Artifacts on ATI 3470 T400 Windows 7

[mulletman13]

Hey all,

Just got back into the ThinkPad world with a T400 from fleabay. Got nearly everything I wanted on it, however I've noticed a problem with the switchable graphics-- namely the ATI 3470. Whenever I switch to a driver, or no matter what I install for the 3470 I get screen artifacts. The login screen shows a few large dots, and after that my desktop is littered with red lines. When I open something up, the text scrolls into a blur (as if the video memory is only updating half the screen image).

I've tried every driver, and every combination of Windows updates, uninstalling and ATI drivers, but nothing seems to work. I've come to the conclusion that it's a hardware problem. I ran the video stress test through the ThinkCenter, and the videos all displayed just fine (with no artifacts), but the desktop is not.

Luckily, the machine is still under warranty for almost 600 more days, so it should be convered if it is hardware. I just would hate to have to ship it out right after I got it. =(

Anybody know if there is a MAJOR driver issue in Windows 7 64 bit with the 3470, or if these symptoms appear to be hardware failure? The 4500mhd works just fine, and I've forced the machine into that via the BIOS.

Thanks!

[Colonel O'Neill]

Are you using two RAM sticks of different capacities?

[mulletman13]

Nope, 2 X 2GB of RAM.

[Harryc]

If you've tried the latest Lenovo drivers and it still shows artifacts I'd send it in for service. Be sure to follow the 'uninstall' directions first.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-73641

[mulletman13]

I just swapped in a Windows Vista drive, and cleanly installed the drivers there and it exhibited the same exact issues.

[sigh]

Is there any way I can get it in for service without having to deal with a 30 minute phone call with someone I can barely understand? Would I be able to just call a local warranty service store?

[Harryc]

Lenovo service calls are answered in Atlanta Georgia by US citizens. Go figure.

[mulletman13]

Fantastic news! Thanks for the reply, I'll get on it.

[mulletman13]

Called them up for a depot repair, and in the course of that discovered that if the computer is hooked up to an external display, everything is displayed fine. The depot box will be here tomorrow.

The problem with this is that they asked me if I still see artifacts when its hooked up to the external monitor. At first, it did on this display, then it auto configured a few things and there were none to be found. Whenever I unplug the VGA cable, the artifacts come right back. Any input?

Also, if I send it into depot, and they discover its only a software/setting issue (somehow), will I be charged for it?

Thanks!

[Harryc]

The signal supplied to an external LCD is a different electrical path to that supplied to the internal LCD. So yes it is possible to have artifacts on the internal but not the external LCD. I don't think you'd be charged if they do not find anything.

[mulletman13]

Indeed. When the VGA cable is attached to the computer, the internal display does not display artifacts either... which really boggles my mind. I added the information to my online request, in the case of full disclosure. I'd imagine it's still hardware related, considering I cannot find a single other person that has had this problem.