M17x R3 GPU Upgrade to 780m

I have an Alienware M17x R3 that has a 580m GPU in it. I purchased a 780m from ebay, and installed it. The install was pretty easy. When I booted it up, it showed the windows loading screen then goes to a solid color. I restarted it again, same thing happens but a different solid color, and keeps happening everytime. So I did some research and saw I needed the 'unlocked bios' to disable the integrated graphics card. I downloaded A08 Unlocked, flashed that. I went into the BIOS settings and disabled the Integrated graphics, and its still happening. I can boot into safe mode if needed, that works. I don't know what to do, please help.

 

Hi, I'm afraid to say that to me it looks like a bad card . I can force the solid color screen crash on both my machines by taking the overclocking too far, in fact, it happened to me yesterday playing ROTTR when I forgot to max out my fans (on the X8) and it overheated, ahh, sudden thought! If you did not affix the heatsink correctly it might be overheating before it gets to the login screen? Usually a badly fitted heatsink will get the machine to start and then overheat causing a shutdown but deffo worth a look to see if the paste is being 'squidged' out almost completely?

Was this machine a 120hz display model (3D)? If so you don't need the unlocked bios .

HTH

 

Mine is the non-3d. I did fit the heatsink to the card good. I was thinking maybe its using the build in video card for the windows loading screen and bios screen? Because I can open up the BIOS and sit in the bios for an hour without an issue. It only does the solid color right where it should be at the windows login screen.
This is the correct card, right? http://www.ebay.com/itm/351516998603?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

Yup that's the one. It is (IMO) failing at the point the NV driver is loaded. Up to that point (and in the bios) the card is operating in driverless VGA mode. This is how the machine test itself (POST) using a basic VGA signal, If the card responds with an output then the boot proceeds to win load. Just at the end of the win load it installs the video driver - bang, card fails to work.

FYI all GPU cards come with a basic VGA driver built into the microcode.

Safe mode also limits the card to VGA mode using a basic Microsoft driver so all the advanced features are not available.

No help I'm afraid but does your supplier have a returns option? I'm fairly sure it's a bad one or it has got 'zapped' at some point?

 

That is the one I purchased. I messaged the seller and started a return to send it back. The seller is refunding me because they don't have anymore. Is there a good place to purchase a working one from??

 

Great, often GPU resellers refuse returns.

Personally I got my 680m from a private seller on ebay. Risky since return is not going to happen, but I just started a thread with the seller and felt comfortable he was a genuine upgrader that had moved up from his 680m. I digress, the only reseller I have seen used and no bad press is http://laptopmonkey.co.uk/

Check out their returns policy just in case....