Aurora R3 "Display drivers stopped responding and recovered"

Regardless if the parts were new or used, this is frustrating beyond belief. I've already decided this is my last product purchased from Alienware. Still doesn't mean I don't want this problem fixed, especially after buying the "premium care" warranty for 3 years. To have a computer for going on 4+ months and it being next to useless because of lock ups, get 3/4 of the machine replaced to have the same problems, then get sent a whole new computer as a replacement only to get the same mess is totally unacceptable.

You need to contact the BBB. That will help expidite Dell providing appropriate service.

The parts they sent were most likely refurbished, not new.

Take the Radeon 5870 out of the old system, install it in the new one and see if the issue goes away. If it does then you found the issue,if it doesn't then start messing with the memory next.

Did you check this thread yet? http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19380746.aspx

If you still have the old comp there you will want to take the 2600k CPU out and stick it in the new system before you return it to Dell. Ether that or complain you want another K CPU. The K costs more because you can OC them so you want to keep it.

I tried putting an old GTS450 my roommate had into the machine and it was the same thing. I never pulled the radeon out of my other machine because now ive got this underlying fear that if i put it into this one its going to some how mess it up as well haha. My friend has an old 5770 im going to try in it tonight.

It makes you wonder though, all this cant be a coincidence, there must be some kind of compatibility problems between some of these parts somewhere. Ive had 3 different CPu/GPU/Ram/HD/Mobo now, and 2 different power supplies.

So in the last 30 minutes I've gotten 2 phone calls. First from the Dell case specialist confirming I received my replacement computer and I explained how it didn't work and had the exact same problems as my last one. She said at this point they would issue me a refund if I wanted it, but I told her I would give the Alienware tech support one last chance at trying to make this right and she agreed.

15 minutes later someone from Alienware tech support calls me, also confirming the same question if I received the replacement. I explained to him how the computer functions probably worse than the last one and he wants to start trouble shooting again and sending me all kinds of replacement parts and starts telling me a refund isn't an option because the computer was purchased 4 months ago. I explained yes it was purchased 4 months ago, but hasn't worked properly since day 1 and I've jumped through all the hoops and even gotten the replacement machine.

I'm not sure how closely Dell and Alienware actually work together, but it doesn't seem like they do at all. At one point they were actually sending me 2 replacement computers and 1 was coming through Purolator and the other through Fedx, but once I explained how I was already receiving a replacement they cancelled the second one.

@morblore,

I really appreciate that your trying to help, and seemingly offering better advice than what Alienware can, everytime I call them for help they have me running the windows experience score thing for some reason before trying half a dozen other useless tests. The first computer probably had an 15-20 remote 3D mark tests, or whatever benchmark program it was installed on it.

But ive tried myself to uninstall drivers, use driver sweeper, fresh install of windows7. The first tech actually installed a copy of windows7 that I dont even think was from Dell/Alienware because it had no trace of any of there stuff in the install.

"Display driver stopped responding and has recovered"  is a video driver error. But to have 3 systems to all do the same kinda leans towards it being an issue with the 590 and the drivers.

All I can say is do a complete uninstall of the drivers,run DriverSweeper to clean out everything and then install the new driver.

Gotta love dell quality control. I bet you keep getting faulty GPU's & MB's. I doubt it's the drivers as long as you are downloading the latest drivers from nvidia's website and not dell.

hello!

i have the same issues! i just got my comp last week, and not even a week after owing it it say video drivers failed and go to the BSOD : / i emailed them at support@alienware.com about the issue but havent got a response yet! i dont even know if that email works, just thought i would give it a shot! if not i will contact them tomm. morning ... hope its a simple fix!

Have had exactly the same problem with my Aurora ALX (less than 12 months old) for the last 4 months. Also, BSOD when playing games.

Was going to do a clean install this weekend, but not sure it will help, given your experience.

Will keep an eye on this topic to see if there is any resolution.

I've been reading and downclocking my ram to run at 1333 might fix this problem, It's currently running at 1600mhz.

Anyone know how I can do this or if its possible?

Gotta love dell quality control. I bet you keep getting faulty GPU's & MB's. I doubt it's the drivers as long as you are downloading the latest drivers from nvidia's website and not dell.

I was thinking it was the driver since the issue seems to follow him from system to system. Then again there could be a common flaw in these systems.

 Over the years I have had Dell replace a bad part with another bad part. It's amazing how often it has happened to me. I even had a system replacment that wouldn't even turn on. It was dead as can be just like if it wasnt even plugged into the wall. All someone at Dell had to do before shipping it was push the power button. Thats all and they didn't even do that.

@ the other guy that wants to run the 1600mhz memory at 1333mhz speed. Just go into the BIOS and turn off the XMP. It will default back to stock speed.

I havent had any luck getting this fixed for those wondering. Alienware tech support wants to try running the windows experience score, Heaven benchmark program and reinstalling drivers over and over.

They actually contacted me again about 5 minutes ago wanting to trouble shoot the problems again, using the same failed methods as before and I had to turn them down, I cant talk to people on the phone for hours a day doing the same thing over and over. I suggested there's more to trouble shooting than running benchmark programs and they didnt seem to understand.

I am having same trouble with a m11x...dell has ruined alienware...BBB is my next step...maybe even our local news who tries to right wrongs done by companies to consumers.

Well a couple days ago I turned off my XMP profile in the Bios. I havent had any of the display drivers stopped responding messages, but the computer seems like its not running as fast as it was either. Some stutters now and then. I ran the Heaven 2.5 benchmark on both my Aurora R3  ( Currently the one im having problems with - Specs i7-2600, 8 gigs 1600mhz  kingston ram which is now running at 1333, GTX 590 ) and against my Aurora R2 ( Specs i7-930, 12 gigs triple channel running at 1333 mhz, Radeon 5870 )

After running the test 3 times on both at the same settings the scores are only 50 points apart and in some cases the R2 scoring higher.  Also comparing the benchmarks of my R3 to similar computers on the internet im close to 600-800 points behind computers running very similar specs.

Any suggestions on other tests I can run to see which parts might be providing the horrible performance?