GPU BSOD issue

So I swapped the gpu on my m17x r4, from 7970m to 8970m (m290x) and when windows 10 installs the gpu drivers through windows update or when I install the official amd drivers, I get the BSOD and the OS reboots on me, even though I did a clean windows 10 installation when I hooked up my new gpu. The guy from which I bought the gpu said it was an official Dell Alienware m290x gpu (Dell Part #4MJ1K), so I did not flash the bios at all. Am I doing something wrong? Must I flash my bios with another custom version in order for my system to recognize the m290x as the new gpu?

 

Driver crash when you are installing drivers can be for multiple different reasons, one is that the gpu doesnt like additional packages that come with the installer, however if it does the same with windows update drivers it could be the gpu is not properly seated in the slot or even faulty...
You can try to install amd drivers thru device manager, if that also chrashes, try reseating the gpu.
If neither helps you can try another OS, like Win 7 for example, and if you still got problems im afraid its the gpu.
You can try to flash another vbios, but i very much doubt that will solve the problem :/
What bios version do you have? Or even better, dump your vbios with a GPU-Z and attach it here so we can have a look

 

Thanks for the answer, maxslo!

The vbios dump and both screenshots of the gpu specs made with gpuz and hwinfo64 are attached here.

Just a quick recap: I was using my m17x for a few weeks with integrated graphics only, since my 7970m, after 5 years of use, died on me as it was displaying a black screen when I was gaming. I even resurrected the 7970m by baking it on my oven for 10 minutes at 200C, but it lasted me 2 months only after that.

Then I bought this gpu here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/182317265380?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT and asked the seller previously if it would work on my nb. He said it wouldn`t work only if I had a 3D screen, which I never had, so I got it. Installed it yesterday, cleaning up the internal dust during the process and applying arctic silver thermal paste on the gpu.

During the first boot up i got 8 beeps and a blank screen. So I read somewhere that I should reset my bios and clear CMOS. What I did was remove the 8970m again, boot with integrated graphics only and restore bios default configs. After that, Windows 10 booted normally with the new dedicated gpu installed. Then, when I tried to install amd drivers, I got BSOD over and over again. I even tried to install it through device manager as you said, but got nowhere too. BTW, I`ll attach the device manager screen where it says Windows 10 stopped the gpu from working because it found an error.

I have Dell`s official A13 Bios installed. Oh, and please don`t mind my OS language, it`s in portuguese.

Vbios dump: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B86Q-rPN6MG2ZGRkQ01aYkFQbmc/view?usp=sharing

 

Hmm, ok the bios is exactly the same as i've used, so that shouldnt be a problem.
I see that you have intel HD in the device manager, from what i remember you need to choose PEG mode in bios when you install an aftermarket card,
otherwise there are problems because the switching doesnt work.

 

Ok, sorry for the noob question but where can I find this option in my bios? I took some pictures of all the screens there.

 

I think you need the unlocked bios for that option.

 

Right, do you know any good tutorial to flash the unlocked bios that won`t brick my mobo?

 

Not really, but im sure there are some threads about it here on nbr.com or on ti

 

I was able to downgrade my bios to A12 then to A11 using Dell`s official Bios flash tool. Now I need to flash unlocked A11. I`ll try it now.

EDIT: Ok, I was able to unlock my BIOS, I`ll try your previous suggestion.

EDIT 2: Deactivating the integrated graphics is giving me a black screen with 8 beeps. Had to clear CMOS and reset the bios to be able to boot windows again.

The support guys from the store where I bought the gpu told me to disable my sound card while on unlocked BIOS ir order to use to GPU for now. I can`t find this option inside the BIOS, what gives?

 

Ok great.. Hm i dont like the fact it doesnt post with integrated disabled, afaik the m290x should not have any problem with the sound card, its only a problem with the nvidia card from what i remember. I am getting a strong feeling that the gpu is bad. You have reseated it right?

In any case, if my memory serves me correct, this option should be under advanced tab, performance options -> sata configuration...

 

I tried but couldn't find it. Here are all my Bios advanced screens.

 

On the third screen disable azalia and azalia hdmi, i think that should disable sound on the m17x r4.

 

Hey Maxslo, thanks for the reply!

I disabled those azalia settings, internal graphics and I've set the primary display to PEG. After rebooting I got the 8 beeps, sadly.

Should I reset my bios and leave internal graphics on after disabling those azalia settings?

 

You can try, but i fear the GPU won't work :/

 

Ok, I'll try. Any other suggestions in the meantime?

 

contact the seller, i'm afraid you will have to return it, it sounds like the card got damaged in transport :/

 

Yeah, just did that. They`ll send me a replace unit. Thanks for all the help! I`ll keep this post updated as soon as I get the new gpu from them and install it.

 

So I finally received the replace gpu from the store, a new m290x, and........ it works! Thanks for all the help, maxslo!!

Now, I'm setting the fans manually using hwinfo. I've tried some configs and enabled autostart with windows but I could not get the fans to initiate automatically. Is there a way to do that? Can I predetermine the speed too? I think my cooler can go up to 4500 RPM, is this value ok?

Also, I tried to edit hwinfo64.ini and added OpenFanCrtlMin=1 at the end but this only opens the fan control and they do not start automatically.

 

long time since i did this, but you have to create fan profile for your cpu and gpu, and make the edit to the ini file that you did...

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

I see, I'll try that out, thanks!

There's just one more thing that's behaving strangely. I disabled integrated graphics and set the primary display to PEG. However, every time I first cold boot, before I can enter my username and password on windows 10, the screen goes black.

The workaround is to enter bios, save settings and reboot (even thought I didn't change anything). Then it will boot up normally and the screen will show up. I thought this might be something BIOS related. Do you have any insights regarding this?

 

no idea, but i would try a bios reset to defaults if that helps...

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, I did that and the issue is still here. The only thing that solves this black screen during cold boot is to enter bios, change nothing, save settings and reboot. Every time I reboot after that will work ok too.

I read somewhere that I could try two other things: flash a newer bios (I think the latest for the m17xr4 is A13) but then I lose the unlocked settings; the other thing is to turn off windows boot management. What do you think of those?

[EDIT] Just tested the latter and it also does not work. I`m left with bios update. I'll try it out.

[EDIT 2] I flashed locked BIOS version A13 and the system also does not work with cold boot. If I don`t boot to BIOS and save the settings it shows the black screen during login.

[EDIT 3] Went back to unlocked BIOS A11 and reformatted windows 10 while disabling integrated graphics... still no dice. I'm running out of options now...

 

Still nothing... any last suggestions?

 

did you try another vbios?

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

I got a new m290x and everything is working fine now. Except when I try to run a graphic intensive game, like Prey, Doom, Shadow of Mordor, Crysis 3, etc. Then the gpu will simply crash to desktop. Lighter games will work just fine, like Overwatch, CS:GO, Quake Live, Hearthstone, Diablo 3, even during long sessions (played Overwatch for 3 hours nonstop once with no issues). This did not happen with the 7870m, it would run every game just fine. I even opened a new thread to try to address this ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m290x-crashes-under-heavy-usage.805520/).

I believe there's something weird with the VBIOS, 'cause it states (on GPUZ) that the device id is 1002 6801, which refers to the m290x, but the subsystem id is 1028 057B, which refers to the 7970m. I searched online for the correct subsystem id that refers to the m290x and it is 1028 05AB.

I downloaded this VBIOS and flashed it using AMD flashing tool under DOS booted from a previously prepared pendrive. Then I could not boot back to windows 10 and was constantly shown a blue screen. So I formatted the SSD and reinstalled W10 then booted up to windows and as soon as I tried to install AMD drivers it would give me the blue screen again. So I flashed my previous backed up VBIOS and was able to install the drivers with no problem but the errors that happened while using heavy games still persisted.

I'm starting to think this is a problem related with an incorrect VBIOS flashed to my GPU. What do you think?

[UPDATE] There you go! Flashed UEFI supported 7970M VBIOS ( this one) and now everything works!!! Even those graphic intensive games are working just fine! Just tested Doom and Prey and played 2 hours each! It's funny, my board is still recognized as a 8970M on GPUZ but maybe that VBIOS changed voltage and memory values to the correct ones, I don't know... I'm just glad it's working!

Thanks for everything!