[Alienware m17X R3] Need more info regarding 7970M

Hi there, I recently bought a 7970M, and I wanted to inquire more information about it.

I have found a rather dated guide regarding the installation process:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...0-in-the-m17x-r3-an-illustrated-guide.658958/


What I want to know is, regarding the driver, is the 7970M now supported for the Alienware m17X r3? because there is an official driver for it in the Dell section and I am wondering if I would have to still disable the Intel card. Or enduro switching (i think thats what it is called) now supported? Thanks.

 

7970m has no official support on the R3. You still have to disable the integrated Intel graphics to make it work. While that guide was done a while back, everything mentioned in it is still accurate. Use the most recent drivers from AMD, not the ones on the Dell download page. You will also have reduced brightness, but click here on how to fix that.

 

What exactly is the 7970M R3 7970M driver for if that is the case? Jsut wondering.
Thank you for your reply by the way.

Would it also be a good idea to install the Dell driver first, then install the AMD one over it?

 

I just went straight to whatever was the current AMD driver at the time, no need for the Dell driver. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/mobile?os=Windows 7 - 64 That is the most current non-beta driver for Windows 7.

 

Thank you. And should I stick with the modded A08 Bios, or get a modded a012 bios?

 

I'm on modded A08. Not sure if I'm really missing anything compared to 12. A08 has been fine for me.

 

Thanks for your responses. Hopping to it now, hopefully this works without issue.

 

Installation seems to be all successful, got the driver and everything all set up. Hopefully I won't run into crashing errors and such.

By the way, what can you tell me about overclocking? Do you overclock? And if so, can you give me a screenshot of the overclocking settings you use? Would be much appreciated.

 

I haven't tried to overclock since I first installed the card so I can't help you there. I think I used MSI Afterburner but I don't remember how high of an overclock I was able to get.

 

Ah okay, no problem. By the way, what are your idle temps? and temps when running a game?

 

Hi,

I recently got black screen while playing on my Alienware M17x R3 with 7970m, and then some artefacts.
The Dell Diagnostics gives me error code: 2000-0332, video memory integrity test discrepancy.

So I guess that's 100% dead video card right, though sometimes it works for a while with no problem?

I left the 7970m and switched to SG in the bios, that should do the job for using the integrated graphics while I buy new card/decide what to do..
Is it okay like that?

Thank you

 

I used to overclock my 7970M with Saphire Trix... You can of course mod the BIOS and stick OC clocks but it's safer to use software OCing..

 

I have bios rev 22 so I haven't tried to mod it because people at t|i were having issues trying to flash a custom bios if they already had rev 21 or higher. Now I'm getting throttling when my gpu reaches 72-74c. Anyone have any idea on how to stop this? It's not like 72c is that warm anyways.

 

Hi i upgrade my dead 6990m to a 7970m.

Im on A08 unlocked, changed por PEG and disable IGP on bios, fresh installation of windows 8, card is detected, at least afterburners it display, in device manager card appear to, is but 0 on all panels, supposed is for no drivers installed and no running.
Installed the latest oficial mobility from amd, all install ok, no errors.Restart.

Afterburned still display 0, trying to enter in CCC and give and error something like no configuration detected to uses that or something similar.

What im doing wrong? some help will be aprecciated.