Alienware 17 R1 unlock bios - disable intel GPU?

Hello everyone,

So, here's the story:

I've been having some troubles with my AW17 and some screen artifacts, long story short I/we/Dell have kinda narrowed it down to being CPU or motherboard issues.

Here is the link if you want to read but tbh its just troubleshooting back and forth: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-880m-screen-artifacts.802347/

MickeyD suggested that I tried unlocking the bios and disabling the intel GPU, and this is where I need your help:

First question - Is this possible on a AW17 R1?

Second - If yes, how? My knowledge of bios is very limited so I am a bit cautious before jumping into it.


Looking forward to your answers - Thanks

 

You don't need unlocked bios to enable nvidia only.

ID-GFX key on function key at top of keyboard disables/enable intergrated graphics.

I use this for oculus.

 

Either it's not what I am looking for or it's not working as I hoped it would do. Thanks alot for the response anyways

 

You can switch gfx in unlock BIOS from IGFX (intel only) to PEG (AMD or NVIDIA only) to test if dGPU is failing or notebook panel is failing. My money is on the dGPU.

 

@Raidriar

Thanks! I think the dGPU is working fine as it is able to output to an external monitor without artifacts, and the artifacts are there even with the dGPU physically removed from the laptop.

But according to a dell rep all output to the integrated monitor goes through the CPU/iGPU, which is not the case when outputting to an external monitor, which is why I want to figure out a way to completely disable the iGPU since that may be what the problem is.

 

Dell reps are borderline retarded 99% of the time. When you do fn + F7 to switch to dGPU (or set BIOS to PEG, that's all FN + F7 does), the intel GPU is set to passthrough and is not active at all. Not active in the BIOS, not active in Windows. It literally passes right through it. think like an open gate. if you have it set to SG (optimus + intel gpu), the gate is open, but with a filter (intel GPU filters signal to activate dGPU when necessary).

That being said, if your issue doesn't appear on external monitors, your internal LVDS display cable is probably damaged and needs replacing. I've never heard of an onboard intel GPU failing. Not intel hd 2000, 3000, 4000, or 4600.

 

Thanks for your response!

F7 is volume down, F5 is "I/D GFX" so i tried that. Nothing seems to happen at all.

Looking through the BIOS now and I can't seem to find anything about PEG.

The only mention is under Advance - Overclocking feature, there is "DMI/PEG Ratio" set at 5:5, but I don't think this is what I'm looking for no?

Edit: About the LVDS cable - the Internal monitor works fine when using the HDMI-in on the laptop, not sure if thar debunks anything.

 

My mistake, it is FN F7 on the M18x/M17x. PEG/SG only appears in the unlocked BIOS. If you are able to see the intel hd graphics after rebooting with FN +F5 and you are unable to disable it, this means that the 880M is also running in tandem. Most likely you have an issue with the 880M.

 

@Raidriar

I can disable it from the device manager but the fn - f5 does nothing.

I'm open to all suggestions at this point but I just don't think the 880m is to blame.

Simply because of the fact that the computer has exactly the same problems with the 880m physically removed from the case and sitting on the desk.

 

i can comfirm that this sounds a lot like a problem i had, and it was infact the motherboards fault, ive even replaced the cpu but it made no difference, when running off iGPU there would be heavy pixel artifacting on screen, but when running on 6990M there was none. PEG should not solve your problem, but atleayt it will make it go away as long as you dont need to switch to IG again

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks alot for your answer!

Sounds like I need to try that PEG out - and that's where I need the unlocked BIOS right?

The laptop is always connected to the mains anyway, I don't "need" the iGPU or the battery life for anything.

 

Im not familiar with 17 R1, but id say with nvidia you will need to falsh modded bios and set it to peg from there.... if you have nvidia gpu, whan you press FN+F7 in windows, the laptop switches between IG and SG from what i heard, while AMD switches between IG and PEG.
thats why if you want to change to PEG on nvidia you need unlocked bios.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

disabling in device manager is not good enough, it is still gating the signal through to PEG.

 

You need OSD "On-Screen Display Driver" for the Fn+F5 combo to work. Make sure to install that.

 

Hi goodstone, really you can make oculus cv1 works with your AW 17R1? are you using the hdmi port or an adapter connected to the mini displayport? have you tried it with gtx 880m?
thanks!