Alienware 17x R4 970M Upgrade

not just alienware, lots of OEMs are saying don't upgrade.

 

Yep, but that doesn't mean the reason for other OEM's saying it is due to potential death of hardware - could just be compatibility reasons.

 

Did Windows 10 brick your screen? What screen do you have?

 

I like how this has been confined to nVidia card systems. AMD users are not reporting problems...yet.

 

that's a shame cos then it might not be windows if it's not happening for AMD mobile GPUs and definitely the nvidia drivers.

 

Glad I caught this thread before deciding to get a 970m. I have windows 10 and I'm running a 770m without any problems.

 

I don't know what's happened with TomGJX's system in terms of why he had the problems when he upgraded to Windows 10, but the Alienware Windows 10 problems that brick LCD screens are only affecting certain Alienwares regardless of which GPU is installed, although it's mainly affecting people with Kepler cards, not the Maxwell 970M card, see this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10-upgrade-warning-for-alienware-owners.779449/

If you're already running Windows 10, then I reckon you'd be ok upgrading to a 970M. We don't know much about TomGJX's problem, he's not said much about it. Might be worth trying to find out more about the problem (if TomGJX knows what caused it that is) before drawing any conclusions.

 

Thanks for the thread, I'm going to browse through it.

 

I have the LG 60Hz screen.. Luckily screen didn't brick.. That would have been very bad problem...

The minute I installed Windows 10, my card kept getting stuck on the lowest clocks whenever I was in any game... Then I switched to dedicated and got beep error as Windows was installed in legacy (very stupid of me)... Removed and replaced GPU, reinstalled WIndows, still had same problem.. Switched to dedicated and got artifacts... I don't know what caused this but I have to lay it down to this damm OS...

 

Fair enough, although I suppose it could be a coincidence with you removing and replacing the GPU, I haven't heard of any cases of dead video cards from Windows 10 (not that I've looked for evidence). The Sceen Brick definitely seems to be a thing though with Windows 10. Haha, I would definitely understand if you didn't use Windows 10 again given your experience!

 

@TomJGX : Hi mate, everything work fine until you dropped the W10 into your laptop?
m17x r4 + gtx 970m + win 8.1 = perfect @ no problem at all?

 

See previoius page... My 970M with Windows 10 killed the screen...

 

Same here, I own an Alienware 17 R1 2013 with GTX770M, upgraded to Windows 10, so far it is working fine.

 

following ur steps.

 

is there a post with 980m on Alienware m17x R4? would be the same as 970m?

 

Just don't switch to dedicated.. In Optimus, it won't brick.. In Dedicated, sure to get brick..

 

TomJGX this step by step will work on GTX 980m?

 

yes, they're the same series.

 

Yup it will work...

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

 

I am currently typing this too you on a Alienware 17 running Windows 10.

I am not sure why but Optimus never worked for me on Windows 8.1 and when I turn it off in Windows 10 it never uses the dGPU.

What I found as it was booting into a black screen is that if I went WIN + P a couple of times the screen would come back however that was on the initial release of Windows 10. It even managed to install nVidia drivers without modification although that has since changed as I am stuck on 355.98 now as that's changed.

 

Hi,

Noob question, sorry. I have a M17x R4 with a 7970M that has sadly had to be retired after a long and illustrious career. I've bought a 970M from HIDEvolution to replace it, buuuuut...I still have Win7, and honestly, I don't really want to change OSes. Windows 8.1 was never really that good, and I want to avoid 10 entirely after a fairly disastrous "upgrade" convinced me to go back to 7. Does anyone know if the 970M will work in Windows 7? Do I need specific drivers other than what HIDE provides (or what I can download from Nvidia)?

 

you can only run in optimus mode.

 

Having run an AMD card for the last three years, I'm not really sure what the implications of that are. Is there a performance penalty?

 

Does anyone know if a 970m with a MSI vbios works in a m17x r4 without having to blind flash the thing?

 

Secure Boot = Disabled is required?

 

hi can i install 970/980M without changing MBR to GPT?
formatting and re installing would be too much of a hassle...

 

There's a method to convert the drives while keeping files intact. I did it before installing the 980M.
Used AOMEI Partition Assistant to convert MBR to GPT, I think EaseUS Partition Master will also allow you to do the same.
GPT is required for UEFI booting, Legacy requires MBR.

 

Yes, it's preferable to have it disabled.

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

 

thanks for the reply

also
upgradeyourlaptop's 980m for r4 says win10 not supported
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALIENWARE-M...447717?hash=item1c593ff3e5:g:BUAAAOSwHjNV8d-N

also, i see that you use a 330W psu, is that necessary? if so, is it a direct plug in or some mod required?

 

Windows 10 supports pure UEFI same as 8, so no worries there.
I got the 330W adapter because the 240W wasn't enough for a 25% 980M overclock & a 4.3Ghz 3940XM. the PSU would get so hot and result in a shutdown. The 330W PSU is a Direct P&P no modification needed, the BIOS will show a 330 adapter.
A 240W will be enough to run an OC'd 980M + your 3720QM. No need to get the 330 unless you install an XM CPU.

 

thanks a lot!
that clears a lot doubts

 

Hi guys) Did anyone encounter Code 43 on their GTX 980M/970M in Device manager? I think my 980M in R4 is dead. I can install any kind if bios with no problem, even the drivers seems to install fine. But upon reboot right click on mouse on the desktop doesn't show NCC and no info at GPU-Z. Checked both Win 8.1/10, PEG/SG, no luck( A11 modded bios.

Regards

 

We can't get the GTX 970M working in a AW M17x R4. I guess we need the A12 unlocked BIOS? How can we acquire this BIOS?

 

I got my A12 unlocked BIOS from Tech Inferno - svl7 was the guy that created it, I'm talking the M17xR3 though, but I think he did one for M17xR4, not sure, but worth trying at Tech Inferno.

 

Just bought a 970m! Anyone know what thickness thermal pads should I get? Cheers

 

970m/980m do not need unlocked BIOS in R4. Stock A13 or A12 are both fine. Windows should be installed in GPT mode for the card to work though. What is the actual issue?