ASUS G53 GPU Glitches

[aMgDrew]

G53SW GPU Glitches
Hello everybody.

Please keep in mind that while I'm making this post, my GPU driver keeps crashing and restoring every minute or so.

I'm experiencing some GPU Glitches. I've had this kind of problem for a while now. First time noticed about 6 months ago, but
then it stopped after updating video driver, and shutting down my computer overnight.

This is how it looks like.
Screenshot of League of Legends. 14 minutes into the game.
http://i.imgur.com/O40waoH.jpg

Screenshot of my dxdiag
http://i.imgur.com/ebC8Cxm.png

Restarting PC will solve the problem for about 30 minutes.
Leaving PC shut down overnight no longer solves the problem as it used to.

Asus support has suggested to update drivers and/or restore my whole system.

Any thought?

Your faithfully,
Andrew



Edit: I forgot to mention that sometimes, I get artifacts when browsing or doing anything really (little pixels all over the screen, mainly within RGB color specter. Mousing over them makes them disappear and it seems that new ones appear shortly after. Switching to a new tab solves the problem without any major impact on the system, at least it looks like it. Who knows, maybe somewhere deep inside the system, my GPU is having a heart attack for no apparent reason)

As seen on screenshot #1, up to 10th minute in to the game, everything was fine. These glitches have spread very fast. Yesterday I've had the same problem, and within 30 seconds my system froze completely (including that stuttering sound). I've had to switch off the system by holding the power button and after turning it on, everything was back to normal again.

After contacting Asus, they provided me with the link to download Display Driver. I've installed it and it seems back to normal again. However I am still concerned about the damage already done to my GPU. Were those glitches normal any way, even using outdated driver or beta drivers? What if the glitches come back even if I'm using the driver Asus have provided me with???

[xeromist]

Could be heat related. Have you cleaned the dust bunnies out with compressed air?

If you haven't already you might want to look into your temps. Something like Speccy will allow you to see several system temps at the same time. So that might be OK for idle temps. Furmark can put a higher load on your GPU than you'll see in games while monitoring the temp. If you've cleaned the dust and you still get high temps under load you might need fresh thermal paste on that GPU.

[aMgDrew]

Alright. I've run a stress test using MSI Kombustor
Here's a screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/gTtcYhS.jpg

Before I've actually was able to perform a test, it took me a while start up the system. I was only getting black screen.

My start up sequence looks like this.
Asus Logo > Password > Bootcamp (Ubuntu, Memtest, Win Recovery, Win7) > Win Logo > Win Password.

It failed to go any further Asus Logo several times and past Win Logo once.

S*it is getting weird...

[xeromist]

You could try running a driver cleaner and going back to an older driver but GPUs do get old. There's a chance it might be beyond your ability to fix.

[aMgDrew]

Thanks for your feedback. The drivers I've always had, I've also checked if they are supporting my video card before downloading it.
GPUs do get old. I've heard that an average lifespan of a chip is 5 years. I might be wrong on that one.
I've had this laptop for almost a year though.

Cleaning vents is out of the question because it will void my warranty. I've still got slightly over a year of warranty left.

Thanks

[xeromist]

If it's still under warranty then I would send it for RMA. Even if you can work around the issue it might get worse.

[aMgDrew]

xeromist wrote:
If it's still under warranty then I would send it for RMA. Even if you can work around the issue it might get worse.

It's been a while since I've posted here and I've got some updates for you guys.

Last Saturday I've applied for RMA through ASUS support website.
On Tuesday I've received an email from them saying that a courier will arrive to pick up my system and deliver it to repair centre. they've also provided me with RMA number as well as directions for system packaging.
On Wednesday morning a courier has arrived to collect my system. For security reasons I've filmed how I've shut Down my system, showing that its charging properly, unplugged AC, took out battery and handed it to the courier who safely placed it in a box that seemed quite safe for the system to be carried in. Signed for the parcel and it was on it's way.
Thursday morning (today) I've received a message saying that my system has been successfully delivered to repair centre (LetMeRepair UK). I have rang them shortly after and requested them to contact me to discuss the problems with the system.
They did as agreed and I've received a call from one of their representatives ( I think from technician himself ) and he said that he cleaned the dust from the fans as a standard procedure. He also said that he replaced my old GTX 460m GPU to a new (possibly) GTX 460m and repaired it, stating that he's been running Furmark on the system for the last 4 and a half hours and the system is stable.


Now all I have to do is to wait for my system to arrive, I'm sure it will be quick. I will also be filming when it arrives and when turning it on for security reasons.

As I've read through numerous ASUS RMA reviews globally, they all seemed to have issues. My conclusion so far:
1. People got unlucky and sent their systems during busy times (large workload at repair centres)
2. OR Internet is 99% of bad reviews and 1% of good reviews of customers who actually did not forget to leave a review due to an excessive amount of excitement of awesome service.

But let's see how it goes when I receive my system. If something goes wrong (cosmetic damage to the case or hardware malfunction, like most of cases had), then I will be ready for it with video footage before sending out the unit and after receiving it back (serial number from the back of the case has also been filmed so there is no way to argue about it being the same system on both footages)

Thank you community who read this thread and those who have replied.
I'll keep you all updated if you're still interested

[xeromist]

I'm interested. Even if something goes wrong I think the truth is always worth hearing.

[aMgDrew]

Alright. Feels like they are dodging me.

I've contacted them this week and I was told that apparently they're still waiting for GPU to arrive.
Everything they say makes little to no sense.
On Wednesday they sent me an email that they were waiting for a new GPU to arrive and it has arrived, so they were doing some final tests before they ship back the notebook, however they said that if there are no issues with the repair, I should receive the system on Thursday or Friday.

1. Thursday makes no sense as they should have arranged a pick up with the courier on Wednesday, so that a courier could pick it up on Thursday and deliver it to me on Friday.
2. Friday makes little sense because they would have to hand the notebook to the courier on Thursday, and arrange the pick up on Wednesday (when they were still doing some tests).

Looking at what they told me and I quote "if there are no issues with the repair.." I am lead to believe that there have been an issue with the repair.
My question is, what are the odds that a new GPU is faulty against the odds that they whacked something else in the notebook?

It's been only two weeks, and only two weeks is more than enough to start considering that "the nightmare" is yet to come.

[aMgDrew]

Ok so I've just received my laptop. Everything seemed great physically until I've turned it on.

Now, on their report sheet it says that they've replaced:
G53JW TOP PALM REST ASSY
G53SW-1A LCD COVER ASSY (????)
G53SW VGA BD

When I've turned it on I could hear a clicky noise coming from GPU fan, the air was coming out of it normally, but the whole noise is even louder than it has ever been. There seems no air coming out of CPU fan. It booted up nicely, and the fan noise stopped (HDD makes loud noises too), so I've decided to run Windows Assestment. 10-15 seconds in and the system switches off. I try to power it back on, it doesn't stay on for long, even a minute.

This sucks, please help me, I don't want them to brick my system even more if they ask me to send it to them again... ****ing hell...