M1710 Video Memory Parity Issue

Question

Hello,   I've recently recieved a M1710 from a coworker who asked me to look into why it hasn't been performing correctly.   Upon boot, I noticed R/G/B artifacts in the dell logo, and the Bios Initialization check (little white bar) took abnormally long to complete.   At first I thought it was a corrupt Bios firmware, so I went to the Dell site and downloaded the A07 revision and flashed it. Didn't fix anything. Additionally, booting into windows will run until you try to modify any PCI device and then it'll crash with a Memory Parity Error (BSOD).   Next I thought (naturally) that it might be system memory. So I took the DIMMs out one at a time and ran Memtest on them independantly - and didn't find an inssue.   After that I decided to google the issue, and after a little research found that a memory parity error can occur in any device that has onboard memory. So I tried disabling EVERYTHING in Bios that it allowed. Nic, LEDs, Modem, etc etc. Additionally I removed both the Modem and WiFi adapter to no avail.   So, my question here is if this is a semi known issue with the M1710's gF 7900GS video card? or if not, what I may have missed in my diagnosis?   I would've tried a warranty request, but the owner neglected to renew it.   Thanks in advance.

ejn63 · Answer

It sounds like a failed video card - did you run the Dell diagnostics (F12 at boot) on it?

josowe1812 · Answer

I had the same issue about a month ago I only happened when i played high intensive games... So what i had to do was get Dell to send out a technician and replace my graphics card. Ever since then it has worked fine. Except that Dell has not released the drivers.

bigbangtheorem · Answer

Yeah, I ran the Dell Diagnosis utility and the GPU passed - however, I don't think this is indicitive because it doesn't seem to initialize any GPU intensive subsystem (colored bar overlays display but artifact like crazy).

As far as a replacement GPU goes, Is there a way for me to obtain one straight from Dell? or should I go the Ebay route?

EDIT:

Also, when I'm booting (forgot to mention above), plaintext seems to get substituted. I.E i've seen 4s turned into #s, first letter is purple instead of white, and missing letters altogether.

Message Edited by bigbangtheorem on 07-31-2007 06:04 PM

Sky-Dexter · Answer

I got the same laptop
&
I got the same problem.

It often happens when playing World of Warcraft, after 5-1hours playing => NMI : Memory Parity Error.
When i reboot, 5-20 artefacts left on bios logon screen & the last 25% on bios loading bar is really slow (takes up to 15secs maybe)

Things i have done/try yet :
- Changed bios from A03 to A07
- Run dell diagnostic full scan : all fine
- Replaced system RAM (From 2x512 to 2x1go)
- Updated video card drivers (Dell website)
- Updated video card drivers (Nvidia vista beta drivers)
- Updated all others drivers (Chipset/WLAN/Modem...)
- Run microsoft memory diagnostic (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp) : all fine

7900 GS issue? Searched on Google : Memory parity error & it seems that many many Dell customers got this problem , even with 7900GTX or 7950GTX cards ....

Message Edited by Sky-Dexter on 08-04-2007 05:29 AM

sensesfusion · Answer

Sky, so did you get it fixed? I, too, have this memory problem, the 5300 0119, i was told by del xps it's the memory of my 7900 gtx. And this is 3 month after out of warranty, it's perfect timing, huh? We need to get dell to fix this famous problem free of charge, since there are so many of the same problem, obviously they are doing something wrong. Keep us update on how you guys deal with this.

mthompson18593 · Answer

I had the same error shortly after getting my m1710 (about a year ago).  They replaced the memory modules and the problem has not happened since.  Too bad that it happened after the warranty expired, but I am sure that replacing the memory will fix your problem.  Advice, don't buy memory from Dell.  Too expensive.

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M1710 Video Memory Parity Issue

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