Installed 980M in M17x R4(120Hz, 3D)!

*********Update 3/8/2015************
Solved throttling issues.

If throttling persists with your system, try this Hibernation method :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ch-and-workaround.786903/page-5#post-10204532
-Cold boot
-Hibernate
-Wait 1 minute
-Resume
-No throttling!
The secret thing is to never let you computer power drain, never unplug the adapter or remove the battery with it sitting off or you'll have to hibernate again.
I'm using the 330W PSU, the 240W is not enough to power an OC'd 980M & OC'd 3940XM.

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Hello all,

I'm new here, this is my first thread.

I bought an Alienware M17x R4 (new) back in May 2013. With the following specs:

-Intel i7 Quad core Q3630.
-NVidia 680M
-16 GB ram
- 256GB SSD
- 750 WD black HDD
- 120HZ + 3D screen
-Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit

For the past 2 years the 680m did a fine job handling games at maximum detail. However, with recent games: GTA V, DAI, Witcher 3 ..... etc, ultra settings were not an option anymore. + I wanted to have the best card

So I went to eBay, bought the card from woodzstack.
I'm spending the summer holiday in Saudi Arabia, and shipping took less than two weeks. Transaction was smooth, fast, and James Wood was an excellent seller.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
While I was waiting for the card to be delivered I changed the boot settings to pure UEFI, Legacy disabled, secure ,disabled, fast boot disabled, the result is black screen.
I knew before that UEFI + Windows 7 is a no go, so I used legacy, converted my partitions to GPT, changed to UEFI and Ta da !!!! booted to the desktop using Windows 7 + pure UEFI
TBH I don't know how did Windows 7 work with pure UEFI while most users couldn't make it work
Sadly when I got the card, I used DDU to remove the old 680M drivers, which somehow prevented the system from booting using UEFI again
So I knew that windows 8 or 10 preview is a must.
Installed the card, then windows 10 (10130), used the drivers woodzstack provided in his thread.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...m17x-r4-without-optimus-working-great.777145/
From installing the card to the drivers to benchmarking, everything went smoother than I expected.
I only tested the card with GTA V, and I am amazed at how powerful the 980M is, compared to the old 680M. I'm getting more than 60fps on ultra settings!
The card is freakin cooooool, a slightly overclocked 980M is still cooler than a stock 680M maximum temp 65c.
I will upload scores later on.
*******************************Detailed steps**************************************
Here is what I did (I made a clean OS install):
1-backup your files.
2- download DDU to remove the old drivers.
http://www.wagnardmobile.com/DDU/ddudownload.htm
3- boot in safe mode, and run DDU. -------------> you need steps 1 to 3 only if you already have Win 8 or 10 on a GPT drive running pure UEFI although, I suggest a clean install.
4- restart.
5- go to Bios and change the boot settings:
Boot list option Legacy to UEFI.
Secure mode : disabled
Fast boot : disabled
Load legacy option rom : disabled

6-save without exiting.
7- shutdown.
8- Remove battery and charger.
9- hold power button for 30 seconds.
10- remove the bottom cover.
11- remove the GPU fan 3 screws.
12- remove the GPU heatsink.
13- remove the 2 screws holding the old GPU to the computer.
14- install the 980m, it required some effort to seat it correctly.
15-use the screws that came with the card, as the old 680M ones didn't fit.
16-I used thermal pads both from the old GPU and the ones that came with the 980M.

17- this might be optional, I put pads on the rear 980M vram.
18- Clean the GPU die. I used the alcohol solvents that came with MX-4 thermal paste.
19- apply the new thermal paste.
20- install the heat sink, then the fan.
21- carefully plug in the charger to check if the computer turns on, and go to Bios. if you have under Graphics adapter: Nvidia GFX then you're good to go.
22- put back the bottom cover.
23- install Win 8 or Win 10 preview. (Or the final version if you upgrade after July the 29th)
24- >>>> I installed windows 10 latest build + Nv latest driver Modded by J95:
https://www.techinferno.com/index.p...et-upgrades-driver-support-modded-inf/&page=1.
25- Game on or whatever you use your pc for.


3DMark 11:
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11904745
Firestrike:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/11407001
Time Spy:
http://www.3dmark.com/spy/1054199
Faiz

 

Are you running dedicated? And post some benchmarks.

 

Well done, great info.

@CrossXedge , it's a 120hz model so no intel available - one of the problems people with that model had in getting it to boot .

 

Nice Job! Super jelly, post some more results and feedback

 

this post is like a saviour
bookmarking this thread for future updates
my upgrade will depend on how this thread goes

ps: can you please put a step by step guide on how you did it
would be greatly appreciated!

edit: have the exact same config except the cpu and the ssd which i added later

 

Benchmarks !!!! ... I presume you are using stock vBios ... I am super curious to see how is the card performing with stock vBios

 

To flash the card to the unlocked BIOS you will need a 60hz screen from what I've read

Sent from my Lenovo K50-t5 using Tapatalk

 

I flashed an unlocked bios on my 120hz R3 without a problem. Then I screwed it messing with the settings - blind flash time!

 

@IanC
i am running unlocked a11 on my r4
120hz 3d model

 

-

 

No worries!
I updated the steps on my first post

TBH I don't know which vBios I have. Maybe Woodzstack can chime in.
I overclocked the core +135 and the memory +310 and the performance is amazing.
Playing DAI on ultra settings 80+ fps, still waiting to get witcher 3.

 

thanks just saw your update
cheers

 

Solid! Finally good news... I believe this R1 is here to stay in the time of swarming BGAs

 

Hey Faiz, thanks for the mention ! Just saw it now, what a great write up too !

I will make sure people give you rep for this !

Let me know if you want anything else in the future, i sell laptops too, but to order, or I give direct discount.

But otherwise, i am going to save this page for the hardwork you did.

 

Thanks man!
Witcher 3 & Project cars look super great with the high FPS

 

Yeah with your 120Hz that must look damn good.
Hey, if you feel like helping some people out :
http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia...et-upgrades-driver-support-modded-inf-48.html

You will see many of us basically back and forth on both forums, religiously.

 

Your vBios is : our blend of a stock 84.04.22.00.10

SOO many people ask me what vBios I use or have. ****, its nothing special, but the quality of the cards are top tier, even seen or heard of people getting like %70-80 ASIC quality. Where crap from China is like 60-65%.
Never had a broken card yet(aside from 1 guy over tightening the screws in bad order and cracking gpu-die), thousands and thousands sold. Its pretty much unheard of. I remember 7970M being 50% hit and miss a few years ago. Literally, every 2nd one broke within 6 weeks of hard testing.
Even the lower end crap of 980M can withstand 100x more. and the top ends, most of what my clients get, can be overclocked 30-50% range. That puts a SLI 980M faster then SLI 980 DESKTOP. Unless you were to buy two Classified's from eVGA my mobile cards should be able to compete, under right circumstances.
( I say right circumstances, because *97 chipset for instance, other hardware not limitting it)

Anyways, clearly these cards have excited me all year long. Nothing but good stuff from them. Though 7% of the time, theres reports of 8 beeps or no screen or boot issues on Alienware's so alot of thanks goes to NBR forums and its members for making things work.

 

Driver 352.84 is the only useable driver, anything else will cause SEVERE throttling , both the core & the memory.

I think the same can be said about 353 for windows 8.

 

F*** BGAs !!! I bought my M17x R4 so I could upgrade it. And now they make these POS joketops!
Well, I guess I'm keeping my M17x R4 until the highest suitable CPUs (3920XM,3940XM) become bottlenecks OR until they no longer produce MXM GPUs.
P.S the thought of Nvidia/OEMs no longer making MXM cards keeps me awake at night!

 

Run updates and restart. After EVERY windows 10 install, I have to let it download some hotfixes and updates, or my fan tables do not work either. Rebooting and downloading updates seems to fix it. Very annoying. Scared the wits out of me for a sec a few times too.
Thanks god the 900 Series runs cool.


Oh and yeah, the Drivers I linked you are nothing special, but they work best.

 

Does 3D still work with the 980m?

@woodzstack

Do you plan to keep selling the 980m kit for the M17xR4 for a while as I can't afford it at the moment and where are you located? (Canada?). Thanks!

 

Sadly no, 3D using internal screen doesn't work anymore. I'm not sure about external monitors though.

 

ah, too bad aye. But the 120Hz screens still work as - well - 120hz.

 

@Solo wing Hi, I'm struggling with the upgrade. I've your configuration, but a 60Hz screen and win10 installed already. Before I format everything to try EXACTLY yours and Woodzstack's procedure I would like to understand if in your case you are able to boot directly in Nvidia without optimus? No integrated card at all or like it was on the old 680M (SG mode)? Right now I've managed to make the system boot and work, but with optimus and despite it shows the 980M everywhere the computer actually runs only on Intel.

P.S All these days I was bothering @woodzstack in PM to death (Thank you man!)... Time to bother the rest of the forum

 

Hello,
120Hz displays are hardwired directly to the dedicated GPU. So the signal doesn't pass thru Intel GPU. So I can't use Optimus/Intel GPU.
TBH I don't have a lot of information regarding 60Hz display/Optimus. I think you must install an unlocked Bios in order for you to disable integrated gpu/ force using 980M.
Have you tried different drivers? Updated all drivers?
Are you running pure UEFI?
Sorry, I would like to help you more. But my experience is with 120Hz/non-Optimus computers.

 

yep UEFI pure, formated right now and after the first boot I already have HD4000 there. So I guess there is something I'm missing, since Woodzstack is saying he made it with stock Bios on a 60Hz.

Thanks anyway!

 

I have this gtx 970m on my m17x r4 3d but temps goes above 82oC , ambient: 30oC .
Can it be due to bad re paste ?

 

Yes... My 970M barely cracks 64C... although ambient is like 16C... even with 30C temps, it's about 70C in BF4...

 

my 980m cracks just over 70c which isn't too bad. most games hang around the 50+ mark.

 

Did the repaste temps came below 75oC .
What vbios are you using ? I'm using the stock clevo vbios from rjtech.
Any advice?

 

get a decent thermal paste. and i have mine OC'd with prema's vBIOS and it stays the 70s on full load.

 

I have a special Prema undervolt unlocked vBIOS... Run at around 0.962V... @Prema can I share it with him? Of course nbr if Prema says yes it is at your own risk to use this!

 

Yea sure, where can I download it ?
The OS nvflash is safe right ?
Since I have done the dos flash previously on all my cards.

 

Update- Figured out it was the nvflash I was using which was the problem. Got the vbios flashed and I'm seeing fantastic results. 9700+ in Firestrike and over 3000+ in Heaven. Thanks for the tutorial. Skyrim +300 mods here I return.

I was hoping someone could help me out with flashing premas vbios for the 980m. I have it installed in dedicated on Windows 10. Alienware m17x R4
I have been trying to flash it but it just hangs after the nvflash -6 ....rom command and just doesnt do anything. I have the card disabled during flashing so Im not sure why it doesnt actually flash as it is taking commands as if its working. The version of nvflash im using is 5.196 modified by JoeDirt. I have windows 10 installed in UEFI mode so I cant boot from usb without going to legacy mode which causes 8beeps until I pull cmos and change back to uefi. Any help will be appreciated for those of you who have got it working. I cant download the mnvflash version from the site so if someone has another link for it maybe that's the issue.