Lenovo E320 with "random" graphics freeze with dynamic pixelation.

Shand · 05 May 2013

Hi all,
really hope you can help here, its driving me crazy.
I have a lenovo E320 laptop. which is a really great machine except for one small problem.
since christmas it has developed a tendency to randomly (i havent been able to corelate the behaviour with anything from temp to usage to angle of screen to physical location) freeze the system, the display shows the frozen image with an overlay of dynamic pixelation.

this can occur when playing a graphics intensive game, or while idling on the desktop, while running on an external monitor (both screens effected), during booting, or even while running diagnostic tests pre boot.
I've tried new drivers, i've tried old drivers. i've tried a clean boot. the GPU (and therefore system board) has been replaced and still no luck.

a re-image is on the cards for when i have the required stuff (pendrive with the bootdisc on) but this stinks of a hardware issue.

Memory passes all tests, and it really LOOKS like a GPU problem. but that has been replaced to no help.
Updating drivers and bios seems to have HELPED, but the system still crashes every now and again (better then the "every few mintues" of yesterday)

any suggestions?
Couple of example screenshots:

Ben050 · 05 May 2013

Shand, I find solution for you.
This causes Overheating or updating BIOS if you update bios then cause BIOS stop working

Then make sure:
Don't replace GPU and other Laptop Components.
Don't overclock or use dangerous PC jobs.
Don't touching Laptop components and not removing Keyboard.
Run Full system scan with Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.org or other any malware removal software.

If doesn't help you Contact Lenovo by calling number 1-800-426-7378

-Ben

Shand · 05 May 2013

Thanks Ben.
i was concerned it was overheating, but it doesnt correlate with any temp related stats - usage or any of the temp sensors.
the GPU was replaced under warranty.
i dont use overclockin or anything too adventurous.

can you explain what you mean about the bios?

Ben050 · 06 May 2013

BIOS is a name called Basic Output System that allows PC administrators and non-most people change Boot Options, Overclocking, and etc.

Kari · 06 May 2013

@ Ben, BIOS is short from Basic Input/Output System, the word Input there is an important and integral part of the name.

Please try to tell that about BIOS again in another way, this sentence is about impossible to understand:

Ben050 said:

This causes Overheating or updating BIOS if you update bios then cause BIOS stop working

Try using Google Translate, type what you want to say in your language and let Translator translate it to English.

@ Shand, I do not know Lenovos too well but I have had almost similar issue with one HP laptop a few years back. I have had this on other HPs, too, but this DV-7 is the only one that went to service because of this issue.

As the service did not find any faults they replaced the motherboard. In a very vague way they told me that continuous overheating had most probably damaged the connection in between the GPU and the motherboard, which for me was and still is very difficult to understand as we were talking about integrated GPU.

However, on other HP computers, laptops and desktops alike, I have noticed that letting the system use the display drivers which Windows finds and installs automatically instead of always searching the latest drivers on nVivia's or ATI's websites and undervolting the laptops to keep them cooler, this issue is pretty much gone.

If that was my laptop, I would do following:

Check that BIOS is up to date
Uninstall video drivers and let Windows find the drivers
Start monitoring and recording CPU / GPU / HDD temps to find out if there is a connection

I know this will not help you but I wanted to tell my opinion. Good luck in finding the reason for this, keep posting and we just might find it together.

Kari

Shand · 06 May 2013

Thanks Kari.
I've checked the Bios and its up-to-date (it wasnt when the problem ocurred).
i've run the latest and greatest video drivers, as well as those the computer shipped with and everything i could find in between.
There is no correlation between the crashes and any environmental or other factor i can find. except it TENDS to crash MORE when on AC power (but does still crash wquite often off)

Yeah, intergrated GPU so the motherboard/GPU was replaced together, their explaination for you sounds suspect.

I've done a compete reinstall, and its still occurs. GAH, its not the software, its not the GPU/systemboard. its not the memory, its not the monitor.
SO its either the PSU, the CPU or the magic pixies.

Update: I fought Lenovo into a replacement laptop (E330) which is going strong now.
we may never know what exactly was happening with the E320, but i think some combination of overheating and a gippy PSU may have been involved.