Incorrect RAM Showing and NVIDIA 980M Not Showing

[a_a786]

Hi,

Just received a laptop that had 16GB RAM and upgraded it to 32GB and did a clean install of Windows 7 UE x64-bit.

The laptop specs are still showing 16GB RAM and I cannot, for some reason, install 980M graphics drivers as I get an error saying that there is no currently supported hardware installed. Looking at the device manager the 980M is not showing up under display drivers only the Intel 4600.

I have installed all the drivers so not sure how to fix the problem. I'm guessing I need to update the bios or something like that.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

PS Should also point out that I upgraded the HDD as well from a 500GB HDD to a 1TB SSD.

 

[a_a786]

PS Should also point out that I upgraded the HDD as well from a 500GB HDD to a 1TB SSD.

 

[ubuysa]

It's most likely that the extra 16GB RAM you installed is missmatched, i.e. not compatible with either the motherboard or the 16GB RAM you have already installed.

You really need to sort out that problem first before moving on to the GPU issue.

I would most strongly advise against flashing the BIOS, it will probably invalidate your warranty in any case.

 

[a_a786]

The RAM I've installed is from my old PCSpecialist laptop, x2 Kingston 1.5 volts RAM sticks (even though in the specs it says x4 8gb) which I've used in this new laptop and removed the sticks of RAM that came with the new laptop.

It's kinda weird, I tried them one at time on the new laptop and they were showing up as 8gb each these sticks of RAM.

The RAM is 32GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (4 x 8GB).

Both the old and the new laptop have the exact same specs just the graphics card that is different. Both have Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4910MQ (2.90GHz) 8MB.

As of right now I've replaced the RAM with the ones that originally came with the laptop and they work fine.

 

[a_a786]

I've made a massive mistake, the x2 sticks of ram I'm using in the new laptop that I thought were 32gb, they are actually 8gb each and the rest of the ram is still in the old laptop and can't be accessed by unscrewing the bottom like you normally do when replacing ram.

So there actually is no problem with the ram. But still the graphics card is still a problem.

 

[ubuysa]

Ok RAM sorted then.

What does Device Manager say about the 980M? Look under Display Adapters. If it's not there I'd give PCS a call.

 

[a_a786]

It says "Standard VGA Adapter".

I'm not 100% sure but I checked the hardware id and the DEV_XXXXX is NVIDIA's vendor number so it is in the laptop, I think.

 

[ubuysa]

It says "Standard VGA Adapter".

I'm not 100% sure but I checked the hardware id and the DEV_XXXXX is NVIDIA's vendor number so it is in the laptop, I think.

I have two devices showing under Display Adapters; the first is the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (VEN_8086 - i.e. Intel) and the second is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M (VEN_10DE - i.e. Nvidia). You should show something similar (except yours is the 980M of course). If you don;t see both I'd guess there is a hardware problem there.

 

[a_a786]

I have two devices showing under Display Adapters; the first is the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (VEN_8086 - i.e. Intel) and the second is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M (VEN_10DE - i.e. Nvidia). You should show something similar (except yours is the 980M of course). If you don;t see both I'd guess there is a hardware problem there.

Yeah I see the Intel HD 4600 under that section but instead of GTX 980M it showing as Standard VGA Adapter.

Then VEN is also VEN_10DE for the VGA Adapter.

I have sent a message to PCS so see what they say.

 

[ubuysa]

Yeah I see the Intel HD 4600 under that section but instead of GTX 980M it showing as Standard VGA Adapter.

Then VEN is also VEN_10DE for the VGA Adapter.

I have sent a message to PCS so see what they say.

That does kinda sound like a driver issue though.......

 

[a_a786]

That does kinda sound like a driver issue though.......

I've been searching for a fix and it seems by editing the Nvidia inf file for the driver and adding in driver id it seems to fix the problem and allow for the driver to be installed.

I don't think graphics card is broken or corrupt, I've had the laptop for less than 24 hours and I doubt something like that would pass testing and QC...right?

 

[ubuysa]

I've been searching for a fix and it seems by editing the Nvidia inf file for the driver and adding in driver id it seems to fix the problem and allow for the driver to be installed.

I don't think graphics card is broken or corrupt, I've had the laptop for less than 24 hours and I doubt something like that would pass testing and QC...right?

That's not a good idea (editing .inf files). Boozad of these fora put together instructions on how to do a completely clean install of NVIDIA drivers, I'd suggest you follow this...

Download the latest NVIDA driver for your card to your desktop.


Next, go to Windows update and set it to 'check for updates but let me decide what to install' that will keep windows from automatically installing it's video driver.


Next go to C:/Nvidia, open the folder and you should see a folder named Display driver. Inside that folder you should see a folder for every driver you have ever installed. They will be names 320.49 and such. Delete every one of those folders, but do not delete the display driver folder, just the ones inside.


Next go to control panel > uninstall programs. Uninstall all of the Nvidia display programs, but this is important, uninstall the display driver last. Uninstall the Nvidia update, Phys X, 3D drivers (few people use them), Nvidia HDMI, and the Nvidia update (it does not work anyway). Last uninstall the display driver. You will be told to reboot, do so.


When you log back on, windows will install a display adaptor, that is OK. Open your driver that you have downloaded from Nvidia, agree to terms, do not select express install, select custom install. Make sure the 'clean install' check box is selected and uncheck everything except the display driver and PhysX, then install.


You will have to reboot after that. That will be the cleanest install you can get. You can then set windows update back to whatever you like.

See how you get on with that. It's starting to sound like your troubleshooting might have exacerbated the problem.

 

[a_a786]

As per usual when it comes to computers, it's decided to actually work now.

I just randomly tried again now to see if it would work, i started the laptop up today, and tried running the setup for drivers supplied by PC Specialist in their download section and that did not work. So i tried the drivers from Nvidia's website and it seems to have done the full setup, and the "Standard VGA Adapter" has now changed to "GTX 980M".

Problem solved, somehow.....I won't question it.

 

[ubuysa]

As per usual when it comes to computers, it's decided to actually work now.

I just randomly tried again now to see if it would work, i started the laptop up today, and tried running the setup for drivers supplied by PC Specialist in their download section and that did not work. So i tried the drivers from Nvidia's website and it seems to have done the full setup, and the "Standard VGA Adapter" has now changed to "GTX 980M".

Problem solved, somehow.....I won't question it.

I hate not knowing.....

Glad it's sorted though.

 

[Jamie0202]

Yeah I see the Intel HD 4600 under that section but instead of GTX 980M it showing as Standard VGA Adapter.

Then VEN is also VEN_10DE for the VGA Adapter.

I have sent a message to PCS so see what they say.

I would phone PCS mate. They have first class customer service over the phone but they can be VERY slow responding to emails and the online message service. This has been my personal experience but there have also been a few comments from other posters saying the same thing.

 

[a_a786]

Ok, so my problems don't seem to go away.

Hopefully the final problem to fix, Playing The Witcher 3 and GTA V on PC I get 60 frames constant, but at random intervals the game drops to 20 to 30 frames per second for a couple of seconds, maybe 10 seconds max then shoot right back up to smooth 60 frames per seconds.

I have the latest update for my drivers, and the games and I've seen a thread previously that the throttling may be the issue but that was for the Defiance models.

My specs:
Chassis & Display Vortex Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4910MQ (2.90GHz) 8MB
Memory (RAM) 16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 980M - 8.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11

 

[a_a786]

After doing some monitoring it does seem to be thermal throttling that drops the frame down a lot and the laptop temperature reaches about 70 degrees.

Is this a problem with all 980M or something?

 

[SpyderTracks]

After doing some monitoring it does seem to be thermal throttling that drops the frame down a lot and the laptop temperature reaches about 70 degrees.

Is this a problem with all 980M or something?

You'll need to monitor temps on both the cpu and graphics under idle and gaming to get an idea if something is overheating.

 

[Jamie0202]

How are you monitoring temps?

Are you sure it's the GPU thats's throttling and not the CPU? GPU-Z is good for GPU temps and throttling info while Intel Extreme Tuning Utility is good for the same info on the CPU.

What surface is the laptop on when you have the throttling problems?

I've read the entire thread before posting this time.

 

[a_a786]

How are you monitoring temps?

Are you sure it's the GPU thats's throttling and not the CPU? GPU-Z is good for GPU temps and throttling info while Intel Extreme Tuning Utility is good for the same info on the CPU.

What surface is the laptop on when you have the throttling problems?

I've read the entire thread before posting this time.

I've been using Intel Extreme tuning utility. I'll get GPU-Z and see if it could be that and report back.

I'm using standard computer IKEA desk so it's not that making the laptop hotter than normal.