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    M17X R1 and 150w charger

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by BigDgamer, Dec 13, 2014.

  1. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    Ive been trying to get my M17X R1 to work with the 150w power pack to no avail.. I cant see why 150w wouldn't be adequate for a single GPU (HD5870M) system. Different story if its dual CF 5870Ms then I can understand the need of a 240w, but my system is currently equipped with a single HD5870M and its telling me it needs to be connected to the stock 240w in order for the discrete GPU to work. ?
     
    BigDgamer, Dec 13, 2014
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  2. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Is it kicking you over into Stealth Mode to start, or just not booting up?
     
    zombiegoat, Dec 13, 2014
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  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It's programmed into the firmware not to work with the chargers that present that ID so you will need a 240w brick.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Dec 14, 2014
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  4. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Meaker is correct. There is a chip inside the power brick which needs to make a "handshake" with the motherboard in order to fully activate everything. I was unsure if this was still the case with modded GPU's, but it certainly was the case when I had my R1 and the original 260M. Try power up by using a 240W power brick with the correct part number and see if that solves the problem.
     
    zombiegoat, Dec 14, 2014
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  5. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    In R2 i thnik that it was something like this:

    Normal CPU + Single GPU ---> 150W power brick
    Normal CPU + Dual GPU ---> 240W power brick
    Extreme CPU + Single GPU ---> 240W power brick
    Extreme CPU + Dual GPU ---> 240W power brick

    Do you have Extreme CPU in the Laptop?
     
    maxslo, Dec 15, 2014
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  6. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    its forcing me into a low power mode yes.. my HD5870M is not running and instead the laptop uses the onboard 9400M. CPU's only a normal Core 2 Quad Q9100.
     
    BigDgamer, Dec 15, 2014
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  7. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Stealth Mode strikes again. Get the original power supply brick for the R1, fire it up and it should resolve the problem. Had a very similar problem with my old system; Stealth Mode is the devil.
     
    zombiegoat, Dec 15, 2014
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  8. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    If you go in BIOS, what PSU rating does it report?

    If it's not saying anything or says unknown or something like that then the psu is not providing any info about it's rating on the center pin.
    If it does say 150W, it should theoretically work, since teh 260M's are actually even more power hungry than 5870M's.
     
    maxslo, Dec 16, 2014
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  9. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It is quite a common issue that the centre pin at some point shorts to the centre of the barrel (at 19.5V, outer is ground) and kills the ID chip.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Dec 16, 2014
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    zombiegoat likes this.
  10. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    well this doesnt too good...

    problem is when I bought the laptop 2nd hand it only came with the 150w charger. Its been bugging me ever since for the 240w pack, even tho its only got a single GPU and a normal CPU. Didnt think they were running short on power.
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2014
    BigDgamer, Dec 16, 2014
    #10