M170 - Read/write video memory errors @ Dell Diagnostics.

I have an M170 that I also puchased in Jan 2006 that is starting to show similar screen effects.  Currently they are random and seem to be related to heat.  My video card is a GeForce Go 7800.

I'll run the dell diagnostics and see what kind of results I get.

OP, I have the same system as you, purchased in March of 2006.  The pictures are strikingly identical, even in placement and gibberish, to what I experienced.

 

I had Dell ship out a replacement video card, and after replacing it, the system seemed to boot up fine and the gibberish and artifacts were both gone.  After a few hours, however, the system hung up and crashed.  Rebooting seemed to work for a few days, until, two days ago it crashed, and now when I attempt to boot the computer, nothing happens.  It sounds like it's powering up, and the system LEDs light up, and power goes to the fans, but nothing appears on the display and the computer doesn't get anywhere.

 

A little confused, I put in the old, (what I already assumed to be bad), and the computer boots up -- but still with the original problem of gibberish and artifacts.  I suppose that's better than nothing at all.  As this problem happened last night, I'm about to get on the phone with Dell support again, because they want me to slowly test every piece of hardware in the machine...

 

Anyone have any ideas?

Hi,

 

An update. In the meantime, the nVidia card has been replaced twice by a Dell technician but the problem always came back after a few minutes or hours. The system is getting unusable for me at the moment. I have no idea yet what is really causing this problem and I hope the supplier offers a solution quickly. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

Kind regards,

R.

 

Here's an update from my end.

 

I spent about an hour and a half on the phone with XPS support.  I did several tests with the new video card that was sent to me (but ceased working after about two days) and ultimately, the tech support representative informed me that he believes the motherboard is shorting out video card.

 

His solution?  As I'm out of warranty, I can "pay to replace the motherboard, or just buy a new computer."

While I appreciate the candor of the rep, it's inconceivable to me that I would have to front the cost for what is obviously defective hardware.  I certainly never overclocked or did anything to cause this problem, and the fact that others share the same trouble - down to identical images and replacement video cards ceasing to work - on systems that were bought within months of mine, screams that the fault lies with Dell.  My computer is only a year and a half old:  out of warranty or not, a year and a half shelf-life on an expensive piece of technology like this is a little hard for me to swallow.

 

Any suggestions as to my next step?

The video problems on my XPS M170 cleared up for a day or so then came back and now even without the Nvidia drivers loaded the problems remain.  The only difference between having the Nvidia drivers loaded or not, is that the machine will lock up with the drivers.  Chatted with XPS support and they are going to come out and replace the video card.  Hope I don't have the same problem reoccur as the posts above.  I will post again after the replacement to let everyone know if the problem is fixed or not.  I have the Nvidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX.

I have just spent 1 hour and 45 minutes on the phone with Dell (still on the phone too) as I am having the exact same problems with my M170 GeForce 6800 ultra video card.  The screenshots were very helpful!  Dell is insisting it is a video card problem, and not a motherboard problem, but since you had both replaced, I will be interested in hearing how that works out.  My system is out of warranty so I don't want to purchase a new video card just to have the motherboard burn it up again!  I purchased my system in 2-06.  If enough people have the same problem I am told Dell can then do a recall on the motherboard.  I guess I am stuck with a computer that only works with the default monitor which as you know gives you a rotten resolution until then.  Sighs.  I love my XPS, but I am very disappointed in it right now.

A Dell technician came out and replaced my GeForce 7800 on Thursday.  It has now run for 4 day with no trouble.

The last Tech I spoke to was in the Supervisory division of Resolutions.  He stated that Dell sold 50,000 computers a day, and only 1% ever have problems with their computers, and so doing a recall on the Motherboard wasn't likely to happen, especially since the problem seems to be showing up so late after the purchase of the M170's.  He went on to tell me that it was probably caused from a dust built up inside my laptop and suggested I use canned air to try to blow it out. He must think the 1% of us are idiots as well.  But being a loyal Dell consumer I tried that and then reinstalled the drivers.  I then had to go through the whole safe mode deal to uninstall them because the computer was just showing jibberish again.  I am not a gamer, and the most I ever required from my computer was some rendering in the Poser program.  I think it is a heat problem, and the heat finally gets to the graphics card.  Did Dell replace it with a new 7800 or a reburished card?  I know that the 6800 is no longer sold.  I wish you well rcajun37, but unless the 7800 has a bigger fan on it, it will probably go out again.  Right now, even though the default monitor allows me to use the computer the graphics are slightly distorted and everytime you scroll, the page moves.  I have an almost 3k paper weight as far as I am concerned.  I am going to call a private computer shop and see what they can do.  You all keep me posted.

I've run my laptop pretty much everyday between work and play on average 16 hrs a day for nearly 2 years with almost half the average time playing Guild Wars at max resolution and max setting.

If I can get another 2 years out of it I will be happy.  I picked up I8kfanGUI so I can watch the temps on my GPU and have the fans turn on hi as things heat up.   I don't every remember hearing the fans ramp up in the two years before my video card died.

 

As far as the card being new or refurbed, not sure.  It came in a box and sealed packaging inside, but that doesn't mean anything.  So long as it works as intended, I'll be happy. 

Thanks very much for the feedback!  I am sending my out of warranty M170 into Dell for repairs.  Best case senario is $199 for just the graphics card, and up to $528 if the motherboard and LCD need to be replaced, which I am sure they do not, since they do not appear to be intergrated in this model of notebook.  I am also going to buy a cooling pad for it. 

 

I finally got an XPS Specialist on the phone today that was wonderful.  He did a direct connect and could see what I was talking about, right up until the Nvidia drivers needed to restart and the screen turned to artifacts, etc.  He got me directed to the right person and the repair fee/replacement sounds reasonable and they will at least guarantine the new part for 90 days.  Wish me luck!

 

Please do let me know if you have further problems.

 

Toila

I have the same problems as you guys. I have a M170 and late in August my graphic card a nvidia Go 6800 Ultra, had exactly the same issues as the links in the first post, thought it was pics from my computer :D

I bought a new card and guess what: today 2months after intsalling the new graphic card, I had artifacts when playing and suddenly my screen whent black. Rebooting a couple of times to get the DELL boot picture, so I could press F12 and go into safemode. From there turn of drivers and try to re-install drivers. But no. Same problem all over again. screen turning black and me, angry. Two times in 2 months??!!! OMG! In Norway where I come from I had to pay 270£ for a new one.

I better get a new one for free.