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XPS: Trouble in "paradise".... - Page 4

post #61 of 279
3/10/04 at 1:54pm
Thread Starter 
Setting it to "balanced" offers a nice fat 50-75% framerate hit Unit doesn't sweat as much when running in that mode, and I ran the test for 20 minutes with no lockups. Given the framerate hit though, it's not even a considerable solution.

I've now completely DISABLED PowerPlay to see what happens during my little test loop.
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post #62 of 279
3/10/04 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammermd
TheNixxed...where are you bud? What are your fans like? Heh. He's probably got a cherry unit and is sitting in his living room snorting methamphetamines playing StarWars Galaxies on a wireless connection for the past 34 hours without eating or sleeping...
I just posted about my lack of heat issues... and actually, most of this time I've been at work... with my laptop on 24/7 practically... But I do play a lot of games on it... haven't had a single issue yet, but I don't play Sof2 or bf1942... so I can't comment on those specific games... I am using the drivers dell provided for the video card, though, and I can't speak for others... it's quite humorous, someone at my work is running an insecure wireless network (no password or key to get in)... I wanna try using it, but I don't know if I should haha... it's probably another tenant in the building... I wonder if this other tenant's internet has any firewall... maybe I can get past my firewall THAT way... hmmmmmm
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post #63 of 279
3/10/04 at 1:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNiXXeD
It is most definately not a thermal issue... I played hours upon hours STRAIGHT of ut2k4 at FULL GRAPHICS without having issues... NO corruption, and NO lockups... actually, I haven't even had to reboot my computer at all... I have also played Far Cry a whole bunch too, and that never locked up, never had any graphics problems at all...

Maybe it's BF1942? I have heard of that game being very picky about drivers/hardware...
So far it's been a problem for me with both BF1942 and 3dmark03 (no other 3d apps loaded).

What settings are you using for PowerPlay? If it's set to "balanced" when plugged in, you're running slow - but you won't generate heat. If you run at max performance (slider all the way to the right for when the unit's plugged in), that's when you might see the problem.
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post #64 of 279
3/10/04 at 1:59pm
No, max payne 2 and 3dmark2001/2003 have also locked up on me after prolonged (~20-30 minutes) play time...

Good to hear from you Nixxed...Did you reformat yer system when you got it? I seem to remember that you did...you also did something different from the rest of us...you reinstalled the Dell System Utilities didn't you? That's why you had trouble with web pages for awhile? I wonder if that has anything to do with it? i'm going to install ut2k4 so we're running comparable graphics...if I crash again, I'm going to try installing the Dell System Utilities crap...if that doesn't fix it (maybe there's some monitor for fan speed in there?), I'm calling tech support and drinking beer until they transfer me to a live person...the longer it takes, the drunker and more belligerent I'll be...

BTW, Nixxed, how are yer fans running? All on full bore (~4300 RPM) when playing games? You'll know if that's the case, believe me, because you should be able to hear it somewhat over the shooting noises...

Edit: Jay...did you reinstall Dell System Utilities after your reformat? Thanks
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post #65 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl
So far it's been a problem for me with both BF1942 and 3dmark03 (no other 3d apps loaded).

What settings are you using for PowerPlay? If it's set to "balanced" when plugged in, you're running slow - but you won't generate heat. If you run at max performance (slider all the way to the right for when the unit's plugged in), that's when you might see the problem.
I've got it set for balanced... but not getting framerate issues, so why bother? I get almost solid 80fps in ut2k4...

Setting that slider to anything but balanced just enables AA and AF... I'm running in great resolutions without AA and AF, I'd prefer not to use those at all... AA and AF are a HUGE tax on your video card in most cases... they've been making the cards a lot better lately in that they can handle certain levels of it, but I personally don't really notice graphics all that much when I'm playing games, because I'm concentrating on winning =)
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post #66 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNiXXeD
I've got it set for balanced... but not getting framerate issues, so why bother? I get almost solid 80fps in ut2k4...

Setting that slider to anything but balanced just enables AA and AF... I'm running in great resolutions without AA and AF, I'd prefer not to use those at all... AA and AF are a HUGE tax on your video card in most cases... they've been making the cards a lot better lately in that they can handle certain levels of it, but I personally don't really notice graphics all that much when I'm playing games, because I'm concentrating on winning =)
Nixxed...he's talking about PowerPlay 'Balanced' setting...the one that affects yer battery life and throttles down the CPU and GPU...not the ATI 'Balanced' slider in the vid card options...heck, I've got my vid card settings set at Balanced, too...can't imagine trying to run AA or AF with crashing issues...
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post #67 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammermd
Nixxed...he's talking about PowerPlay 'Balanced' setting...the one that affects yer battery life and throttles down the CPU and GPU...not the ATI 'Balanced' slider in the vid card options...heck, I've got my vid card settings set at Balanced, too...can't imagine trying to run AA or AF with crashing issues...
Where is that setting then? I've looked around and that's what I figured he was talking about... *shrug*

Yes, I did a format and re-install... I installed a few of dell's utilities, namely, the quickset (so I can see brightness and volume levels when I change them) and the dell system drivers (whatever they are)... my fans run almost dead silent when I'm in windows, but when I'm in games they're on pretty much all the time...
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post #68 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNiXXeD
Where is that setting then? I've looked around and that's what I figured he was talking about... *shrug*

Yes, I did a format and re-install... I installed a few of dell's utilities, namely, the quickset (so I can see brightness and volume levels when I change them) and the dell system drivers (whatever they are)... my fans run almost dead silent when I'm in windows, but when I'm in games they're on pretty much all the time...
Nevermind - it's an ATI powerplay setting (thought you meant otherwise).... it was set to optimal battery life for non-plugged in, but on max performance when plugged in... maybe that's how it should be? If you're getting lockups because of changing a setting, doesn't that normally tell you to change the setting back?

edit: by optimal performance, I mean highest quality... it says optimal performance... but that sounded wrong to me... ah well *sigh*
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post #69 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:12pm
Okay, I completed all diagnostics with no problems, turned off PowerPlay and started Call of Duty...approximately 2 minutes into the training mission (was just moving around) I got the screen corruption first displayed by Karl's photo...had to restart machine...fans never kicked up AT ALL! I'm going to install Dell System Utilities or whatever the he!! it's called and try again...
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post #70 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:15pm
wow man if the normal 3.4 are over heating I wonder what those guys who got the EE chips are experiencing
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post #71 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:16pm
I think it's also worth noting that I have no extra app installed to control heat or anything... I haven't bothered into that venture yet because I haven't had issues... so maybe it is only me that got a good unit.. *shrug*
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post #72 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:18pm
Ahh DELL - once again they come through with the good.
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post #73 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:26pm
Alright, installing system utilities did nothing...still crashed after 2 minutes with no sign of fans turning on..I'm going to install the Quikset thingy and see if that does anything...
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post #74 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammermd
Alright, installing system utilities did nothing...still crashed after 2 minutes with no sign of fans turning on..I'm going to install the Quikset thingy and see if that does anything...
No sign of fans turning on? That's quite an issue... that would explain the locking up... is the laptop setting on a desk? or is it on your lap?
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post #75 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:32pm
on a regular wooden table...Yeah, I don't understand...at least last nite, the fans seemed to kick up to 'medium' or something every so often...in COD, they just sound like I'm writing a word document or something...no difference at all...

Edit: Okay, got texture corruption again...calling tech support...god this is going to suck...
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post #76 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammermd
on a regular wooden table...Yeah, I don't understand...at least last nite, the fans seemed to kick up to 'medium' or something every so often...in COD, they just sound like I'm writing a word document or something...no difference at all...

Edit: Okay, got texture corruption again...calling tech support...god this is going to suck...
What drivers are you running?

I'm using the drivers off the dell 'drivers and utils' cd... make sure you install all required drivers that are checked... I would imagine that having bad drivers could cause this quite easily too... ESPECIALLY if you're running the omega drivers... this is a new video card and nobody knows what kinda problems that could cause...
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post #77 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:52pm
Yes, I know...I am running the 9700 mobility driver off the CD...maybe I'll reinstall all the other ones, too...argh...

PS. What number do I call to give my XPress tag ID number and speak to someone 'trained on the XPS' who 'knows gaming issues'? This appears nowhere in my manual...

LOL! Express service code...WTF? 'Your wait may be longer than ten minutes...' haha...I'll bet the wait will be more like 40 minutes, because they're currently advising me to check their support website...
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post #78 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:57pm
i've been following this thread. I have had my XPS for a day now, and played Call of Duty for an hour or so with no problems, and no perceptible fan noise (although with the sound up i can't honestly say whether the fans were running high or not).

Does running 3Dmark exhibit the problem, or was that just one person?

It would be nice to see if there was a common and repeatible way to cause this to happen; and that other people could try. I would be very surprised for there to be a heat problem while running stock programs with standard drivers and settings. Otherwise, Dell is in very deep water if this unit breaks this easily.

But if this is anything other than one person being unlucky and getting a bad GPU chip, there should be a way to repeat this so others can try it.
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post #79 of 279
3/10/04 at 2:58pm
jwf...did you reformat and reinstall windows?

Sorry 'bout my manners...currently a little pissed...

welcome to the forum, former lurker...

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post #80 of 279
3/10/04 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwf
But if this is anything other than one person being unlucky and getting a bad GPU chip, there should be a way to repeat this so others can try it.
It's certainly more than one person, and there's been several games (and 3dmark03) that have been affected. My guess is any game that's stressful on the GPU is going to cause this failure sooner or later.
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