M17x R4 with 980m on Windows 10 issues

I recently upgraded my R4 from a 7970M to the 980M. The drivers over at laptopvideo2go got me running under Windows 7 with only a few issues. Mostly full screen games would fail to load, only windowed 3D would work (which is workable as most of the games I play work in this mode and performance was spot on). However, after upgrading (as in complete reformat upgrade) and once again using the modified INF to get it working, I still have the same problem but in addition to that, performance is noticeably worse and I can not get any sort of VSYNC to work (via driver or in game setting). Everything from Guild Wars 2 to the Unigine Heaven benchmark, all have screen tear, and more than the usual amount. Full screen games will at most load up a mouse cursor and get stuck. I have to sign out of Windows to get any sort of desktop display back. Setting everything to use integrated graphics will allow me to start any game and set it for borderless window full screen, if available (if not available, integrated only which is trash).

Is this normal? Should I just go back to Windows 7 until drivers are ready? What about dedicated mode, I know I have a "locked" BIOS on this R4, I imagine that mode has the least issues (if I can get it working).

Thanks in advance for any insight regarding this.

 

Hi, I've been watching the NV forums daily since win 10 release and the problem with v-sync is one of many that people are struggling with. Honestly? Roll back and give it a few months to stabilize. https://forums.geforce.com/default/...dy-display-driver-feedback-thread-8-13-15-/1/

Curiously almost all the reports come from people that did a 'clean' install. I know this is best practice with all the previous windows versions but I have to wonder if MS put so much resource into an upgrade (since they are pushing it on people that know nothing about upgrading a PC) that a clean install is not as reliable? I tried both on an old laptop and only activation was different. It refused to accept my license number but then activated anyway.

FYI, right at the end of the install when customizing watch out for a tiny link to select your own options. Here you get to turn off all the marketing info sent to MS - and there is a TON of it! Payback for the free upgrade maybe?

Can't help with the other stuff . Good luck.

 

Firstly,. roll back from Windows 10 to 8.1... Windows 10 is killing Alienware even our R4s...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10-upgrade-warning-for-alienware-owners.779449/

Next, you should run your 980M in optimus mode to minimise throttle problems... It will also help to flash Svl7's or Prema's Premamod vBIOS's... These unlocked BIOS's should remove any throttling problems etc...

 

i thoguht you were a 7 guy? LOL

 

Ok, firstly thanks for the responses and sorry for the late reply. I haven't had much time these last few months to get to some hardcore tinkering with this setup because I needed it functional for work applications, but now that I have some down time...

So I tried going back to 8.1 which has the same problems for me as 7 does. Full screen 3D just doesn't work, regardless of any combination of drivers ive found but at least the VSYNC issue is gone (as it is in 7). But all games have to be set to windowed fullscreen to get past a blank screen. I usually do this via device manager / disable the 980m, start game in pure intel mode, set it up, exit, re-enable 980m, it works via optimus mode. But if the game doesnt support windowed fullscreen...Im SOL.

So, I think this problem is the vBIOS. I've never flashed an nvidia vBIOS before (I have done the 6950 -> 6970 trick in the past on desktops). What do I need to do this? And what vBIOS is the best for the M17x R4? If I use a stock vBIOS can I use official drivers / will it even boot windows 7 with official vBIOS? (I hate having to use modified INFs) I keep reading here that the card is pure UEFI only, but Im clearly not UEFI on Win 7 (MBR boot volume even) and it is working... though in a crippled state. I know that my particular 980m does not currently have a stock vBIOS, but I am not sure what it currently has on it. Also the M17x R4 is running BIOS A12 (unmodded).

Thanks again!

 

3D you mean 3D vision then of course it don't work....it's been said heaps. this is because the GPU is not part of a recognised configuration that is officially licensed by nvidia.

 

Hey Ghosts

Hope this isn't considered as hijacking this thread but I think this could benefit the OP as well...

So I successfully modded my first driver yesterday. It took a bit of time as I wasn't aware that inf files are categorized by manufacturers. So I had to mod the Dell inf file: nvdmi.inf.
It worked perfectly but I just want to double check if this was the right way to proceed.

Other than that, I noticed that many people on Techinferno (you included I think as I saw your posts there) were using some custom drivers (PEG?) which were supposed to help eliminate throttling. Is this true or can I stick to modding my own drivers now?
Also do you know how I can make sure my vBios was flashed properly to Prema? More specifically to 1.1.1 ? I trust Woodzstack but I still would like to have a way to check it myself.

Cheers!

 

Or you could have gotten @j95's modded INFs and saved yourself the hassle.

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Couldn't find the ones for Dell...

Any idea on the vBios thing? Any easy way to check which one is currently used? Thx!


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Use the nvidia drivers.

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It should be shown in nvidia inspector at the top next to 'BIOS'.

 

Thx man. Just flashed to prema 1.1.1.


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No by 3D I mean fullscreen direct 3D as in gaming. Right now, I can not initialize any direct 3D renderer for full screen games. Everything seems to work fine when run through optimus. This is apparently a known issue with using this in a Windows 7 configuration. But the second part of what your saying is that no vBIOS will ever bypass the need for a modified INF? Something said about the prema bios seems to say it can? But when I went to his wordpress blog there is no version for the M17x R4

Im gonna install windows 8.1 again. After I get it setup, set BIOS to UEFI boot with drivers and all, is fn+F7 still going to more or less brick the laptop and force me to put my old 7970 back in to get it out of that mode?