TechSpot - PC Technology News and Analysis

Ok, I don't know if anything can be done about this or not. I will go ahead and give you some background on my

system and situation. I purchased it around 10/26/06.


Prod. Order No.: 434115A
I. Identification
Customer Name: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Customer Account No.: xxxxxxxxxxx

II. Configuration

Processor(s)


Processor: 1
CPU_Name: AMD Turion(tm) 64 Mobile Technology ML-40

CPU_Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD

CPU_Caption: x86 Family 15 Model 36 Stepping 2

CPU_Version: Model 4, Stepping 2

CPU_ProcessorId: 078BFBFF00020F42

CPU_CurrentClockSpeed: 2211MHz

CPU_AddressWidth: 32Bits

CPU_DataWidth: 32Bits

CPU_SocketDesignation: CPU 1



Case Color: New Background


System Memory


Memory Module: 1
Mem_Capacity: 1024MB

Mem_BankLabel: DIMM #1

Mem_Type: DDR

Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)

Memory Module: 2
Mem_Capacity: 1024MB

Mem_BankLabel: DIMM #2

Mem_Type: DDR

Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)


BIOS Information


BIOS_Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS_Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS_Version1: W830D315
BIOS_Version2: A M I - 4000626

Motherboard Information


MB_Manufacturer: alienware
MB_Product: Aurora m9700
MB_SerialNumber: W830DA AB040
MB_Version: AB040

Video Adapter


Video_Caption: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS
Video_AdapterRAM: 512MB
Video_DriverVersion: 6.14.10.8474

Hard Drive(s)


FUJITSU MHV2060BH
Disk_Model: FUJITSU MHV2060BH

Disk_Size: 60GB

Disk_TotalHeads: 255

Disk_TotalCylinders: 7296

Disk_TotalTracks: 1860480

Disk_TracksPerCylinder: 255


Optical Drives / Other Storage


Slimtype COMBO SSC-2485K


Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition



DirectX Version: 9c



Assembler Initials: RR



Tester Initials: AI



Test Date: 10/12/2006 05:07 AM


III. Burn-In/Benchmarks

Doom 3


Doom 3: 93.7 fps

3DMark 2005


Game Tests
3DMark Score: 9,395.00 3DMarks

GT1 - Return To Proxycon: 35.20 FPS

GT2 - Firefly Forest: 27.55 FPS

GT3 - Canyon Flight: 54.71 FPS

CPU Tests
CPU Score: 4,133.00 CPUMarks

CPU Test 1: 1.99 FPS

CPU Test 2: 3.81 FPS


IV. IRQ Configuration
0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
2 -available-
3 -available-
4 -available-
5 -available-
6 -available-
7 -available-
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
10 NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management
11 -available-
12 Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
13 Numeric data processor
14 -available-
15 Secondary IDE Channel
17 Marvell Yukon 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
17 NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS
17 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
17 Realtek RTL8185 54M Wireless LAN Network Adapter
19 NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS
19 Ricoh MMC Host Controller
19 Ricoh Memory Stick Host Controller
19 SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller
20 SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
20 Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
21 Agere Systems AC'97 Modem
22 NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller
22 Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
23 NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller

V. Miscellaneous
N/A
VI. Final Checks

VII. Installed Device Drivers
Microsoft AC Adapter, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
AMD Turion(tm) 64 Mobile Technology ML-40, 5-27-2006, 1.3.2.0
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2600.2180
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad, 2-3-2006, 8.2.15.0
Slimtype COMBO SSC-2485K, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
FUJITSU MHV2060BH, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2600.2180
NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller, 4-24-2006, 5.10.2600.666
Agere Systems AC'97 Modem, 2-15-2006, 2.1.66.0
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio, 3-9-2006, 5.12.1.5500
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS, 5-8-2006, 8.4.7.4
Realtek RTL8185 54M Wireless LAN Network Adapter, 11-30-2005, 5.104.1130.2005
Ricoh Memory Stick Host Controller, 9-14-2005, 1.0.2.2
SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller, 10-1-2002, 6.0.4069.1
OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Ricoh MMC Host Controller, 9-17-2005, 1.0.0.8
Marvell Yukon 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller, 1-4-2006, 8.49.2.3
Primary IDE Channel, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2600.2180
Secondary IDE Channel, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2600.2180
Bluetooth Bus Enumerator, 3-9-2006, 5.0.1.2200
Winvnc video hook driver, 9-25-2001, 1.1.0.0
Audio Codecs, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Legacy Audio Drivers, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Media Control Devices, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Legacy Video Capture Devices, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Video Codecs, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Microsoft Kernel System Audio Device, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver, 7-1-2001, 5.1.2535.0
BisonCam, NB Pro, 4-12-2006, 2.6.0.76
Broadcom 2045 Bluetooth 2.0 USB Device, 3-9-2006, 5.0.1.2200
Bluetooth Audio, 3-9-2006, 5.0.1.2200
Bluetooth High Quality Audio, 3-9-2006, 5.0.1.2200


Two weeks after arrival I realized that it only showed one graphics card, so I sent it back to alienware for two

weeks so they could fix it. They reinstalled the os and sent it back to me but it still did not show after two

more times of this they finally got the other card to show in the in the nvidia control panel and under display

adapters in the device manager. But when I enabled it, it would run but, the pictire had static off of items

and npcs in game almost like some sort of interference. Until I started my pc again, and then I would get this

little window stating "current configuration prevents sli from functioning reverting back in xx seconds". and

then my system would restart and only show one card, I would have to keep rebooting it until it showed the card

again, and then the problem would repeat. Well my warranty was up at this point and since I couldn't trust

alienware to actually fix the problem I decided to take it to a computer repair place. Well the guy had never

seen an alienware pc for starters, he looked at it for about five minutes, said all my drivers we're fine, and

that sli was shoty and tried to sell me a new pc. Well I thought he might be right about the driver so I

researched the net for a driver for my specific model and cards. And found this,

167.51_forceware_notebook_winxp_32bit_international_beta

After installing this I was able to enable both cards ( I think ), the sli indicator was showing so I believe

they we're. It is set up in the nvidia control panel as "Single Display Performance Mode". But the picture was

still showing static in game. Well I disabled the card and played for a few days, when I decided to try it again

the sli option in nvidia control panel disappeared. So I had to reinstall the new driver again. After that it

would show it for about three days and then would disappear again so i have reinstalled the driver a few times

at this point. The static has gotten better with this driver but is still there, especially in menus. I am not

the best with computers, self taught for about three years, everything I know I've learned off of message

boards. I read something about IRQ s being the same number and some of mine are when I looked where they told me

to, but I have no idea if that is ok or how to change it if it is not. I would glady take it to someone to get

it repaired if anyone can recommend someone who can actually fix it. I live in the Little Rock, Ar area. If not

can anyone help me with this problem? I will gladly send you whatever info you need if you will tell me where to

find it on pc. Sorry post is sooooo long.

Either one of the video cards is bad, or you motherboard may be defective as far as running in the SLI mode is concerned. Have you tried swapping the video cards to see if it is one card or one of the SLI motherboard sockets?

I have tried switching the cards around on numerous occasions. It doesn't change anything. So I'm leaning towards it not being the cards? How do I know if it is the sockets that are bad or not. I'm guessing thats the part the graphics card goes into? Can just the sockets be changed if bad? Is replacing the motherboard hard? How do I know if its bad? Thank you for your help.

The motherboard will have to be changed. If you have never changed one, I would recommend getting a computer competent person to help you

Ok thank you very much for your help. Can you tell me if I have to go to alienware to get the motherboard, or can I get it from nividia or others? Are they expensive? I tried to search for one on the internet but could not find any specific info on it.