Precision 7560 & Precision 7760 owner's thread

[TheQuentincc]

That's a pretty nice find, was it the same with the previous 7x50 generation ? I kinda want the 7750 vbios for my RTX3000...

[Rinconmike]

another bios released. 1.14.0

 

Fixes & Enhancements
- Firmware updates to address security vulnerabilities including (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures - CVE) such as CVE-2022-0778.

 

I am still on 1.12.1

[alaskajoel]

Posting my solution for some graphics problems I've been encountering on my 7760 with A4000 in Windows 10.

 

The Dell provided Nvidia graphics drivers newer than 462.09 (to the now current 512.36) would disable integer display scaling and cause BSODs/kernel-power hard resets when waking from sleep or hibernation anytime I enabled discrete graphics mode in the bios. The solution I found was to DDU the Dell drivers (a regular custom Nvidia install would not work) and install the Nvidia provided drivers directly from Nvidia's website. No more crashing and I'm happily using integer scaling again on the 4k120hz display.

 

Annoyingly, I didn't even deliberately update the drivers on my machine to cause this problem. The troublesome drivers were installed in a windows update over the weekend. Unfortunately, IT thought the prudent solution was to completely reimage my machine...which did work until Windows update attacked my machine again. RIP my lost 4 hours of productivity. 😠

 

[drnoob13]

On 8/9/2022 at 7:01 PM, alaskajoel said:

Posting my solution for some graphics problems I've been encountering on my 7760 with A4000 in Windows 10.

 

The Dell provided Nvidia graphics drivers newer than 462.09 (to the now current 512.36) would disable integer display scaling and cause BSODs/kernel-power hard resets when waking from sleep or hibernation anytime I enabled discrete graphics mode in the bios. The solution I found was to DDU the Dell drivers (a regular custom Nvidia install would not work) and install the Nvidia provided drivers directly from Nvidia's website. No more crashing and I'm happily using integer scaling again on the 4k120hz display.

 

Annoyingly, I didn't even deliberately update the drivers on my machine to cause this problem. The troublesome drivers were installed in a windows update over the weekend. Unfortunately, IT thought the prudent solution was to completely reimage my machine...which did work until Windows update attacked my machine again. RIP my lost 4 hours of productivity. 😠

 

 

I can relate to this.

 

Several weeks ago, my 7560 showed me a blue screen of death and refused to boot into windows 11 due to some mysterious driver unloading issue (attached). I had tried multiple ways to fix it, e.g. startup repair, system restore, safe mode troubleshooting, etc. with no success. Then I decided to do a disk backup followed by a Dell factory reset to get my system back into a fresh working windows 10. Thankfully, I have 2 separated SSDs, one holds the windows partition and the other keeps the linux one. So the reset on the windows partition didn't do any harm to my work directories and data, which are stored in the linux partition. I'm still baffled why these kind of BSOD problems exist in the first place. I wish no one had to factory reset their system like I had to.

 

Edit: forgot to mention that my 7560 has an RTX A4000 and this BSOD seemed an nvidia driver problem (nvpcf.sys). My windows 11 couldn't boot pass the BSOD.

 

[Rinconmike]

Anyone install bios 1.13.0 or 1.14.0?  I have my 7760 on 1.12.1, a 7560 still on 1.5.0, and another 7560 on 1.8.0.  the 7560 are what the systems came with.  I updated my 7760 a few times with no issue.  

 

Edit: also is there a way to prevent windows updates to install driver updates.  On all three o the systems, windows update has installed drivers to include nvidia display driver update.  Luckily I have never had a bios update through windows update but concerned this can happen.

[heikkuri]

I am running the latest BIOS on 7540, 7550 and 7760. All models running Windows 10.

First start is sometimes bad after BIOS update if you have Dell 7450 with Dell WD19DC dock.

Bot dock USB Type-C cables have light on but still computer complains:

 

You have plugged a lower wattage power adapter USB-C charging device or power pass-through device.

Your system will continue work but may not at it's peak.

 

And after PC restart or continue there is a yellow warning triangle over the battery icon in the taskbar.

Better power of both devices and then its OK again. Yes I know I should not update BIOS with WD19DC dock but I am lazy.

 

nvpcf.sys seems to be well known problem.

 

https://www.dell.com/community/Precision-Mobile-Workstations/Dell-7560-7760-RTX-A3000-A4000-nvpcf-sys-bluescreens/m-p/8229522#M9938

 

I run always Nvidia version of drivers. Not any Dell package. Today in use is Nvidia 516.25.

We have Windows Update for Business in use without driver updates. Not home computers...

 

Always wait at least few week before doing larger updates. Test computers are different case of course.

 

For home computers just google: disable driver update windows 11

 

[zhongze12345]

A technician replaced the heatsink and fan assembly about a month ago, and I just noticed that they bent the heatsink in the process. I'm positive that the damage was caused by the technician as it would be impossible for the heatsink to bend like that without the bottom cover showing any damage.

 

I was wondering whether the bent fins would affect performance to see whether I should get a replacement heatsink.

 

Also does anyone know whether Dell will send over just the part without the technician? I was planning on repasting with NT-H2, so I might as well install the heatsink myself.

 

[Aaron44126]

On 8/13/2022 at 7:56 AM, Rinconmike said:

Anyone install bios 1.13.0 or 1.14.0?  I have my 7760 on 1.12.1, a 7560 still on 1.5.0, and another 7560 on 1.8.0.  the 7560 are what the systems came with.  I updated my 7760 a few times with no issue.  

 

Edit: also is there a way to prevent windows updates to install driver updates.  On all three o the systems, windows update has installed drivers to include nvidia display driver update.  Luckily I have never had a bios update through windows update but concerned this can happen.

 

I'm running 1.14.0 on the Precision 7560, it has been fine for me.

 

To disable BIOS updates from being applied through Windows Update, go to BIOS setup and turn off the setting for "capsule firmware updates" (under Security I think?).  You can disable all driver updates through Windows Update through other ways.

 

11 hours ago, zhongze12345 said:

I was wondering whether the bent fins would affect performance to see whether I should get a replacement heatsink.

 

Also does anyone know whether Dell will send over just the part without the technician? I was planning on repasting with NT-H2, so I might as well install the heatsink myself.

 

I would personally have this replaced, though I doubt a few bent fins will really impact performance much if the air can still get through them.  They're right at the end so they might not be getting much airflow from the fan anyway.  It would be easy to get that replaced if you show them the photo.  You can ask them to send the part only, and they might.  They've done it for me before upon request (i.e. keyboard replacements).  If you want to repaste and they do end up sending a tech, depending on the tech, they might be willing to let you repaste while performing the heatsink replacement or they might even be willing to repaste for you using the paste that you have on hand.  (I've had both of these happen before as well.)

[Rinconmike]

39 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

 

I'm running 1.14.0 on the Precision 7560, it has been fine for me

 

 

@Aaron44126 do you see any issue going from 1.8.0 or 1.5.0 right to 1.14.0 on the 7560?

[Aaron44126]

59 minutes ago, Rinconmike said:

@Aaron44126 do you see any issue going from 1.8.0 or 1.5.0 right to 1.14.0 on the 7560?

 

I haven't tried this myself but I think it would be fine.  I think it would be best to skip the 1.10.x and 1.11.x versions anyway as those are the ones that Dell kept pulling down.

[Ionising_Radiation]

So, after changing the VBIOS, I realise this was a bad idea, especially compared to the Precision 7530 Quadro P3200 mod. The new VBIOS causes the GPU to constantly thermal-throttle. I might perform a re-paste to see if temperatures improve, but I don't expect any miracles. 

 

The worst thing is that I deleted my original VBIOS (ugh), so... does anyone have a 7560 with an A4000 in it? 

[Aaron44126]

9 hours ago, Ionising_Radiation said:

So, after changing the VBIOS, I realise this was a bad idea, especially compared to the Precision 7530 Quadro P3200 mod. The new VBIOS causes the GPU to constantly thermal-throttle. I might perform a re-paste to see if temperatures improve, but I don't expect any miracles. 

 

The worst thing is that I deleted my original VBIOS (ugh), so... does anyone have a 7560 with an A4000 in it? 

 

Confused, is it thermal throttling at an idle/desktop workload ("always"), or just while gaming or under 3D workloads?  Seems like thermal throttling wouldn't necessarily be an issue if you're still getting higher performance than you were with the old vBIOS (as long as it is not wasting power when it shouldn't be).

[PHVM_BR]

On 8/13/2022 at 9:58 PM, zhongze12345 said:

A technician replaced the heatsink and fan assembly about a month ago, and I just noticed that they bent the heatsink in the process. I'm positive that the damage was caused by the technician as it would be impossible for the heatsink to bend like that without the bottom cover showing any damage.

 

I was wondering whether the bent fins would affect performance to see whether I should get a replacement heatsink.

 

Also does anyone know whether Dell will send over just the part without the technician? I was planning on repasting with NT-H2, so I might as well install the heatsink myself.

 

I repasted with NT-H2 and my Precision 7540 had fantastic thermal gains....for about 3 weeks.

NT-H2 is not very viscous and with constant use at high performance has a tendency to drain into laptops.

The heatsink pressure is much lower than on desktops and the probability of the pump-out effect occurring is very high.

Originally, without undervolt, in multicore CBR23 the i7-9750H hit 100°C at 90W with 3.6/3.7GHz on all cores. With Noctua it dropped to ~94°C at 90W with 3.8/3.9GHz, without thermal throttling. After 15/20 days the performance degraded at 75W at ~94°C.

I currently use Thermalright TFX and the performance remains the same after 2 months, almost equal to noctua for the first few days.

This is CPU related. For GPU Noctua works very well due to lower temperatures.

No flow occurred and performance didn't degrade.

[Ionising_Radiation]

7 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

Confused, is it thermal throttling at an idle/desktop workload ("always"), or just while gaming or under 3D workloads?

I ought to have been clearer: it constantly thermal-throttles under 3D workloads. I've tried a variety of games (Anno 1800, Witcher 3, Halo Infinite), and when the GPU stays at ~83°C for some time, it then immediately throttles to ~540 Hz, and slowly climbs back up. 

 

I've been trying to fiddle with Afterburner to 'underclock/undervolt' back to the 7560's A4000 VBIOS settings, but it looks like regardless of what clock I run at, the GPU now draws 115 W... Strange.

[heikkuri]

On 8/14/2022 at 6:56 PM, Ionising_Radiation said:

The worst thing is that I deleted my original VBIOS (ugh), so... does anyone have a 7560 with an A4000 in it? 

Yes I may find few devices from the office. Just send me the command what run.

[Ionising_Radiation]

On 8/16/2022 at 4:06 AM, heikkuri said:

Yes I may find few devices from the office. Just send me the command what run.

See this comment earlier in the thread. Thanks for offering to help 🙂

[razibus]

Yesterday, my 7760 crashed several times. I share the computer with my wife and she said every time it happened she was typing and using the shift key (the one on the right of the keyboard). I could not be believe it, so I started investigating by running all the diagnostic tests unsuccessfully. It turns out she was right, and pressing the key makes the computer crash even when just being in the bios. It seems the computer may be hotter at this precise place. Does anyone know what component is under this key or what may cause an overheating at this place?

[alittleteapot]

19 minutes ago, razibus said:

 Does anyone know what component is under this key or what may cause an overheating at this place?

 

A casual browsing of the 7760 Service Manual shows that the GPU Power Cable is somewhat near under that position ( https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/precision-17-7760-laptop_owners-manual2_en-us.pdf p68).  If that cable is in any way loose, that could possibly be a cause of the the crashing when you physically press the Right Shift key.  Has the GPU been recently replaced?  If you have next-day Pro Support, I would get a technician out there ASAP.

[Aaron44126]

25 minutes ago, razibus said:

Yesterday, my 7760 crashed several times. I share the computer with my wife and she said every time it happened she was typing and using the shift key (the one on the right of the keyboard). I could not be believe it, so I started investigating by running all the diagnostic tests unsuccessfully. It turns out she was right, and pressing the key makes the computer crash even when just being in the bios. It seems the computer may be hotter at this precise place. Does anyone know what component is under this key or what may cause an overheating at this place?

 

Odd, most of the hot/important stuff is more on the left side...  The GPU does occupy some space towards the right side, though I thought the power cable was on the "bottom" side of the system (on the side of the motherboard opposite from the keyboard), any sort of bending that disrupts a connection has the potential to cause a crash.

 

I agree with @alittleteapot — call support (hopefully ProSupport) and get them to send over whatever they need to fix it; if it is easily reproduced like this then it's clearly not a hardware issue and not a software issue.  All 7760's should still be under warranty with some kind of "next-day service".

[razibus]

Thank you both for your answers. Interestingly, I do not have a GPU, I only have an iGPU. Maybe it creates a pocket of hot air at this specific place? What is under the GPU power cable?

 

Yes, it is a hardware issue for sure. Yes, I have ProSupport, but I just wanted to know how to prevent this to happen again. I also wonder it is happening now, and I think the temperature inside our home may have accelerated the problem. (of a defective keyboard?)

 

I also have a silly question. Since the computer crashed about 10 times before I could figure out the problem, should I restore a backup before the problem happened? (is there any risk of data loss or data corruption?)

[Aaron44126]

9 hours ago, razibus said:

I also have a silly question. Since the computer crashed about 10 times before I could figure out the problem, should I restore a backup before the problem happened? (is there any risk of data loss or data corruption?)

 

Windows is pretty robust when it comes to file system integrity these days, I personally would not worry too much about this.  (I never restore from backup after a crash.)  If you want to be safe, open an admin command prompt and run "chkdsk 😄 /f", answer "Y" at the prompt, and then reboot your system and it will run a disk check.

 

[Edit]

Uh, the smiley is supposed to be "C colon", or "C :" with no space in between, I can't figure out how to make the forum not put an emoticon there..

[razibus]

Thanks, I did a chkdsk and everything was fine. I guess I don't need to restore my backup, but I will keep an eye on the system errors.

[alittleteapot]

21 hours ago, razibus said:

Thanks, I did a chkdsk and everything was fine.

One more point.  You can use the free HWInfo64 to monitor CPU temperatures, but have you used compressed air to clean out the fans recently?  After twelve months of use, my laptop was starting to bluescreen quite a bit because of the dust in the environment collecting on the system fans, leading to very high temps and crashes.  You likely don't even need to remove the bottom of the case, although I did - but these systems definitely need periodic cleaning to maintain function.

[razibus]

From HWInfo64, CPU core temperatures are:

- current: 38C

- minimum: 35C

- maximum: 96C

- average: 39C

 

The fans are almost never running. However, it is not a bad idea to remove the dust. Any brand/model of compressed air to recommend? I am surprised your computer was crashing because of the high temperatures, I thought there were securities to prevent that from happening.

[Aaron44126]

I've never had mine crash from high temps (it should throttle down to bring the temperature under control) but I have noticed that after many months, the fans will definitely be running higher under a moderate load, and a cleaning will bring it back under control.  I recommend cleaning 2-3 times per year (especially if you run loads that tend to invoke the fans... less important if they are off most of the time).