Alienware 17 R1 (Ranger) Noobie questions

Hello all,

I purchased this laptop locally for about $250 a few weeks ago, it needed a new battery and Windows was corrupted and needed a fresh install to be stable (Windows 7). I’m fairly certain it’s a AW17 R1, as it’s from mid 2014. It has the matte 60hz screen.

I’ve upgraded the CPU from 4710mq to a 4930mx -easy enough, works fine.

But I want to upgrade the GPU from a 8970m/m290x to something like a 1060/1070.

In the meantime a few days ago I tried installing a 980M (svl7/johnksss vbios) that I had in my M15x. I figured all I needed to do is use DDU to uninstall the AMD drivers, download the modified Nvidia drivers, and go about installing it.....UNFORTUNATELY, when I powered it up the vbios (svl7/johnksss) version displayed, then the screen went black, followed by 8 beeps?! When I put the 980M back in my M15x the screen just goes white, and won’t boot up. Pretty sure I damaged it and it’s not the display #$@&

So before I purchase another GPU, is there a step by step method how to do it successfully? I’m thinking a 1060 as the 1070 is just a little too pricey still.

The M15x was so easy to upgrade the GPU, this AW 17 seems a lot more difficult?!

Thanks all.

 

Its an easy deal but it requires a few extra steps. The reason your 980m did not work is because of a driver conflict. The 120hz screen and full uefi mode win10/8 is needed in order to run a 1060 or 1070. I have an r1 with a 1070 in it. Its a zotac 1070 and i had to buy a mini pc to get it. Its awesome tho. I have a 1060 as well if you want to make the jump. Its setup for the 17r1 and works perfectly if you have the 120hz screen and are set to uefi. Youll need modded drivers to get the 980m,1060 or 1070 to work. I have a set i can send you if you like.

 

This is a known issue on alienware notebooks. Do not use custom vBioses that do overvolt, they do cause the card to get overvolted further and basicially kill the hifets rather quick. Especially considering that the GTX 980M does have rather mediocre VRM's.

The pascal cards will be rather difficult, since they have a lower die, a heatsink mod is required as well.

 

Gtx 1060 and 1070 cards dies are in the exact same place. The mods are for the mosfets.

 

No, the die is more flat. At least for the proper pascal cards from MSI are like that.

 

Thanks Eepo do you mind sending me the driver files. I will try to re-install the 980M for now.

Is the 1060 you speak about the 3.1B MXM version? This fits a AW17?

 

Yes ill send you a link shortly. And the 1060 is the same form factor as your 980m. I have one for sale for $400

 

Ok sounds good. Also please lmk how I can contact you regarding the 1060!

 

1060 for $400 is a very respectable price, but the Zotac's are known to be of slightly lower quality than the MSI's (Atleast they're not the odd shaped Clevo's)
If you could find the unlocked BIOS and successfully flash it, you might not need the 120HZ screen as you can set it to use Optimus, or you might be able to do that with the MUX switch on it
IMO 1060 isn't worth it, too much hassle with the 120HZ screen comapared to the 980M which is ~10% worse and $50 cheaper and has native support IIRC

Few tips:
Replace qualcomm wifi with a Intel 7260, much better
OC the screen, got my 60HZ all the way to 110HZ

I picked the same model as you but with a 8950M for $250 as well, it was pretty nice when I had it, I still prefer it to my P377SM-A with the same specs for better build quality, but only single MXM slot, but I flipped for $300 as I needed the $$$$