XPS 730x H2C loses power / resets / reboots "randomly"...

All,

Please private message me your service tag numbers. Has everyone backed the CPU down to 26 multiplier as owl4505 did to see if the PC would run longer?

Here is the link that shows the official overclocked settings.  I'm assuming that is what you were asking...

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=5BE87875B6CB8DA1E040AE0AB7E115F4&journalid=5DAE85A31B4EF76AE040AE0AB5E14031&Query=&SystemID=&ServiceTag=&contenttype=-1&os=-1&component=-1&lang=-1&doclang=en&toggle=false

I have almost the same setup and mine is 2days old doing the same thing, I do have the GTX 280 video card installed

OK Chris, I sent you a private message about my Tag number hope you got it. This is what's up to this point for me. I called the Dell Tech Team and talked to "BILL"! Bill is the man, knows his stuff and was very helpful. The problem is not resolved so don't get excited yet. They figure along with his tier two lever guys is that there is something wrong with the sealed "Cooling Unit". Some how reporting a fault when the system starts to get stressed with the COD4 game or the XPS Thermo Monitor Program and just sends a signal to shutdown the computer. Now this sounds intelligent and on the right track I figure at least. The problem with me is that if this is the case the units they are shipping are defective and I don't want any part of it. I paid way to much money to spent my valuable time troubleshooting, worrying, waiting for a Dell Tech to show up, nope tired of it. I have arranged to return the computer with no cost to me and a full refund....THANK YOU DELL FOR THAT! It was fairly painless too, thank GOD!

Chris in my message I told you I had the bio in my computer set back to defaults after the MOB (motherboard) and CPU was changed out. The computer still failed with no overclocking of any kind. Besides which I would never consider that a fix is Dell said Factory Overclocking was included in the sale and warranty, just doesn't make sense to me!

Well goodluck to all, I may buy a Dell sometime in the Future but I don't think its a lock. To many other GOOD gaming systems out there, Dell just doesn't have it right yet! I will keep checking the forum and if anyone wants to contact me feel free too. If your going to buy a new Dell you may want to think twice about the "HIGH END" XPS!

Here is the link that shows the official overclocked settings.  I'm assuming that is what you were asking... http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=5BE87875B6CB8DA1E040AE0AB7E115F4&journalid=5DAE85A31B4EF76AE040AE0AB5E14031&Query=&SystemID=&ServiceTag=&contenttype=-1&os=-1&component=-1&lang=-1&doclang=en&toggle=false

Yes...that was what I was asking.  It sounds even the "default" overclocking is producing issues, clearly an issue with cooling.  Very curious....:emotion-7:

Hi all, I spoke with tech support and I am running the "Preboot System Assessment" now (located under the F12 boot option).  It is supposed to take a few hours.  I will let you know if it finds anything, etc.  I'm not sure if anyone else has tried this yet...

Sorry for the length of this but I thought I would jot all this down and hopefully it helps someone else.

I ran the "Pre-Boot System Assessment" (PSA+) diagnostic (via F12 from the boot menu) this evening after speaking with a Dell tech today.  First, it will test some system devices (e.g. Hard Drive, CDRom, Video, etc.) then it tests the memory.  Every test "passed" (even the thorough memory test).  Next, it brings up a "dialog box" that says "Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition.  Press any key to continue."   When I do this it has problems and freezes after printing the following to the screen:
>>>
Loading DRMK v8.00...
HIMEM.SYS 8.09
DRMK Version 8.00
COMMAND.COM Build 37 - Jul 28, 2008
DRMK KERNEL Build 15 - Aug 8, 2008
Copyright (c) 2006-2008 Dell Inc.  All rights reserved.
<<<
That's it... it is now frozen.  I have tried this at least 10 times tonight and it always freezes here (I've waited over 15 minutes and it never comes back).  That is the first problem I'm having with the diagnostic utility.

So, I decided that I would re-install my BIOS from the Dell web site to see if that might fix this problem.   However, it acts the exact same after re-installing the BIOS (makes sense) in that it hangs in the PSA+ diagnostic as described above.

After doing that I rebooted and I went straight into the BIOS setup via F2, hit F9 to get the defaults (probably was already defaulted) and saved the changes and rebooted and then went right into the F12 - PSA+.  This time it did come back with a memory error right away.  Here is the error it gave:

>>>
Error Code 0123.
Msg:  Error Code 2000-0123
Msg:  Memory - integrity test failed.
The given error code and message can be used by Dell Technical Support to help diagnose the problem.  Do you want to continue testing.
<<<

I thought I was on to something but I think it is a red-herring.  I've tried this several times and if I reset the BIOS (F9), save changes, and then run the F12 PSA+ diagnostic it will have these memory problems.  However, on subsequent reboots (without resetting the BIOS) it never has the memory problem (and will eventually freeze in the Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition described above).

Has anyone else tried to run this diagnostic?

Btw, I have a hard time believing its a drivers issue. Reinstalled everything from teh ground up with the most updated drivers I could find and still the same. It doesn't seem to be the graphics card either as individuals with teh GTX280 report the same problem. I'm sure its just a bad part like the power supply that has some quality issues. The only way my computer works is if I run it in Safe mode! I can run safe mode for hours on without any problems.

I did. My config is a 730x with i7 920 and ATI 4870X2. I got random shutdowns from the day I got my computer (with dell-installed drivers, etc.). I installed windows XP (thinking it was a VISTA problem that i've heard off) and still the same. Random shutdown. Screens go black and system reboots. I ran the Dell utility and it passed every test.  It also froze like you said. Don't know what to say. Have been waiting for replacement parts from dell for about 2 weeks now (got delayed and delayed). I'm not even sure it'll fix it considering that Dell doesn't know what is happening with these systems. So what now. I return my system after having spent 1 week diagnosing the problem for dell and 2 weeks to wait for parts that may not even fix the problem. To make things worse this was my first purchase from Dell. As an Apple guy, I have never had this kind of thing with their computers.

pat51 - Just click on "Chris Mixon" on one of his posts and then click "Send a Message" if you want to send him your info

I spoke with another tech today and I will be trying to reseat the "front I/O panel cables" tonight.  I will also be trying some suggested "custom" voltages, etc. at 3.73 GHz to see if that helps any.  I'll keep everyone posted. 

Folks, I really think your going in the wrong direction. Like I said in my post above, the Dell Tech's feel that it is a thermo event shutting down the computer. I think they are right, the "liquid cooling" unit is plugged into the master controller board to the right of the motherboard. We (I) don't know if the sensors in the cooling unit is sending a false signal to shut the computer down understress (load, gaming,XPS Thermo Monitor software). Maybe some software (XPS Thermo Monitor) is thinking there is a high temp thermo event happening and shutting down the computer. The way the computer suddenly shuts down is key to whats happening. It's not clear how much automation is built into the cooling unit, maybe someone has more knowledge about that! Don't think it's the overclocking, I know of another vendor who builds gaming computer's  that are overclocking the i7 chip to 4.0 with no ill effects, so I don't think Dell is even taxing the CPU with their settings. We need for someone to push the cooling issue because it seems all of the XPS's being shipping from Texas are having similar problems it's to much of a coinidence! What do you think? Am I way out here or does anyone believe I'm on the right path?

Just one more note, above someone said they can run the computer for hours in "SAFEMODE". Guess what only the bear minimum applications run in safemode, and I don't think the XPS Thermo Software even loads so another "HUMMMM" in my book, just wanted to add to this sorry about rambling on!

Just one more note, above someone said they can run the computer for hours in "SAFEMODE". Guess what only the bear minimum applications run in safemode, and I don't think the XPS Thermo Software even loads so another "HUMMMM" in my book, just wanted to add to this sorry about rambling on!

What you are saying makes sense to me.  I tryied some new overclocked settings tonight and as soon as I brought up the Dell XPS Thermal Monitor it rebooted.  I did get it to run for about 20 seconds on the next boot with the thermal monitor up but then it rebooted.  With the thermal monitor minimized I played a game for about 20 minutes (trying to stress the system) and sure enough it rebooted itself.  So, I would have to say the Dell XPS Thermal Monitor is at the very least aggrevating the problem (although less so at lower clock speeds in my experience).

BTW, I don't have the H2C system. So its not only on the 730x o/c . i7 920 with ATI 4870X2 6GB with "AIR cooling" . So I don't know what to say. Keeps rebooting randomly.

WOW, that kinda blows my theory. Oh well....Keep trying, GOOD LUCK to all!