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    Alienware m17x R1 Motherboard / IIssue

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by masterfred, Apr 1, 2013.

  1. masterfred

    masterfred Notebook Geek

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    Hi everyone,

    I have this Alienware m17x R1. I paid a huge amount back then ...

    Core 2 Extreme, Dual 5870 (installed from Alienware because 4870 where disc.)
    8GB Ram
    2x 500 GB HDD
    1080p Screen

    This laptop has mostly been nothing but trouble, 4000$ value of trouble ... I managed to use it fro about 1 year ... at normal performance. Gaming was aweful, out performed by any desktop with cheap Core 2 duo and mid range single vid card. Crossfire never worked ...Mobo detects both card but Catalyst won't activate it ... shows has secondary desactivated or non active

    After the 5870 install, I found the laptop shutting down after a few minutes of playing.I decided to REPASTE the whole laptop (My job is part IT, I have the skill and knowledge to do so). So I purchased none conductive high quality thermal pads, (different thickness for Video Card and etc.) and thermal paste (Artic something). I completed the process and cleaned the fan and casing from any dust.

    Rebooted PC, worked cooler indeed but same problem re-appeared.

    Worst, after one shut down, it won't turn on anymore.

    Yes I'm using the original 240w adaptor ...

    After this shutdown, another strange thing happened, the blue led from the PS plug turned off when I pluggged it in the defect laptop. I used my other 240w adaptor from my Alienware M17x R3 and the blue led turned off also ... The blue led re-lighted when I plugged both PS in the R3 ...

    I don't have alot of budget to repair this 4000$ P-O-S. I just want to repair it, make it work normally, even with just 1 card and give it to my nephew for his studies.

    Any one had this issue ?

    What parts needs to be changed ? Motherboard ? Any other piece related to power that is not the motherboard ?
     
    masterfred, Apr 1, 2013
    #1
  2. timmay15

    timmay15 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Have you tried installing each card individually in the master slot to make sure that both cards are working properly?

    I recently upgraded to a similar setup, and one 5870m I purchased was faulty and only allowed the computer to boot once for a few minutes and then it crashed. It was because one of the cards was faulty.

    If you can determine that both cards are in working condition, you may have a faulty crossfire cable, another issue I have been dealing with lately
     
    timmay15, Apr 1, 2013
    #2
  3. masterfred

    masterfred Notebook Geek

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    All video card scenario are giving the same power issue, dual cards, single card, primary, secondary, the only thing is that crossfire never worked, always because catalyst showed secondary card disabled ...
     
    masterfred, Apr 1, 2013
    #3
  4. masterfred

    masterfred Notebook Geek

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    Alienware is crap ...
     
    masterfred, Apr 3, 2013
    #4
  5. gthirst

    gthirst Notebook Evangelist

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    Have you tried it with no card at all, only using the onboard?
     
    gthirst, Apr 4, 2013
    #5