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    M17x R4 GPU Fan Issues

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by FallenFaux, Apr 27, 2015.

  1. FallenFaux

    FallenFaux Newbie

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    So I recently picked up a non-functioning M17x R4 and was able to get it working by getting a motherboard replacement.

    Originally the laptop came with a GT 660m, which works 100% fine. However, I have been trying to swap the 660m out for the 7970m that's currently in my R2. Whenever I swap the chip out the GPU fan no longer works on my R4, it will spin at startup but doesn't run after the initial boot regardless of GPU temperature. GPU fan control only works when I use HWINFO64.

    -Problem exists in Linux Mint 17.1 and Windows 7/8/10 with fresh installs
    -Neither Linix nor Windows even detects that the GPU Fan exists but GPU temp is reported.
    -GPU is a Dell 2GB 7970m with stock vbios
    -GPU Fan works 100% with my 7970m in the R2.

    Any thoughts?
     
    FallenFaux, Apr 27, 2015
    #1
  2. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    Do you have a Dell vBIOS on your 7970M? I think the vBIOS is causing the problem.. This strange because I have a Clevo 970M and the fans run properly, both for the CPU+GPU..
     
    TomJGX, Apr 28, 2015
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  3. FallenFaux

    FallenFaux Newbie

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    From my understanding the Dell cards fan control is done through the laptop itself but the Clevo cards have their own built-in fan control. Either way, I'll toss the 7970m in my laptop again and double check the vbios, if that's all that's wrong with it, the fix should be easy.

    I'll report back in a bit.
     
    FallenFaux, Apr 28, 2015
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  4. FallenFaux

    FallenFaux Newbie

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    It looks you might have been right. The vBIOS is reporting as "015.021.000.002.042768" in GPUz which appears to be Clevo not Dell. Is there a vBIOS that you would recommend I use?
     
    FallenFaux, Apr 28, 2015
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  5. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    It's definitely that. The Clevo vBIOS may cause this or no POST on our machines. Try any DELL vBIOS that has a good fan table.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 7, 2015
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