M17x R4 and WX 7100 driver/detection issues

EDIT 2019.05.09: Run WX 7100 on 120Hz eDP displays using the methods described in this post http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ning-on-120hz-edp-3d-display-it-works.828697/

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I recently got my WX 7100 from taobao, MXM card 3.1b 130W TDP, a Dell card commonly used in Dell workstation laptops but also HP workstations.

My laptop is a M17x R4 using the A11 unlocked bios to gain access to the advanced video settings.
Installation was fine, the computer boots with the card installed and surprisingly the AMD Pro drivers also installs just fine.
I run the GPU in SG mode and UEFI since PEG ends up in blackscreen and several beeping sounds, noticing that the temperatures are not detected the fan fails to spin to appropriate speed so the card ends up quite hot unless I run it at max manually.

I have tried to install drivers multiple ways and I run Windows 8.1 so I have run them normally with admin rights, then I tried turning off driver verification that did not work, then I tried to install them using backwards compatibility since AMD only provides Windows 7 and 10 drivers.

Normal way the drivers install just fine so they do with driver verification off, however upon restarting the drivers say the GPU is not detected and must be inserted, other times the software is stating the driver is faulty when its not.
I have also tried to install the GPU driver through device manager, that did not work either. While I have LVDS display someone else on the forum sporting M18x R2 with LVDS has gotten the WX 7100 working just fine.

I do however have Rx 480 vBIOS that I can flash however if anyone who has run into similar issues know the fix there no point in me trying just yet so I will keep it as a last resort.


GPU-Z before I install the drivers, however the only changes after installing drivers is the device name.


After installing driver

Edit:
tried to flash from vBIOS 015.050.000.000.000951 to 015.050.000.001.019413 but same deal no change.
Strange things happen in HWiNFO as well:

 

@SMGJohn

Here is the bios from my WX7100. I finally got it up running in the M18X-R2 again.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgdrzyl4dsalrhn/EllesmereWX7100.rom?dl=0

 

Do you know the vBIOS version of that

 

015.050.000.001.019036

 

Thanks, seems like there is a lot of different versions of vBIOS for the WX7100

 

I’m getting a m17x R4 delivered tomorrow. Can you point me to the latest unlock bios? I will also try to install the WX7100 card in it too to see if I get the same issue as you.

 

The latest unlocked BIOS is only A11 but it works fine.
I assume you are familiar with the process to unlocking the BIOS, I will be uploading my full collection of Rx 480 and WX 7100 vBIOS with status report soon.

 

Do I flash this bios like I do on a M18X R2 ?

also , why it says that the file is a threat/Virus ?

 

This is how you flash it: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/1516-m17x-r4-unlocked-bios-versions/

No idea, I did not put a virus in there that is for sure, is it Defender moaning? Its probably because I had to split the file into two to let me upload it to NBR 2mb restriction.
I am also currently modifying a Rx 480 vBIOS from 4GB to 8GB and modifying the clockspeed too to match WX 7100 because the Pro drivers are complete wank for gaming.

 

I download the A11 V2 unlocked from zippyshare lol, I was googling.

It’s installed now.

Did you get the card to work with my bios file ?

 

It worked just fine, but the problem is the 4GB VRAM limitation which I have to get around the issue, also turn off PCI power saving in Windows, it makes the GPU go offline and online constantly which makes doing fan control difficult.

 

Anyone who want to solve this issue, refer to this forum thread instead or more specifically, this post.
The hopeful of keeping MXM 3.0b alive thread!

 

Nice. I want to see how it will performs in the M18X R2.

Where is the thread link ?

 

@ssj92

 

Do these cards support LVDS and CrossFire?

 

it support LVDS. The card does not have a crossfire connector on it. I'm not sure if its possible.

 

The newer AMD cards can do crossfire over PCI-e instead of using a connector actually.

I am not sure if this also works on these laptop cards. It would be very interesting if two of these worked in crossfire in our laptops.

It performs very similar to a GTX 1060, slightly slower. Should be a bit faster than 980M SLI maybe.

Desktop cards support Crossfire Pro so I am so curious now if two of these would work :

https://www.develop3d.com/hardware/...rkstation-solidworks-3dsmax-vred-steam-vrmark

 

Sadly the crossfire has to be supported by the chipset and motherboard, without either it wont work and requires the cable

 

I thought the only requirement was an x16 slot for each card?

 

You need the AMD XDMA support through Chipset and motherboard or else it wont work, basically its routing the CF signal through the XDMA implemented in the motherboard, this is why you see Crossfire certified on many mid to high end desktop motherboards.
I have no idea if laptop motherboards have those implemented, I would not count on it as I have yet to see any laptop utilising Polaris crossfire however despite all of this your laptop SHOULD be able to detect both GPU's regardless the bridge is so they communicate together.
Future Vulkan and Dx12 will utilise Multi GPU technology which means there no longer has to be a bridge to support both GPU, as stated by Vulkan dev team that AMD, Intel and/or nVidia can all work together rendering a Vulkan game in the future with Multi GPU technology.
This however seems like its going to take a while to get implemented, they first mentioned this in the infancy of Vulkan API which is a few years ago by now.

Its better to just get a Rx 480 and edit the BIOS to unlock it to full sized desktop power rather than doing Crossfire.

 

For any future people who want to try WX 7100 or Rx 480 in the Alienware M17x R4, it is recommended to acquire eDP display and the eDP cable ( 02JD3N / DC02C002S00)
You can look up which eDP display you want here Panelook.com you would only want the 1080p 120Hz, 1440p 120Hz or the 4k 60Hz but with 100% AdobeRGB basically its a HP DreamColor display.
They should all work because I know there people with M17x R4 that uses 4k panels so the 3D cable is just a regular eDP with extra 3D signal pins with 3D being a completely useless for you who want to use the WX 7100 since it wont work with AMD, only with nVidia and even then I do not believe people with pascal has gotten the 3D feature to work.

The reason for eDP is so you can run the card in PEG mode instead of SG, AMD receive massive performance impact from SG mode (Enduro). PEG mode (Direct access) gives much better performance, better than stock 1060 in 3DMark! 13000~ vs 13500 graphics score in FireStrike this is without overclocking.

BIOS Signature Checker makes it impossible to use modified BIOS on the WX7100 and Rx 480, I will post one and final update on this thread after I received my eDP display from China with the cable so I can test the GPU further but because of BIOS Signature checker this means WX 7100 is ONLY compatible in Windows 7 AND Windows 10, Windows 8.1 will not work!
Rx 480 I do not know if it will work in eDP or not, some people say it wont but I have yet to test this. However if it does work it means only the LAST Windows 8.1 driver will work in W8.1.

This only leaves you with W7 and W10, if this is not a problem that is all fine but you are left with limited overclocking potential and maybe MAYBE push the card to 15 000 with WX 7100 vBIOS.
Rx 480 is much more limited potential in overclocking.

 

Wow I didn't know there was a eDP RGB screen for the R4, cool! Any confirmed installs? What pn screen?

 

Me neither. 120hz is good enough , and there is a video for rgb option when I run Pro WX 7100 in the m17x r4.

 

Its likely the same screen as the IPS RGB M6700, it's 120HZ option uses the same panel as the M17X R4

I managed to get M6100 crossfire to work through XDMA on my Clevo earlier with an eDP screen

 

No there is not for the 17.3 inch form factor anyway, there is however RGB LVDS, you can modify some cables to get it working, I know people who have done it.
But LOL, its not really worth it simply from the fact that the eDP 4k HP Dreamcolor display produces even better colour, the display in question is called AUO B173ZAN01.0 and has 100% coverage of AdobeRGB colour spectrum with 1:1000 contrast ratio, which is really good for such a display.

There is also a really good 1440p 120Hz monitor for the Alienware m17x R4 that works, but unless you have a 1070 its meaningless.

 

Thanks. I did get the cable 02JD3N are you saying I just need AUO B173ZAN01.0 and direct swap in? Planning to use a 980M in the R4.

 

I believe you can also get a 1440P 120HZ panel, but it isn't as vibrant as the dreamcolour panel. I don't know of anyone who has done either mod though

 

Yes it will work just fine, the thing about laptop monitors you need to watch is width, and whether the port is reversed or not, the Alienware uses reversed ports, thankfully almost all the 17.3 eDP displays are in fact reversed bottom ports.

 

What screen is this ?

 

AUO B173ZAN01.0 is the HP Dreamcolor 4k display

 

Would that HP dreamcolor 4k support future upgrades like to 1070? Or should I try to get the 120hz 1440P?

 

As long as the GPU can output to 4k then yes, when using eDP displays you usually just want to run PEG mode which is dedicated GPU only, your integrated wont be available with this use but frankly you gain 10 to 15% more performance by doing PEG.

 

It will work in R4?

 

Seems that panel has mounting tabs instead of the side holes?

DP/N: 2DK4K 02DK4K
vs.
18J1G

 

WX7100 and Rx 480 MXM do not support 120Hz eDP Displays, but supports 60Hz eDP in PEG mode on the Alienware M17x R4
Ironically you can also OC your 60Hz display in PEG mode mine got 100Hz easily.
You can however output up to 144Hz through the mini DisplayPort.
This most likely firmware issue on Dell side as the card clearly will do 120Hz and more just fine also the Samsung 700G7A laptop from 2011 does 120Hz on 6970M and 7970M, yes MXM.
Asus laptop with BGA Rx 580 also does 120Hz through eDP.

The issue is with Dell not allowing AMD to work with any eDP 120Hz screens, I hope that clarifies stuff for many in the future who will attempt to use WX7100 or Rx 480 in Alienware.

eDP and PEG is vastly better experience as the card is treated as a desktop Rx 480 with vBIOS flash giving you access to all desktop features like ReLive and more. I will attempt custom vBIOS for overclocking at later date and post the results.

 

I have proved this already.

I ran 120hz EDP PEG with the WX 7100

The RX 480 will not.

Both tested in R4.

 

If anyone needs help with finding CORRECT eDP panel for the M17x R4 you need Wedge (PCBA Bent, Depth ≥5.2mm) and reverse signal position make sure its 40 pin connection, these panels are hard to come by SHARP, LG and Samsung make them panelook has poor information on these panels so you need to do some digging I will post links and info in a new thread once I worked out everything on my WX7100 upgrade

 

Just bought a wx7100 for 250 usd for my Ranger, hoping it all works out...

 

Nice, from where?

 

ebay, might be from the same seller you bought from.

Only thing he ever sold was the same GPU for 300 OBO of which sold at what ever the offer was lol

 

Well the guy basically sandwiched the card between two pieces of foam with no anti static bag.

Shows up in Device manager as a PCI device but in BIOS its not detected at all. Likely died on the way in shipment.

 

That sucks big time, it should show up as ATI GRAPHICS or something similar in BIOS does the drivers install in SG mode?

 

The m6100 displays just like you described and continues to work after reinstalliation.

No detection in bios, and no heat generated from card. Can't install drivers either, error 173 (graphics not found). This is with LVDS running SG, as I wanted to amek sure the gpu worked before tearing down the whole laptop to swap panels to test my 120hz eDP panel.

I'm guessing it's doa.

 

Definitely dead card, had similar symptoms with my dead 7970M.
Foam is highly electrical in nature, I only use newspaper if I have to ship electronics without antistatic bag.

I can show you a good taobao site if you still want to buy one

 

Im on board, I want an AMD card in my system.

I wont be able to pull any triggers until I get back from this endeavor.

How much did it cost you?

 

It cost me 300 dollar so a good chunk more than yours, the only difference is that its brand new and came inside a sealed anti static bag.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=563294683537

Use Bhiner to pay for it or other Taobao agents that accepts PayPal or Transferwise.

 

Well I plan to get refunded from this idiots transaction, had another doa product too and I plan to sell a spare motherboard, once I collect the funds from all that then I'll push forward with this.

How long was the shipping time for you? Thanks for the link btw

 

Using Superbuy, once it arrives in their warehouse, about a Week and a half for the expedited shipping, so around just over two weeks after purchase

 

I'm curbing my interest in laptop upgrading for now. The ranger works and for now that's all I need.

 

Laptop upgrades are royal pain when you start hitting walls on the way which you will allot for most of us its a shame but desktop and some BGA crapbook is vastly easier to deal specially with all that streaming technology today.
My 60Hz screen will arrive soon and I will update you guys one last time on this meaningless project also the plexiglass was like 20 bucks on Taobao, lucky me cause I broke that **** into 7 pieces out of anger.

Anyone tip to a good way of attaching it better than using super glue like dell did