Alienware 17 (R5?) 8 beeps after 980M upgrade

Hey all, Apologies for the first post, not entirely sure where this should go...

System Specs as reported by the hardware:

Alienware 17
Deployment Date: Feb 23, 2014
(Service Tag available if required)
Memory: 32 GB
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4900MQ CPU @ 2.80GHz
GPU: GTX 780M

BaseBoard Product 068R5X
BaseBoard Version A03
BIOS Version/Date Alienware A17, 22/07/2019

The GPU has been having some significant issues recently (that were mostly solved with new thermal pads, thankfully), but I DID purchase a Clevo 980M which was recommended by a few posts here on the forums before I joined.

A direct swap caused the System to fail POST with 8 Beeps.
I know I've screwed something up here. Do I need to make an Unlocked BIOS? if so, how?

Any help getting the 980M working would be appreciated.

 

I’m going to assume you have the 120Hz 3D display. An 8 beep code refers to an LCD issue but with the 120Hz display it often means that there is a problem with the GPU. Can you confirm that you have the 3D display? If you do then the 980M could be defective or it isn’t seated properly.

Throw your 780M back in and see if you have any issues. If not then it will be a good idea to flash the unlocked BIOS

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It boots perfectly fine with the 780M installed. and it definitely has the 120hz display, it's one of the reasons I got it back then
So you're saying the GPU could be DoA?

 

Yep. Sounds like it. If the 120Hz display can’t detect an Nvidia GPU then you’ll get the 8 beep code


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Crap. Well, it's a good thing the Ebay Seller has a 90 day replacement warranty...

Are there any other tests I can perform that can prove the card is DoA?

 

Does your computer restart without the 980M?

Here you will get the procedure to unlock your bios:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-r5-r1-bios-unlocked.802440/

I did it a few days using A14+ version.
But I'm not sure it will help you.

 

It does.

is there a guide on installing the Unlocked BIOS? The Thread mentions I have to get it modded with the Service Tag...

 

I don’t know other method.

You could get your service tag in your curent bios, and follow the guide after.

 

The question is "Where is the guide"? I know my Service Tag.

 

I might be wrong here, so please correct me if I am. 980m needs UEFI boot only, legacy has to be disabled in BIOS before installing the card. At least on R4 model. Can you confirm if you have Legacy enabled or disabled?

 

Yes, as far as I know, it only boots up in pure UEFI environment.

 

That’ll be it then. Hopefully.


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The guide is the first post of thread i linked you.

You'll find folder download link in page 4 (if my memory is good) of the same thread.
Here you can download unlock bios, the bios.bin file is in independant folder, must be rename and you have to replace CHANGE1 by your service tag.

 

Certainly looks like it...

 

A lot of the time a switch from Legacy to UEFI means a fresh install of Windows but I believe it depends on how the disk is set up. MBR or GPT.

 

I have absolutely no idea....

 

Well, after installing the Unlocked A16+ Bios, The display actually turns on, but is still blank and giving the 8 beeps.

 

Try it without the card again and see what it does.

 

If the system is in pure UEFI mode, at the very least you should see the Alienware splash screen and be able to get into the BIOS by hitting F2 when the 980m is installed. Also I thought Clevo cards didn't work well with Alienwares because Clevo VBIOSes don't play nice with Alienware laptops. That's what I've heard.

I've always stayed away from Clevo cards because of that and only consider MSI cards. MSI MXM cards work very well with Alienware laptops.

If you can't get the 980m to work within the next few days, I'd recommend returning it and getting an MSI GTX 1060 MXM module instead. They're both about the same price used and the 1060 is more powerful.

 

Nothing without a card. The BIOS isn't even *detecting* an iGPU, strangely...

I can't, well past the 30 day refund period.
The old card still works fine. The ebay seller specifically states that the Clevo card works on A17 R5's...

EDIT: Actually I'm not even sure it's a Clevo... It *does* have a different size X-Bracket though.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/303274717263 That's the item listing.

Maybe I need to Change the VBIOS on the card? but I've got no damn clue how to do that.

 

A few days ago, I had a black screen accompanied by 8 beeps at startup after having flashed my bios.
Here is what I did that solved my problem:

1/ I removed the graphics card and the battery, and I restarted.
Which gave me access to the modified bios.

2/ I've Enabled "Always Enable PEG", in the bios.

3/ I reconnected the GPU and battery and my computer started with my geforce connected.

4/ I restarted is repositioned "Always Enable PEG" to Disabled, since I do not have a 120 MHz screen.

There are certainly unnecessary steps, but these are all the steps I have taken.

 

I have a 120hz screen.

Apparently, the 120hz variants have the iGPUs *hardware disabled*, apparently.

 

I'd say your card looks like an aftermarket Chinese one, not a Clevo.

Yes, the 120 Hz Models do have the iGPU disabled due to incompatibility, please do not change any setting in the BIOS regarding the video output.

You could try this, preferably on a spare HDD:
Boot with your old card, set the BIOS to UEFI, Legacy disabled, Fast Boot disabled.

Prepare a USB-Stick, with Win 10, using Rufus.

If you have a spare HDD, replace your HDD with it and use it for testing purposes upfront.
(If not, backup all your personal data and go ahead).

Have your device disconnected from the Internet the whole time.

Put the 980m into your laptop, stick in the USB-Stick.
Power it on, normally it should pass POST and try to boot now.

Convert your HDD partition type to GPT and install Windows 10.

 

I'll give this a shot. I mean, the old card's really starting to fail now, so what do I have left to lose?

 

Quick note: You don't need Rufus anymore to make a bootable USB. The Microsoft Media Creation Tool does it for you.

 

I've got a bootable disk. it's just that I have to take the thing almost entirely apart because I need to remove the SSD which is the system drive. it doesn't boot right off the USB.

EDIT: Nevermind. Didn't set the USB drive as the first in the UEFI boot list. Chaniging the card now.

 

Nope. No POST, 8 Beeps.

Dead Card?

 

It does sound like it but it's hard to know for sure without having it in front of me to play with

 

Huh... that... may actually be a possibility, as I'm in Perth

 

Well they did open the border yesterday......

 

It sounds very much like VBIOS issue as normally you get some kind of life straight away if the card is compatible. Also i have to agree with the poster that mentioned Clevo cards do not work very well with AW as Clevo releases their cards mainly for their systems and often custom or modded Vbios which may not always work with AW.

 

I agree. but I have no idea how to change the vBIOS on a card. As far as I can tell, it's not specifically a clevo variant, but a Chinese copy with the clevo VBIOS installed.

EDIT: I mean.. clearly I'd have to have a system that boots with it... I swear I probably would have figured out how to VBIOS flash it if I had a 60hz display, then i'd at least be able to boot to the iGPU...

 

I personally never flashed Vbios but from what ive seen its done in two basic steps, 1. you need to find the correct Vbios file for your card which can be obtained on techpowerup.com/vgabios/ as example. You can also ask around forums if anyone has a card similar to yours and provide a bios file backup extracted from their card. And once you got the correct file you need to create a bootable DOS flash drive, more info here https://www.techinferno.com/index.p...oot-blind-flash-a-non-booting-gpu-in-windows/ for Nvidia they seem to be using Nvflash in all these tutorials. However i cant really recommend what would be the best choice in your situation, from one side you got a card that does not work anyway so you couldn't do any more damage to it anyway and if all fails just tell the ebay seller the card is not working and you would like your refund (lol i really shouldnt be giving you these ideas) but from another side you can simply return it and see if a good deal on a MSI 980m will pop up, as far to my knowledge MSI GT72 laptop uses it.

 

I'd love to, but they don't provide refunds after 30 days, and it's been 2 and a half months. (even though it didn't ARRIVE until a month after I bought it...)

 

Was it shipped from China by any chance?

 

Yyyyyup.
Heck, I posted the exact ebay link earlier in the thread.

 

Sorry i didn't have a look at the ebay link posted Well despite ebay policy of 30 days there is always a chance to try and involve the resolution center for a appeal. This is a very common issue when a seller sends you something that isn't as described or damaged which is when the case should naturally lean towards in your favor, you can also explain to them that the delivery was slow, the parcel arrived with a major delay and in the end you received a product that does not even work with false description. They should begin processing the best possible option in your case and in most cases they will try to offer a full refund. Also if one Ebay rep doesn't do much you can try again with a different agent. https://www.ebay.com/help/returns-r...purchased/start-return?id=4041&from=ContactUs at the bottom of the page you get a live chat window, hope something good will work out for you buddy!