M17x r2: Just purchased 920xm, 7970m, SSD

Hey guys new alienware owner here. I just picked up an r2 off craigslist the other day. It has the 1200p screen but internals are all stock and not up to par (4870m, 620, 2x7200 drives).

I just picked up the following:

OEM i7 920XM
7970m install kit from eurocom (comes with bracket, thermal paste, pads)
OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB drive

My questions are:

I'm researching for installation instructions for each component. So far I've found one for the 7970m but not the SSD or 920xm. I assume SSD is fairly straight forward but I'm wondering if there is anything I should be aware of. Also, 920xm is important. I've never done any internal work on a laptop before so I'd like to make sure I'm doing it correctly. Instructions on this would be nice.

Also, when I see instructions it's usually for that particular component. Since I've purchased these 3 components at once, should I install one at a time in case a problem arises, I can narrow down the component that may have caused it, OR should I install all at once? What procedure would you recommend for installing these?

When I purchased the laptop it did not include ANY software. It's still under warranty from Dell until 2014. I'm trying to transfer ownership into my name. I should be able to get a copy of Windows 7 installation disc through Dell correct? However, I've read it takes around 15 days to transfer ownership and probably a few more to get the disc. Should I wait for this disc? Am I even correct that they will ship me a new disc? Should I just purchase a full copy of Windows 7 (or Windows 8...)?

Finally, does anyone know if the thermal paste that comes with the 7970m kit comes with enough to do the processor as well? I'm very new to all this so any tips or links to read are much appreciated. I have a few days before these items arrive so I wan't to be ready when they get here.

Thanks! I've enjoyed this forum so far and I look forward to being a member here.

-Kyle

 

Anyone? Parts should be coming in today.

 

If you use the compund from your GPU, for the CPU its good.

SSD u can install directely.

CPU u can install directely if u are able to cool it enough.

GPU u need to uninstall drivers first. Hopefully you bought the Dell kit that makes u able to not do bios upgrade and have the correct screws for it.

Windows I donno.

Need to install HWInfo64 to run your FANS.

 

Trome - Thanks for your reply.

Yes I purchased the kit from upgradeyourlaptop on eBay. I just finished reading all 31 pages of the flingin post. I saw he also had problems come November after installing and running fine for a couple months. He now recommends the TJ vbios. Is this true even for recent purchases of the 7970m from eurocom (upgradeyourlaptop)?

When you say CPU is direct install if I can cool enough? What do you mean?

Thanks again.

Also, I believe the 920XM only comes with the processor. Do I need to purchase thermal compound remover, thermal pads, or anything else?

 

You just need some cotton swabs and alcohol if there is any residual paste on the CPU from the seller. Clean off old paste --> lock in CPU to mobo --> apply your own paste --> screw on heatsink. And yeah, the tube if ICD that comes with the kit should be enough for the CPU and GPU, and a few more future repastes.

I'd recommend that you do everything all at once, since disassembling and reassembling 3 times is a PITA and there shouldn't be a problem with the CPU or SSD since they are just plug and play. The GPU is another story though, but you probably salvaged enough info from the other thread to figure it out

 

CPU is new so I assume no paste. Would their be paste on the heatsink that I would need to remove?

 

Yeah, you'll need to clean that off too. Be careful and watch some videos before pasting with ICD, because it's thicker and harder to apply than other pastes. If it's too dried up you could try softening it up by submerging it in hot water for 5-10 minutes before applying.

 

I got paste with my CPU, but it was useless and just a small amount. (From upgrademonkey)
Nobrand paste.

As long as you apply like tetsussaiga mentioned about heating it you would be good.
Look at (youtube) eurocom video of GPU install and do the same for the CPU paste apply.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/677680-another-7970m-m17x-r2-installation-photos.html

guess youve seen this.

 

I find the easiest paste to use is MX-4, easy to spread, safe and not expensive.

 

I did. I read the whole thing. I still have one question though. Was it decided that a new 7970m kit from Eurocom (upgradeyourlaptop) purchased as of 12/3 would need a different vbios than the stock one or should the stock be fine?

 

If you bought the dell/alienware one you dont have to change vbios since its made for alienware.
I simply installed it and the drivers.
As you read you have to uninstall old drivers first.

 

Take your time when first opening your R2 up. You'll surely get the hang of it as you go and things will be a lot easier for succeeding attempts. I'm planning the same thing, but haven't dived in and gotten the card yet. So I'll be following this thread and cheering you on.

Let us know who it goes with this project of yours. :thumbsup:

 

CPU and SSD are at my house now. Waiting until Monday when the GPU and replacement OS discs from Dell come in. I can't wait!

 

SSD is very easy and only a few screws, you can start there right now.

 

Received the GPU early so this morning I got to work.

I installed the CPU and GPU. Went fairly straightforward. First boot the screen didn't come on and I had blinking scroll and num. Reseated the LCD and voila. I had some troubles installing the AMD driver. Gave me a fail the first time for the Graphics card. Did it again and installed correctly.

I opened up Borderlands 2 just to see if everything worked and I suppose I didn't setup HWinfo because 3 minutes into the game and the laptop shut off. I suppose fans weren't coming on and it got to hot.

Reconfigured HWinfo and now it's working great. Ran the computer through 3dMark11 and scored a 5468 stock. Going to run it like this for a little while before OC'ing it.

I'm still on the 7200rpm drives as my Win 7 install disc is still in the mail from Dell. That should be here Monday so I can do a fresh install on the SSD.

CPU runs around 42 at idle and GPU around 34. Sound normal? Anything else I should test or benchmark to make sure everything is working properly? I plan to hookup to HDMI tonight to see if that works.

 

Just run it through some modern titles to test all parts of the new hardware.

Those temperatures look very good.

 

If you install 12.11 beta, you should get around 6000 in 3D mark 11. Otherwise, everything looks excellent.

 

Thanks. I just updated to 12.11 and scored a 5992 now! Any ideas what I'll be at after OC'ing? Is there a break-in period I should wait before OC'ing the CPU?

 

A mild OC with stock voltage can get you approx. 7200. Mine is OC'ed at 950/1350.

 

Problem here: I started playing Borderlands 2 and after between 10-15 minutes the computer shuts off. I assume it is an overheating issue. I don't know where to start diagnosing. I've attached a log of the last session prior to it shutting down. It looks as though the GPU is getting up to 85. It also feels hot to the touch over the keyboard (above the video card). From the logs can anyone determine for certain it's the GPU vs. the CPU.

Also, I didn't think 85 was that bad. How come the computer is shutting off?

Also, log shows GPU fan only at 35%, even though I have it maxed at 7000rpm.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ypy7efwlofdg8s/Temp Log.CSV

Anyone? I don't think this is a paste issue. Temps at idle are low and when the computer is shutting off it shows the temp to be only 85 degrees. I think there may be a software issue that is causing the computer to shutdown prematurely. At what temp does the BIOS tell the computer to shut off for the CPU and GPU?

 

MY fans run at apx 4500 max speed. Dont know if that is to low but its still working fine. I max the fans at apx 60 deg C.

The fan you also need to run is the GPU2 fan. Im currently running it at CPU COREmax temp sensor.

 

My GPU2 fan doesn't do anything. I manually set it to 7000rpm and I don't hear anything...

 

Do you have a crossfire setup? If you don't, then there's no reason for the second GPU fan to start up. Even if you have a GPU2 fan installed, the system won't activate it unless it gets a signal from the second GPU's temp sensor that the fan needs to spin on. The system shouldn't be shutting down at 85C. Your GPU and CPU can handle much more than that. Only two things come to mind, what PSU do you have? 150W or 220W? You should be using the 220W PSU now that you have an extreme CPU and a 7970m card. If you already have a 220W PSU, then I would recommend you flash the unlocked R2 BIOS and see what the thermal safety settings are.

 

I tried installing the modded a10 bios and it froze with 2 blocks to go. Now I have a brick that won't turn on. I've tried the crisis procedure multiple times and it still doesn't work.

I'm thinking the motherboard is gone. I can't even check the power supply ATM.

 

Won't turn on or won't post? If it will at least light up when you press the power button then it is still turning on. What is the crisis procedure? You mean you tried blind flashing the BIOS?

 

Won't light up or anything. I put the bios on a flash drive and plugged it into the esata port and did the fn+b procedure.

To be exact I power drained it, plugged USB in pressed fn+b, plugged power cord in, pressed power button, held fn+b down and waited and nothing happens.

 

Good point. Yeah, that's a good indication your motherboard is dead. Try powering on with only the battery power, then again with the battery unplugged and the PSU plugged in.

 

I cant help you with your BIOS but seems like radji knows more about this than me. Way more.

Like radji mentioned, it should not shut down on below 90 degrees. Could be power issue
For your PSU:
Your PSU unit should have it printed on it what size it is, dont need to start computer. It should read GA240PE or something similar. .

I had crossfire and 4870 like you. If you had 2 off them you should then have a 240 PSU. AND also the possibility to run the GPU2 fan with HVINFO64 in custom active mode to adjust speed according to temperature of a predefined temperature sensor in computer. (where i used the CPU coremax temp to run it)
If you dont have 240, this needs to be your next upgrade after you fix your BIOS issue. You can then order it as soon as you know your BIOS issue will be cleared.
.

 

I had a single 4870 so no second fan. I just checked the PSU and it is a 240 model.

I was on A10 Bios prior to attempting to switch to the modded A10. I don't know what temp that shuts the computer down at but I think I've read in other posts it's not far off from 85. Some said 87 I think which is why I wanted to installed the modded a10, to be able to change this setting...

Looks like I'm ordering a new mobo.

I just can't see how the mobo is bad. Before I shut the computer down when it froze during the BIOS flash, the mouse still moved and LCD was working.

 

I know on my R4, the BIOS need to be A05 or lower if I want to flash it with a modded BIOS. If not, ^%$#$ happens...

I don't know about R2 but assuming the same logic, it may be one reason why your BIOS is dead. Well, since you are ordering a new mobo, hope you still have some warranty left... GL.

 

I do have warranty left. Could I just put the 4870 and stock CPU back in and have mobo replaced under warranty? Would they see that the bios was altered? How long would this take thru Dell? Am I better off just replacing the mobo myself?

 

Yes, please put everything back to the stock configuration. And then call the Dell rep. Remember, you just tried to flash your BIOS and it died . Long story short .

 

Hi, i'm facing the same situation with the 85 degree shutdown as well, apparently this issue only occurs with the 7970m as my previous 680m can withstand up to 90 degree without any problem. As far as i'm concerned, I initially had a few problems with installing the card itself as my monitor won't work (switched between modded a10 -> dell a10 -> a9 -> modded a10) bios to finally get it working,

As you mentioned, the modded a10 bios comes with the ability to change the thermal safety settings. Where can i find this setting?

 

Should be under the advanced tab. You should see a sub-menu labeled 'thermal platform configuration' or something like that.

 

after changing the trip point to about 97 degree, i've decided to mess around a lil bit with overclocking. seems like the thermal safety settings didnt work after all because at 940/1400 and i assume 85 degree celcius, my os did an auto-shutdown


edit: i did a little bit of reading and research into this matter and found out that the auto shutdown occurs mostly on dell-based 7970m. hmmm.....so any suggestions for a fix? perhaps maybe flashing it to another vbios? surely enough my temps are low at max 75 degree + minor oc with the 0.975 undervolt but i would like to see how much more i can push my 7970m

 

Assuming you got the Eurocom 7970m? If it's anything like the 6990ms, you can reflash the Clevo or Eurocom versions with most of the modded VBIOS. But the trip points and safety shutdown settings aren't controlled by the discrete card or it's VBIOS. Those are enforced by the BIOS. Which trip point did you set? The critical trip point is the one that forces the shutdown, or so I remember. But I believe that is only for the CPU or overall system temps. The only other things I can recommend are repasting (use a real good paste like the IC Diamond or something) and redo the thermal pads for the VRAM. You can try pulling a few degrees lower by lowering the voltage again, but I wouldn't push it.

 

i am using the dell's 7970m and as far as i can see this trip point does not occur at all on my 680m. I am in fact using IC diamond 7 with all the thermal pads placed appropriately with their respective sizes on the vram. for now i'm running it on 0.975v with 900/1300 OC seems to be fine as crysis 2 maxed out at 78 degree for a multiplayer game.

initially set my trip point from POR to 103, now its back to POR again

 

I have a M17x R2 also and I was thinking about putting my 920xm and 7970m in it but so far it sounds like it is not going to work properly. Dose anyone know if If anyone else has had success with this? Thanks

 

The R2 GPU heatsink or x-bracket not 100% compatible,7970M and 680M.Need little x-bracket modding.The 4 stems 5mm,i filed down 2mm,ergo complete 3mm all stems,now my GPU temps amazing,3 hours BF3 64 players multi and max.72°C 900/2000MHz my 680M.I use old 5870's screws and need gingerly pull,because may damage the GPU core if too much pressure!

 

The R2 with a 920XM/940XM and one 7970M will work quite nicely; if you try using an XM and dual 7970Ms for Crossfire, you'll run into issues with not having enough power (25W higher TDP on the 7970Ms than 5870Ms).

I have two in my R2 and found out the hard way that the 330W PSU identifier chip mod (to make it register as 240W) doesn't exactly work (or at least not for everyone). If you want Crossfire, you'd probably need to do the hackjob of splicing together 2x240W.

 

do you have a problem with the temps on your 7970s getting to hot so your m17x r2 auto shuts down at like 78C or something around there? and what is the conflagration of your m17x r2? I am planing on buying a motherboard and replacing it because mine wont turn on. Thanks