HD 7690M XT - What is wrong with it?

[JotaCL]

I'll try to do my post as short as possible, as you can see there is another long thread about the HD 7690M in the DV7 series, but in this thread I will talk specifically about the DV6 series, being exact the Pavilion dv6-6c80 (Mine is LatinAmerican version).

So lets explain this... I'm from Chile and I got this notebook on my Birthday number 17 on March 11st... So yeah, of course I was happy and all until I tested the notebook for the first time.

First I installed GTA IV from Steam and Battlefield 3 from Origin, after doing all the Windows updates and checking for BIOS and "HP Assistant" updates, but there were only for Windows... So after downloading and installing the games I got my first surprise... What is this dynamic graphics function? I first I tought it was cool and all, but it was annoying for some games like Skyrim, believing I was using the Intel GPU instead of the ATI GPU... Anyway I played Battlefield 3 for like 10 minutes and the notebook freezed and showed up some artifacts, I had to force the restart, so after the restart I tried GTA IV, same history... I investigated a bit and then went to the BIOS to change the "Dynamic" graphics option to "Switchable"... First thing I noticed was that Battlefield 3 Automatic configuration it went up from Medium to Ultra on everything... I started to play and it looked awesome and fluid, but guess what... After 30 minutes of gameplay (at least it was longer this time), notebook showed artifacts and freezed. So I decided to investigate more and ended in the post mentioned above, tried all the things on it, using others drivers and stuff... But didn't work, perfomance changed a bit but same issue... I decided to format and install Windows 7 Enterprise (Same as Ultimate) full evaluation for 90 days, installed all the required drivers from the HP drivers page... Perfomance was a lot better since it was a fresh install without all the not needed preloaded software from HP... So again I installed GTA IV and Battlefield 3! I decided to go for GTA IV this time, and guess what... 1 hour of gameplay and boom, freezed. So I knew something was wrong with the notebook, I contacted HP support through chat and after some questions that can be answered reading this post, they proceeded to give my an "HP Case Number" to change my notebook at my store for a new one (but the same)... So yeah, I went to my store, they confirmed the case number and they changed it, so I installed my games, tried Battlefield 3 and I was able to play as long as possible, same with other games! So YEES! Everything was perfect... Until few days ago... The problem started to show up again, after an hour of gameplay (sometimes less) the notebook will show some artifacts and freeze. So now I can say the problem was not that the other notebook was damaged, it's possible this model or that the ATI HD 7690M XT it's glitchy, because I'm not the only one having problems with this videocard.

Also a minor detail (or not?) is that the speakers of this model are not aligned to the case, both notebooks (the old one and the replace one) had this miss-alignment, one of my school mates got an older DV6, wich physically is the same, and the speakers are properly aligned. Doesn't affects perfomance but it's just for the eye-candy, you know.

So now I'm asking an expert to post some information about this, I dont want to open a ticket to change this notebook for another model yet...

Well, give us some help HP!

P.S: My english is not perfect since I'm from Chile, here we speak Spanish

[CJacksonLASD]

Ok I'm windering if it's heat related. Artifacts show up from over clocking or heat usually, then it usually crashes. Google core temp and install it and install afterburner from guru3d. Let them run in background. Core temp is for your CPU temp (it should never be over 85), and afterburner can oc your gpu but it's also accurate with gpu dye temp. I need look up the amd max temp not sure (in plane now for work). I think i never see my gpu go over 72c. My guess is since you only crash while gaming, laptop highly under strain, artifacts show first is your over heating. If so buy a good desk fan 30$, open cool temp and place fan on high, check temps while playing to make sure your not too high and of so let laptop cool down. If your in a humid or higher altitude your comp also runs hotter. Hope this helps you.

[JotaCL]

Did it with the old notebook and the replacement one, temperatures are the same, never goes above 80°C, by the way right now im on HP Chat Support trying to get a replacement or this problem fixed.

[JotaCL]

Well... HP Chat gave me a last solution, update my BIOS, I updated it and all... There is still a problem but is differente, now the notebook shows a lot of lines and weird geometrical figures (AKA Artifacts) and it freezes, but now it is not needed to force a restart, after few seconds it turns black and shows the desktop with an AMD Driver error.

Tomorrow I'm going to the shop where I bought it to try to change it for another model, I don't want to have the same problem by replacing it for the same one.

The only solution that HP can give me now is sending it to repair... But seriously I don't want that, it's practically new, but it's all they can do.

Well... I hope I'll have some luck this time.

[mec287]

I have the same problem. It's either a problem with the way the drivers loads grapchics in and out of memory or something phsyically wrong with the graphics card. 

I have the dv6t-6c00 (8gb ram, 7960m, intel i7). Since it's happening on more than one PC it's probably a driver problem. The change that 2 random PCs would have the problem is very small. I'm surprised more people aren't speaking up. HP sould find a solution to this issue. 

[JotaCL]

If you check the other Topic, there is more people with this problem, also I think there is a lot of people arround that has no idea (because they don't push the notebook to the limit) or they ignore it...

HP Chat says it is a physical error in the videocard, but I dont really think it is since it was the same failure with both notebooks... I'm almost sure it's just drivers, but I can't wait for a proper release, it will take time, I need something stable now.

[dv6-6c00_User]

Hi mec287 & JotaCL.......

I too am a very frustrated & dissapointed owner of a dv6-6c00 laptop, exactly same as you too......i have

almost 99% same problems as you too specially the problems match exactly thode with ones which mec287's

laptop have. Though it sounds wierd but i am comforted to know that other laptops of same model have same issues and this issue is nothing specific in my PC, now with each other's help we can resolve this issue.

Here is what i did till now:-

I tried reformatting the whole hard drive & reinstalling window through HP recovery manager's - "Reset to Factory Setting" option. No use, still had the problem.

Then i found on some other forum that System Bios should be updated for resolution of this issue, my pc had Bios Number- F13, i upgraded it with F16 present on Hp support website, last night. Since then the laptop seems a bit

stable, though have not tested properly. I will test the laptop over the weekend & will let you know the results.

Please note that i have not installed 12.2/12.3 Catalyst drivers but just the stock HP drivers and i understand that installation of pre certified 12.2 drivers is required only if one plays Open GL games.Please correct me if i am wrong.

Also i have disabled the BIOS option- "FAN is always on". Let me know if you think disabling this FAN option can create problems , in the meantime i will keep testing the PC with new BIOS.

[dv6-6c00_User]

Quick update ,  just with installing the System BIOS update, all the problems related to screen freeze, BSOD, screen artifacts with my laptop are gone.....no Drivers updated yet....just using HP stock drivers that came with Win7 preinstalled ( catalyst version 11.09).

The only problem i have now is that most of the games i tried are playing with slower frame rates & am not able to play on highest graphics settings, before upgrading BIOS..........games were playable at highest setting including BF3 (ultra) may be just for few mins/hours but performance was lot better....now post BIOS upgrade performance has taken a back seat, though reliability has come in.........

Please suggets what should i do ??

[mec287]

Hmmm. I'm on bios F.12. I should update that. I'd rather have lower performance than constant crashing.

@dv6 you could try overclocking the gpu. MSI afterburner will do that for you.

[mec287]

Also, are you sure you are on the gpu?