M17x R3 * 120Hz * 3d * No post 8 beeps * Downgraded 580m to 460m

Hi everyone,

I've searched the forums and I've tired every solution I've come across to no avail.

I have an Alienware M17x R3, 120hz screen, 3d. It will not post. I get 8 beeps, and from what I've read that means GPU or LCD failure.

To troubleshoot, I tried booting without the GPU (Yes I know integrated graphics will not work with my model). The screen came on but it was blank and I still had 8 beeps. When I reseated the GPU, it came on but the screen did not come on and 8 beeps again.

I decided to buy a cheap replacement GPU, assuming the GPU was the problem. I bought a 460m and it arrived today. I installed it, the screen came on but it was blank and I still get 8 beeps. I tried the CMOS reset trick to no avail. I've tried hooking up an external monitor (Does it need to be 120hz capable?) .

Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

UPDATE* Just heard back from the vendor I bought it from. They did not flash the vbios on the 460m. Is there any way to do this without a screen working? Will I have to take it to a computer shop and hope they have a laptop that supports integraded graphics so they can flash it?

 

Hi there. I wouldn't think a vbios is the problem, especially when it is exactly the same with the original GPU. You will need to find an optimus enabled machine or an M18x where it can be put in a second slot to test this though.

Unfortunately from my experience these machines never pass POST when there is a fault even if it's the panel, so an external monitor (no it does not need to be 120hz) does not help

Have you tried reseating the panel cable? Quite a bit more dismantling but maybe you will fix it this way?

Good luck.

 

It could be the motherboard.

 

Or the LCD cable.

 

Could you ever get the 120hz screen with the 460M, it's likely card unwilling to work with the different output port for the 120hz screen.

 

I had this problem when i unmount my laptop, 8 bip or no bip.
I had a gtx485m and a day got 8bips. I try to clean the gpu so it burn with smoke after( i broke certainly resistor) so i put a gtx460m and same result.
So i unmount the laptop, ecery parts and every cable till i got the screen cable, i unmount it, clean it, and fix it back with screw( without screw= no beep, was my result for forgetting them)
After i remove all batteries and push power button many times following with a push for 30 sec and after that, i download a12 bios and i instal it with a usb from sata port.
Now the laptop is home working as i received

 

I'm not sure this is correct. There is no different output just an input to the screen that bypasses the iGPU. All NV cards have vga compatible microcode (used during POST) that can output at 120hz. The 120hz panel is native and cannot support 60hz without a driver. If the BIOS 'sees' the iGPU it attempts to test it (@60hz) and it fails as the display does not respond to a 60hz signal.

All external 120hz monitors are multisync so can start @ 60hz.

The only issue could be the main bios. There is some sort of 3D compatibility certification and it only seems to support cards that were sold with a specific model. In this case 120hz works fine but no 3D option in the driver