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Alienware m770 Dead.... PLEASE HELP!!

post #1 of 21
2/12/08 at 11:40pm
Thread Starter 
Hello all,

I'm sure that this has been asked before.. but I have yet to find it.

My parents bought an Alienware area 51 m770 for my high school graduation present.... and now less that 2 years later it's dead...

I'm looking to buy a new graphics card, which is the most obvious problem. The computer will start, but the screen is black. Before this there was major clipping and "weird" video performance.

Alienware wont help me.. they hang up..
Dell is also useless.. they tell me to call Alienware..

Are there ANY alternatives to the Nvidia 6800 go? if so, where can they be found?

Any and all help offered is GREATLY appreciated!!
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post #2 of 21
2/12/08 at 11:43pm
im guessing you dont have ur warranty anymore...
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post #3 of 21
2/12/08 at 11:50pm
Thread Starter 
They said that because the product line was discontinued, they were under no obligation to honor it anymore.
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post #4 of 21
2/12/08 at 11:53pm
Thread Starter 
Reguardless of the warranty, do I have any options?
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post #5 of 21
2/13/08 at 11:38am
Ketaro,

Discontinuation of the product line has no effect on our obligation to honor your warranty. Send me your account number (Steve_Lopez@alienware.com) and I will see what I can do to help you out.

Regards,
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post #6 of 21
2/13/08 at 8:36pm
thats what i thought, i thought it seemed odd that they wouldnt help you... whats the point of a warranty if u cant get help... some one at alienware screwed up... atleast you will get some help...
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post #7 of 21
2/13/08 at 11:38pm
Thread Starter 
After consulting with alienware, they have given me the option of sending them my computer with an up-front charge of over $200 for shipping and labor. Then "if" the computer can be fixed I would then pay for the parts. I personally feel that asking for $200 for the privilige of having my computer looked at is ludicrous. Even if the warranty is no longer valad my previous encounters with Alienware customer service have left me very displeased.

Any other advice and/or options for alternate video cards is greatly appreciated
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post #8 of 21
2/14/08 at 10:54am
moved to support
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post #9 of 21
2/14/08 at 7:40pm
Different video cards will depend on which motherboard revision you have. I upgraded to a 7900 GTX, but have mobo revision 5.1. RJtech.com might stock the cards, but it will be hard to find one anymore.
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post #10 of 21
2/14/08 at 9:29pm
Before you go looking for a new Vid card have you tried the oblivious like reseating the card or hooking an external monitor to the system. Could not be video card that is the problem.
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post #11 of 21
2/15/08 at 12:05am
RAM coulda fried.... common in 7700s
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post #12 of 21
2/16/08 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
OK,

I hooked the system to an external monitor, and still I have the broken vertical green lines..

The hardware maniger says that the video card is functioning normally, but why would the screen still be so weird?

also, if it is the ram, how can I check?
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post #13 of 21
2/16/08 at 5:48pm
If you have vertical lines, I'd say 90% chance its the video card. It is functioning as far as the hardware manager is concerned (on, has power, and is outputting a signal) but sounds like it has overheated and is fried. Looks like you're gonna need to replace it...
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post #14 of 21
2/16/08 at 10:20pm
It could very well be the inverter board also...I wouldn't go buying a 500$ video card to try to fix that problem without some trouble shooting.

I would also listen to what BF said about the MoBo versions and whatnot.
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post #15 of 21
2/18/08 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
Seeing as how the computer WILL run normally, except the video problems, I'm reasonably sure that its the video card thats causing the issue.

If I cant get hold of another 6800 go, would a quadro FX go 1400 be an option?

The specs say that it will operate in a Clevo D900 / area 51 7700 series...
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post #16 of 21
2/18/08 at 5:37pm
Thread Starter 
Also, something that I have forgotten to mention. When the computer boots up, the screen is completely unreadable. However, when windows boots, there are vertical lines in several colors.. and I experience the occasional blue screen error..
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post #17 of 21
2/18/08 at 10:07pm
I had a FX go 1400 before I upgraded to my 7900 GTX, so yeah that is an option, but again it might depend on your motherboard, so look for the version under your RAM slots. There should be a sticker that says v5.1 or something like that.
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post #18 of 21
2/19/08 at 6:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alienware-Steve View Post
Ketaro,

Discontinuation of the product line has no effect on our obligation to honor your warranty. Send me your account number (Steve_Lopez@alienware.com) and I will see what I can do to help you out.

Regards,
Good job Alienware-Steve.

Ketaro mis-led us to believe the machine was still under warranty and that Alienware had refused to honor it. You coming in here to help Ketaro regardless of warranty status is just the kind of service/support I have received over the last 8 years. Alienware alwaze tries to do the right thing, even when it isn't 'technically' required.

Loves me some Alienware!!!



Zoid
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post #19 of 21
2/19/08 at 7:49am
ketaro,
I have never seen ram make lines on a moniter. I'm not saying it can't happen. I believe your right on target with the video card, but the m7700's external moniter jack has to go through the motherboard first too. So it could be your mobo. I have no Idea how you would be able to tell which one crapped out unless you had another vid card to test with. this doesn't sound like the normal mobo probs with the 7700. I wish alienware wouldn't of put our money where thier mouth was. anyways, I'd probably swap vid cards if i were you if you think the lappy is still worth it. it isn't worth it for me to fix mine because it would just be more money down the drain. $4000 is enough for me to loose. clevo made a real winner here.
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post #20 of 21
2/19/08 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 
To everyone who seems to think that I am intentionally bad-mouthing Alienware.

This is not an issue that has suddenly developed, I have had many problems with my m7700 and with alienware customer support.. off and ON warranty.

1. Yes, my warranty is now expired and would have been expired reguardless of this particular issue.

2. During my 1st attempt to fix the machine THROUGH ALIENWARE, when the warranty was still in effect, I was told that my product line had been discontinued and that my warranty was NO LONGER VALAD. If this representative was mis-informed or simply having a bad day.. I don't know or care.. but hanging up on a customer, which he did, isn't the way to handle the situation.

Reguardless of anyone else's experiences with alienware and alienware customer support, this is what has happened to me and the situation that I've been left with. I have not and will not lie about it. Granted, they are now under no obligation to help me in any way. However, when they were, they refused.
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