Alienware 17 R5 GTX 1070 MXM 3.1B

But if you do this I think there won't be anymore controlling from the HWInfo it just runs on max always iirc..is it ?
Also how is the modding going on ? Did you add those missing MOSFETs ?

You are using Compal EC. That EC makes GPU fan not work properly. It's in the first page !
This Laptop EC is completely locked really a shame, that M17x R4 has better Fan tables but using Unlocked BIOS +XM chip will let you tweak the tables, idk about the max RPM perhaps that also does exist.

 

I'm still not able to add the extra mosfets, last weekend I was working 15 to 19 hours by day due a system upgrade, and yes, you will loose HWInfo control over the fans you modify, this is the way I have the GTX1070.

 

Which is why I want to make a switch, PWM on for regular usage and PWM off for gaming or heavy system loads. Probably the best were going to get in a compromise.

I do recall that when I loaded up HWINFO a while ago, it didnt ask me this time around though after Installing Win8 and upgrading to 10. I dont usually use it unless I was stressing the CPU alone.

 

Sounds good!

We can use an small switch to do that!

 

I have to do more research before anything more, I have to finish up my degree in a month but after that I can spend more time in the fine tuning again.

 

I wonder if the 780m will work in the zbox?

Is it just a paperweight after you transplant the GPU to the Ranger?

 

Yes it is a paperweight...

 

Hello @stas.b85 , I saw there is a new VBIOS for the GT2VR which improves performance, I'm wondering if still compatible with my Zotac Card...

Currently I'm on the 86.04.31.00.0C_non-GSYNC VBIOS, the latest is 86.04.5B.00.8A, I tried to upgrade it, but I was not able to do it...

Here is the FW and this is the error I get when I tried to patch it.
@EepoSaurus Could you try this VBIOS?

 

Sure ill flash it tomorrow. Ill report back. How much of a performance difference does the msi see?

 

I saw it on a chinesse forum, the firmware is from there, I will looks for it tomorrow...
Maybe you can try it and let us know how to Flash it and the performance improvements...

Thanks!

 

8A vbios disables turboboost 3.0 as a "fix" for borked MSI 1070's which randomly crash at voltage above 1.013V (like mine)

There is no benefit or need for it if you do not have one of these MSI cards. Even if you do you can avoid the crashes by editing the turboboost 3.0 curve in MSI afterburner to not use those volt/frequency points

 

Ok so I flashed the vbios and it's a no go for me. The vbios gives an 8 beep error code. Sounds l like it would not have been a boost in performance anyways. Good find tho

 

Thanks for testing anyway @EepoSaurus !

 

I have the alienware 17, the model with the i7 - 4710MQ PGA, and MXM module 880m so I already have the 240w PSU. I purchased the 1060 as a forced upgrade, the 880m seemed to have died.

What are the steps for getting the 1060 working in this model? Its a very new type of upgrade, so there is mixed info on what to do. I know that I needed to disable driver signing, which I did, but the part where I need to impliment the nvdmi.txt file I get lost.

 

Did you buy the card from Eurocom? If you did they provide complete upgrade package with drivers, installation support etc included. If you didn't buy from them you can still request support at extra charge.

 

Yes, I bought off ebay store "razors edge" by eurocom.

 

Any detailed guide on modifying the bios file hex with the correct service tag?

 

That depends on the 1060 you bought. If you got MSI's 1060 MXM module, all you have to do is mod the Nvidia drivers to force them to install. Here is a link to instructions for that:
http://null-bin.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-modify-nvidia-notebook-driver.html

MSI's MXM modules have historically been PNP with Alienwares, which is why a lot of people prefer buying MSI's parts. I believe the 1060 Eurocom sells is in fact the MSI variant.

 

I would be safe proceeding assuming its an MSI card then.

This laptop had a failed GPU previously - 880m - is that going to cause any roadblocks? I assume it maybe needed to enable Optimus?

 

I am running a fresh installation of windows 10 1709, and the card is showing up as "3D video controller" - shouldnt it show as "NVIDIA GTX 1060" with a warning /!\ thing next to it? like it does in the guide you linked?

 

In device manager, it should show up as either a 3D video controller or a microsoft basic display adapter. It'll show up as "NVIDIA GTX 1060" after driver installation. There is nothing wrong with your 1060 .

 

Did you force flashed the Vbios? MSI's card should have hardware ID of 1BE1, while on yours it seems to be 1BA1

 

I thought 1be1 was either for the BGA version or the Max Q version as all regular 1070n MXMs should be 1BA1

 

I think there are 4 different hardware IDs, normal without Gsync, normal with Gsync and maxq with and without. 1BE1 and 1ba1 should be normal GTX 1070 IDs.

 

1BE1 = GSYNC (needs CPU+BIOS+SCREEN to be compatible)
1BA1 = NO GYNC

 

Yes, just allow override!

 

Hey @Striker1234 ... well to start with I want to say THANK YOU! for sharing your experience with all of your project. I just re bought an M17x R4 and was about to buy an MSI gtx 1060 but because I of a transaction issue I then read your posts about the Zotac 1070 I changed my mind and bought it hopefully it works. Youre the man of the month!

Once I get the card Ill do a full write up of the project with the R4 . To help users bring them back from the past.

I would love to make a few questions that way im not all stressed out while the card comes if someone can help out I promise ill come back with a kick ass video review when done.

Do you have to flash an msi, NO Gsync enabled card to get signal from the 120hz 3d edp display?

How many watts is the stock Zotac and how many is it running on with the MSI flash?

Is it exactly the same standard size as the msi gtx 1060 (105mm x 82mm?


Throttle?
Thanks a bunch guys!!

 

Did you guys ever find a way to enable the gpu fan to work on its own withiut hwinfo? Thanks in advance

 

Not possible

 

M17x R4 w 1070M just arrived. Amazing! Yeah seems HW info controls just the GPU fan and not the CPU

Edit: Seems to say it is gsync, is that possible? (yes eDP and 120hz screen, win10 etc)

 

Weird, it shouldn't be able to be gsync, where does it say its gsync?

What gtx1070 do you have, Msi version?

 

I will ask the seller about the card unless you can tell from hw info. I think it was HWInfo that said gsync but I will check tonight.

 

so guys @2CPU and @Handale30 please update us! have you both used this 1070? the zotac one with normal form factor?
i want to upgrade my m17x R4 but i dont want to use the MSI one that needs chasis moding ...

 

@AlienHack yes... check it out here for info
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-m17x-r4-gtx1070-mxm-successful-upgrade.825475/

 

i have read your thread like 4 times the past 2 weeks. i just didnt know you were using the zotac card. i just now saw the picture of it in your initial post. hmmm
so if i dont want to cut the chassis the zotac 1070 is the way to go.

what about the benchmark and gaming speedS? is the zotac the same as the black msi 1070 with the strange form factor.?

 

There is a Dell variant on ebay it seems too.

I dont know much about them yet though. If its ebay, then if you go that route to just be sure to run it through its paces for a while to try and make the card fail. If it doesnt then you're good to go, if it fails then get your money back,

 

i've been watching the one you say... the new dell one... i have been thinking of giving it a go...
you mean this one? standard form factor but only 3 vrms :-(
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nvidia-G...h=item41f1368d55:g:g6wAAOSwgSpb0uuW:rk:1:pf:0

 

Yes, no chasis mod at all, very happy with that! I just benchmarked vs an alien 15 r4 with the 1070 and got a slightly better graphics score. The zotac is in my opinion strong enough as the cpu will eventually start bottlenecking in a few scenarios. I upgraded to the 3940xm from the 3820qm to get a few fps more but to really take advantage you need to change the cpu fan to be able to run cool at overclocked speeds, mind you I metal cooled CPU and GPU. Now this is to run at 80c aprox which is great. The alien 15 r4 ran 3dmark at 95c which is a joke. I am very pleased and recommend this setup, only the gpu and cpu rpm being locked together sucks a bit. And if you dont use hw infos fan control the gpu fan is off.

 

if VRMs are the gray boxes to you, then you are mistaken. Those are mosfets to my understanding.

But yes thats the new variant that has showed up lately. I havent seen any feedback on it yet though so I cant speak to its quality.

 

That dell GPU seems to have the gray boxes in the right position so you maybe wouldn't have to mod the 100w nvidia heatsink at all

 

the thing is that zotac 1070s are hard to find ... cant seem to find any on ebay . i would need to buy a whole zotac system.. too expensive

also the new dell design... i dont even know if it will have a bios that will work in the R4 and because the 10xx series need an external programmer to flash the bios i might get it and then wont be able to use it. (although your zotac can be nvflshed normally... thats strange)

 

Which is the main appeal for it right now

 

Modded heatsink doesn't look that complicated. I have the stock one from the laptop since swapped to copper 5 heatpipe. Just borrow a dremel and here is pic of one I did not do myself.

 

I bought one and tested it in the r1. It comes loaded with a vbios that works out of the box but it does under perform compared to my zotac card. It is very hard to get a zotac card so I definitely understand.

 

my friend you have tested this 1070?? https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Nvidia...g:VgYAAOSwNo9b0ulz:rk:1:pf:0&autorefresh=true

do you recall on what you mean it under performed? do you have any 3d marks scores?

 

It performs under a zotac 1070. Graphics score of 15760 firestrike with msi vbios. It's fine and works as shipped just doesn't peak as high as the zotac which is harder to get.

 

Nice to know it works in the Ranger though lol

 

Sorry if I missed this somewhere, what is a zotac 1070 "supposed" to score? I get 12.8k in R4 which guessing is power limited.

I don't want to flash the MSI vbios since I heard someone had a zotac cook on that.

 

is it flashable with nvflash? or needs the external programmer?

 

2cpu he mentions graphics score of 15700. the zotac and the msi (with the weird form factor) get a graphics score of 16200 i think...