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    M17x graphics drivers

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Montrose, Mar 31, 2011.

  1. Montrose

    Montrose Guest

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    I thought I knew the answer but after reading some posts I am not so sure (and I am far from an expert). Can I use AMD or Nvidia reference video drivers with the M17x instead of the drivers supplied by AW/Dell?

    This is very important to me because my last laptop was a Dell XPS and I HAD to use the dell video drivers (I could not use reference drivers) and Dell quickly got bored with the model and stopped updating drivers and I was frozen in time which caused me all sorts of issues. I DO NOT want to repeat this. So I will purchase the M17x if it works with reference drivers (without any fooling around) but am not interested if this is not the case.

    Thanks for your input
     
    Montrose, Mar 31, 2011
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  2. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    I could be wrong but I believe the reference drivers will work fine as long as you INF mod the driver adding in the proper HWID's.
     
    LVNeptune, Mar 31, 2011
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  3. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    As far as the m17x R1 and R2 go, reference drivers can be used with no problem now.
    For the R3 with nVidia GPU you'll need a moded .inf to get the latest drivers to work, with the ATi GPU I believe there are no issues.
     
    katalin_2003, Mar 31, 2011
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  4. Montrose

    Montrose Guest

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    It is an r3 I am looking at. I guess I should have put the "I am far from an expert" in caps.

    Inf mod the driver adding HWID's???

    I think this means (for me) do not get the Nvidia based M17x r3. But I can assume that I am fine if I get an AMD?
     
    Montrose, Mar 31, 2011
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  5. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    There's guides on INF modding in this forum unfortunately I don't have the link handy. HWID = Hardware ID. It's really easy once you see how to do it :)
     
    LVNeptune, Mar 31, 2011
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  6. DARCODER

    DARCODER Notebook Deity

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    I try to open the nv_disp file with notepad but it's like coded, I can read it :/ How to fix that?
     
    DARCODER, Mar 31, 2011
    #6