HP Spectre x360 Vega M VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (ATIKMPAG.SYS)

[IanMcGreish]

I've had this problem since first using my laptop which is the HP Spectre x360 with Radeon Vega M GL graphics. While playing a game Windows OS comes up with a blue screen, starts collecting data then reboots. The error code is VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (ATIKMPAG.SYS) which I understand is an issue with an AMD graphics driver.

Also while playing games such as GTA V the game runs very poorly having split second delays as if the screen is constantly freezing then catching up with itself even at 1920 x 1080 resolution and it isn't even fully utilising the CPU or GPU so there is no reason the game should be lagging as I have a laptop from 2014 that can run the game just fine with the same vram and an older CPU. The GPU even delays on playback of video content, oftenly freezing until the start menu button is pressed!

I hoped that downloading driver updates would help but when I tried downloading an update the Radeon Graphics settings says is available it comes up with the message "Error 182 - AMD Installer cannot properly identify the AMD Graphics Hardware. Click here to learn more." I even tried downloading it manually by viewing the notes but got the same error message through the installer. I'm unable to update to the most recent update at all, even completely removing the drivers and reinstalling them doesn't fix either of these issues and if I try to install the latest update for some reason it is the version I was already on. The version of Radeon settings I'm on is 17.40.1034.1005-180131a-324130C and the new recommended is 18.2.1 (New recommended 17.50.17.03-180131a) which I'm unable to update to. So I'm not even able to update the graphics drivers to see if it fixes the issue no matter what I try! Someone please give me a solution for this problem I'm having!

[old_geekster]

@IanMcGreish, welcome to the forum.

Have you tried the following method of installing the latest driver:

https://support.amd.com/en-us/download

In Step 1, choose your graphics type

In Step 2, choose Auto Detect and Install

If not, it is worth a try.  I have never had problems with this method.

[APIT]

I have an exactly same problem and no auto detect will not work!

I am unable to update the driver and i am also getting blue screen error and unstable fps all the time.

Thank you

[IanMcGreish]

You can't update the drivers because it's incompatible and mistakenly offered as an update for Vega M models as well as the Vega line of GPUs for desktop PCs. That's what me and other people concluded on Reddit.

Also regarding the BSOD from VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE I have tried absolutely everything to fix this issue, updating the BIOS helps a little but doesn't fix the BSOD issue. I got a replacement model that has no lag, delay, BSOD while playing games, so what I suggest you do is contact HP directly about this issue (I phoned them) and have them try help you solve them suggesting you're in warranty which you should be as this is a fairly new device (hopefully under a month since purchase). They should offer to send out a replacement once you return your current model and the new model should not have the same issue.

I have no idea what causes it and I tried literally everything possible to try to fix it, everything an "expert" or HP themselves would suggest and I believe it is unfixable (at this current time) though the reason it happens is beyond me and seemingly HP themselves at this point in time. Maybe some of the models CPU/GPU weren't configured or made properly we have to keep in mind this is a newer idea made by Intel and AMD collaborating. 

So overall call HP as you are in warranty, tell them you have had this issue since you first got the device and that others have experienced the same and let them take control of your computer to try help you. Then ask for a replacement if they're unsuccessful as you will definitely get one if you've owned the device for less than a month, I'm not sure if they still offer a replacement after that month but since you're in warranty and it's clearly faulty they should do.

[APIT]

Unfortunately its been actually 32 days since i bought it haha now i feel gutted i did not phoned them before and got replacement ..
But i phoned them they took control of computer and did diagnostics and i have been told they will escalate it to second level support (engineers) so they will say if its harware or driver ... which i am sure it will be hardware ..
Until then i cant do anything just wait until they come back to me and hopefully it will get exchanged or repaired .. it does not matter as far as it will get sorted as this is very annoying.. especially with such a expencive pc.

[Akraen]

This issue is hitting a lot of people. There are many youtube videos, threads, etc., about it.

If you are a more advanced user, I recommend getting ThrottleStop 8.60 and undervolting as far as you can remain stable. On my Spectre I am able to get down to -.140.6 mV now, which results in about 85C during gaming. VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE is rare, maybe once every couple hours of gaming.

Users should not have to resort to advanced tactics out of the box.

My hope is that HP is working with Intel and AMD to release updated drivers to improve stability. The BIOS update was helpful but seemed to adjust fan curves more than anything. A utility to manually control fan curves would be most welcome. I am convinced these fans can go faster.

I have been posting my experiences over at AMD's forums, to no avail: https://community.amd.com/thread/228261

I really don't think there is a hardware issue here because of my experiences in undervolting and messing around with various drivers. 

My biggest worry is that Intel, AMD, and HP will pingpong responsibility because this is a collaborative unit and we won't ever see actual driver updates.

[APIT]

Hi,

Well i just hope that if they wont be able to fix the issue they at least will offer refunds as it is clearly their fault ...

I am still waiting for response from costumer service and its been over a week now since they escalated it to second level support .

I am not messing with ThrottleStop as i have never tried it and i dont want to damage it . (just in case)

Lets hope it will get fixed 😬
I dont get how can they release product which has such a fault in it .

[Akraen]

Yeah it is such a shame because I believe it to be purely software. They just didn't run enough QA on the i7-8705G before release. They can totally fix this with a driver update.

I am stunned by the performance of this laptop. Witcher 3 with ultra textures in 2880x1620 and it plays smoothly. Depending on the game I can match the performance of my partner's laptop with a GTX 1060 in it (of course some titles it is more like a 1050 Ti, and it is worse in benchmarks than real use).

HP has created a truly jack of all trades laptop, and it is capable of 10+ hours of battery. There are just some kinks to work out and because I believe it to just be bad drivers I am hanging on to my device and hoping that there will be some updates soon.

[APIT]

The performance is just amazing lol thats why its so frustrating that it crashes all the time and fps jump up and down ...
They better fix it asap!

It will be great if they do as if not it will be like oversized spectre 13 inch version haha

I will phone if they wont email
me by tomorrow with update for my case .

[IanMcGreish]

You can download the Radeon settings update from here: 

Intel Radeon Settings drivers

I'm unsure about what causes the error but users shouldn't be required to undervolt their system to make it usable. I got a replacement from HP and it works flawlessly which is why I suggest any user with a BSOD VIDEO_TDR_ERROR should request a replacement like I did rather than living with the problem on what is a very expensive laptop, so such errors are inexcusable.