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    M17x R1, can't use ATI gpus

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by StarScream8, Jul 15, 2011.

  1. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello! Thanks for reading my thread.

    So I bought this M17X R1 from NDC.co.uk last year and I had a little issue with it where the screen would not light up anymore. So I sent it over and I just got it back.

    If I remember right, I bought it with a crossfire ATI Radeon HD 4870 GPU. However now when I check it, it is only using the integrated nVidia GeForce 9400M G card.

    I downloaded stealth toggle and it's telling me that I'm in Full Power mode. I also went to the BIOS to turn off integrated graphics but it won't let me turn on Hybrid graphics. When both are turned off the screen won't light up at all. So I had to reboot without the charger and the integrated graphics was turned back on.

    I'm kind of confused here cause it's been a while since I've used this.

    Any kind of help would be most appreciated! Thanks.

    Jay.
     
    StarScream8, Jul 15, 2011
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  2. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Update: I also tried the Fn F7 key and it asked me to restart. When I restarted the screen wouldn't light up again.
     
    StarScream8, Jul 15, 2011
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  3. Smooth_J

    Smooth_J Notebook Deity

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    If you open up GPU-Z, what GPU does it say you have?
     
    Smooth_J, Jul 15, 2011
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  4. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Check the system BIOS. Advanced/grapics options/disable the IGP.. if you still have a black screen something is wrong with your cards.

    Sometimes, depending on video drivers, and I don't know what else fn+f7 does not work. So check the BIOS first.

    Besides I am pretty sure that fn+f7 works on the fly, only for the Nvidia cards, so you can have Hybrid SLI. Otherwise you need to restart
     
    tyranus7, Jul 15, 2011
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  5. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Check device manager
     
    DR650SE, Jul 16, 2011
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  6. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Both GPU-Z and device manager tell me that I only have the IGC and they don't detect any other GPUs

    I already tried disabling the IGC in BIOS, the screen goes blank and I need to restart on battery.

    Wish I could open the laptop up and check the cards but it's still on warranty for 2 more months..
     
    StarScream8, Jul 16, 2011
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  7. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    When I go into screen resolution > advanced settings; it tells my I have 1919 mb of Total Available Graphics Memory. Does this mean it still kind of detects my two GPUs?
     
    StarScream8, Jul 17, 2011
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  8. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    It depends. What does it says about the dedicated video memory? It should say something like 1024 MB.
     
    tyranus7, Jul 18, 2011
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  9. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Dedicated 256mb :/
     
    StarScream8, Jul 18, 2011
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  10. Errow

    Errow Newbie

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    could try reinstall graphic driver
     
    Errow, Jul 18, 2011
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  11. StarScream8

    StarScream8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I did try to reinstall the drivers and catalyst too, still not working
     
    StarScream8, Jul 21, 2011
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  12. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    Contact NDC and tell them what is going on. If it is still under warranty they better fix it.
     
    Mechanized Menace, Jul 21, 2011
    #12