.

However, in my opinion, the issue you're having is still the same at the core as the PowerPlay issue, because the main symptom of black screen on boot is the same. Perhaps uninstalling CCC doesn't actually remove all traces of the automatic 100/1000 downclock?

I think that MSI's new vBIOS version might fix the issue for good.

The high-pitched noise is strange, but that might not be related to your booting problems. If it doesn't go away with another Restore, then you can still RMA just fine anyway.

 

Alright, thanks guys.

And Dookie11, don't let this scare you away from the GX. I love the laptop, but these problems have just really irritated me. First laptop I have purchased and now I'll be without it for a month after only having it in my possession for 7 days. I'll keep you guys posted on what happens.

 

Let me tell you by my experience, they will not use rocket science when you RMA it. They too will just re-image(system restore) the laptop, and if it works then they will return it to you. After you get it back home, it will again start giving problems, so its best that you do everything possible before attempting RMA.
I too in the end had to fix it all by myself even after it returned from RMA.

I suggest a system restore and then new 10.4 drivers(including CCC) and then set powerplay to max. performance, see if it works.

 

I'm not sure if this was asked, but did you try to reinstall windows?

 

Bare in mind that doing so on a daily basis can damage your card especially when downclocking that low. The risk is minimal , but exists.

Now before you RMA'd it , remove the power cord , battery and hold the power botton for 60sec ... Go and have a cup of coffee and come back in like 15mins and trying booting it up see if that helps.

seriously ?

 

It doesn't seem to take much to scare dookie.
Boo!

 

dookie gets scared almost every other day, there is no perfect laptop out there. The best alternative is ignorance, stop reading these boards, but a laptop at random, and if it never has issues it's perfect

 

I'm not scared of GX640, but I'm choosing the GX740...
I still have time...
If I get more money by then, I'm probably going Clevo...
if not, GX740 = 100%...
but if a hyper ultra emergency comes, and I have to shell out cash (Car maintenance, master's degree payment), I'd GX640 without blinking.

 

Heh, you seem to change your preference every few seconds.

 

haha Ben, you can play the "when I have more money game" all the way until you get up to a maxed out $4000 m17x

 

lol..
I'm just waiting to sell the sxps16, and i'll pull the trigger in this order (if i have at least $1600)
1. w860cu
2. gx740
3. gx640

if i only have at least $1500
1.gx740
2.gx640

if i dont have squat
1. gx640

Alienwares are out of the question, but I began to consider them given the fact that I know Dell comes into my house and replaces parts on my PC while I eat beans and sip soda.

with Sager, I'd have to mail it.
with MSI, I'd have to mail it.

 

What puts the G73 out of the picture?
With Alienware it's obviously price that's the issue, though.

 

Cool idea, I'm going to M11x...

Prefer the more portable median gaming rig..

 

Are you sure you wouldn't prefer some of the 13" and 14" options with better CPUs?

 

Well the VAIOs obviously look cool around 13"- 14"..

Have any models in mind with decent graphics with a nice price range?

 

Most of them aren't out yet, but the Acer TimelineX 3820TG/4820TG, ASUS N82Jv and HP Envy 14 should all be solid options - all with equal or better graphics than the M11x, and far better CPUs.

I probably would've bought the Envy 14 if it had been out when I bought the GX640 and HP offered at least a year of proper global warranty.

 

G73 went out of my picture after seing the high failure rate at the Asus board...
Sager board does not have as much, so thats why I reconsidered them...
MSI well, it has its share of flaws, but nothing out of the ordinary...

I might have to give it a bit of thought though...

 

the VAIO F is rather nicely priced, but there were cooling issues on it I believe

EDIT: the MSI warranty still amazes me, how they made it 3 years by default I have no clue... you're lucky to get anything over 1 year without paying extra for other manufacturers

 

I doubt the failure rate for the G73s is at all high, really. It has been a very popular laptop so far, and when hundreds (?) of people buy a laptop there's bound to be people who get failures, many of whom are likely to go and complain on a forum.

Do you have any statistically meaningful data?

 

I consider my gut to be statistically meaningful, lol.

Well, honestly I'd consider G73 again, I really would, but...
Its all on price-performance now...

You see, I have w860cu on the top because of 5870..., I cant have alienware m15x on top because its only 5850... I could upgrade, but thats a lot of cash, man, srsly.

So, I made two tiers; 15 and 17.

Tier15 has w860cu as top choice, gx640 as 2nd choice...
Tier17 has GX740 as top choice, and g73 as 2nd choice...

I'm being kept away from gx640 because of 5850, not that its bad, in fact its amazingly good, but my gut tells me to go i7 + 5870...

But my other side tells me, that based on warranty I really should choose alienware m15x with i5-540, 5850, 1600x900, 320gb, 4gb ram, 1 yr warranty...
comes out at around $1600...

 

Good thinking, I'm not sticking with huge laptops any longer....

I'm going back to where I was before I met NBR... lol

 

Eh thats one of the problems with forums like these, while there are lots of great people and data available, filtering out the "anti" fanboy's is tough. I personally tend to take super negative reviews with a grain of salt. And the extreme attitude of OMG HEAT MUST DIE people as well. I think those people are unfairly demanding stuff from the technology that aren't frankly gonna happen.

Also man this thread was jacked big time huh?

 

Well the OP's original issue doesn't really have anywhere else to go.

Although I love that these forums have brought me to a better value proposition in the GX640 than the m15x and studio xps 16 that I was considering, I'm now paranoid about temperatures and pushing in obscure areas of the chassis to check for flex...

 

Heh, yeah, it's hard to take in so much information without getting paranoid. Think about it this way - at least you bought a laptop! It's possible dookie never will

 

haha, I think dookie's in the market for the GX650 at this point, that thing will FOR SURE run SC2 on all ultra.

I think I'm kinda on a down right now just because the thrill of the hunt was quite exhilarating. And because I'm back in school now and doing next to no gaming

 

Yea i'll be getting my 640 from Xotic as soon as my damn refund gets here. Then i'll prob half my way thru a review or something. May be just to busy playing with my new toy and forget you people exist for a while.


Also whats this on a 650? or was that an attempt a humor i missed lol?

 

You heard it here first! GX650 coming out March 2011 with an ATI 6850 w/ 1GB GDDR5

although with MSI's bizarre numbering system they might release a GX651 just to spite me