The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
← Previous pageNext page →

    M17x r3 680M compatability

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by BlakeE450, Jun 21, 2012.

  1. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If somehow having an additional machine to test BIOS'es would be of benefit to your efforts, please let me know. I have a 3D-ready M17x w/ a 580M currently. More machine details in my sig. :)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #151
  2. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Totally possible, yes. I didn't know there was any kind of whitelist or whatever, and I don't know whether this what I'm talking about is really what you think it is, but interestingly there's really a list with Nvidia device IDs in the BIOS. And also one with AMD device IDs.
    Though it's not worth the effort if nobody is going to test it.
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #152
  3. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Hehe do you think you could give it a try? I'm sure there are tons of guys on here that would be happy to try. Just replace the existing 460m and 560m device ids with 675m and 680m device ids i listed in my previous post.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 16, 2012
    #153
  4. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Like I said, I'd be happy to give the BIOS a try. I've bricked this machine before, I just would need to once over the fixing process again. :)

    Granted, I do not have a 680M to actually test functionality.
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #154
  5. dingbat501

    dingbat501 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    No but you could flash your 580 bios to a 675 :)
     
    dingbat501, Jul 16, 2012
    #155
  6. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Now that is a completely foreign concept to me. Up until yesterday, I didn't even know it was possible to "flash" your GPU to look like a different model than it actually is.

    I would be willing to do this, too. (Assuming that it won't break my card or brick it to a point that it cannot be recovered)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #156
  7. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    I can attest, I flashed my 580m to 675M and had zero issues at all, just read all directions thoroughly and don't skip on anything.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 16, 2012
    #157
  8. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Could you point me in the directions of this guide in case it'd help to have the M17x in testing? Didn't even know there was one. :)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #158
  9. aznpos531

    aznpos531 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    457
    Messages:
    636
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    aznpos531, Jul 16, 2012
    #159
  10. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Sure, as long as someone is willing to test it I can do the work. Else it's not worth the time.


    Cool, in this case I'm going to changes some IDs :) I'll PM you with a link once it's ready, I don't post such tests in a public, people are likely to not read properly and just flash...

    Good thinking :D


    Anyway, I don't really expect it to work... but as long as people are willing to test, why not give it a try, hehe.
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #160
  11. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I shall get to following that guide on flashing the vBIOS now then. :) Just in case we have a bad scenario - could you provide a link to an unbricking tutorial? lol
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #161
  12. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #162
  13. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I assume that's only for the regular BIOS? What about the vBIOS, same method?

    Thanks!

    EDIT:

    Will doing any of this testing require a cleanly formatted flash drive other than the recovery method? I'm away from home right now and the only portable storage (other than actual laptops) that I brought with me was an external HDD that I can't wipe.
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #163
  14. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    If you flash the vbios from within Windows, then no, but I recommend flashing the vbios per DOS. So you need to use the USB drive as DOS drive first. Once you flashed the vbios you can still format it for a recovery stick. You want to flash the vbios first anyway.
    But you can also flash from within Windows, it's faster and easier and you don't need an USB thumb drive.

    For a vbios brick there's no recovery method, unless you're still able to flash it blindly, else you need someone to reprogram the card for you.
    But you won't brick your GPU with flashing, don't worry, just use the stock Dell 675m vbios and you're fine.
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #164
  15. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Whelp, disk manager is telling me that I can't shrink the volume (my external). So I think I could try flashing the vBIOS within Windows, unless there is some sort of huge-benefit to flashing it in DOS. (I assume it's to do with the reliability of the flash working?)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #165
  16. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Yeah, DOS is simply more stable than Win when it comes to this, but you need to be very unlucky to have problems with the flashing.
    Just close the browser etc when you flash from within Win and you should be fine.
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #166
  17. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Okay, I'll open up the flashing instructions on the iPad and get to following them after a quick reboot out of paranoia. :)

    I'll edit this post with a message below once-completed.

    EDIT:

    I'm ALIVE! And now it just says "standard VGA adapter". What's next? Drivers? (Just making sure I follow everything step by step exactly how you want for the test. :))
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #167
  18. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Yeah, the device ID changed, you need to reinstall the driver.
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #168
  19. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Installed and recognized as 675M! As expected, the tab for "Setup Stereoscopic 3D" no longer exists.

    On a side note - there is a new PowerMizer tab, with some new features I've never seen about extending battery life by giving the display less energy.



    What's next? :)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #169
  20. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Next? Check your PMs ;)
     
    svl7, Jul 16, 2012
    #170
  21. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Let us know how this goes, and if my theory was right or wrong haha :)
     
    Raidriar, Jul 16, 2012
    #171
  22. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just wanted to give everyone an update - didn't work for us. No option for anything relating to 3D in the settings. :(
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #172
  23. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Thats unfortunate, I really thought that would work since whatever the 560M could do, the replaced IDs should be able to do too :confused:

    Keep on thinkin guys, we'll see if we can figure something out.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 16, 2012
    #173
  24. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    For the moment, I can leave the system on that BIOS and vBIOS to test more things, and I am willing to test out new ones as well. :)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #174
  25. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Did you try installing M17xR4 drivers?
     
    Raidriar, Jul 16, 2012
    #175
  26. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I assume you are referring to the GPU drivers? No, I have not tried those. I used the modded drivers from the link provided in the firmware tutorial.

    Let me go get out the machine and try the Dell drivers.

    One moment please...
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #176
  27. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    2,461
    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Trophy Points:
    181
    If 3DVision is installed try to manually launch it.
     
    j95, Jul 16, 2012
    #177
  28. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hm. I seem to not be able to get the drivers to install, even after pasting in a custom nvwi.inf into the display drivers folder. (There wasn't one to overwrite in the first place.)


    Am I missing something?
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #178
  29. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    2,461
    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Trophy Points:
    181
    You can set the screen to 120Hz and manually install 3DVision from the Nvidia Install Folder.(just speculating)
     
    j95, Jul 16, 2012
    #179
  30. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No dice.

    I also tried the start menu shortcut for "Enable 3D vision".
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #180
  31. fam

    fam Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    maybe eurocom guys could help on this 3d issue?
     
    fam, Jul 16, 2012
    #181
  32. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I've been hearing about this "Eurocom" company a lot recently, yet lack any knowledge of them. I understand they do things with graphics cards, that is about all I know.

    Who would I talk to in Eurocom about the getting the 3D to work in the machine? (As in what support department)


    Thanks!
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #182
  33. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    2,461
    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Trophy Points:
    181
    In C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision there are registry entries nvstdef, oglstreg and all the launchers.If there is a driver software solution it must be there.
    Besides the whitelist in the Bios are there entries relating the card with the IR emitter?
    Eurocom upgradeyourlaptop http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=503889 they should be interested in helping you.
     
    j95, Jul 16, 2012
    #183
  34. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I PM'd Eurocom to try and entice them to participate in this thread, and I also PM'd svl7 to make sure they're still watching this thread, as I really don't know the answer to your question regarding the IR emitter.


    I hope we can get this rolling! :)
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 16, 2012
    #184
  35. vginside

    vginside Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    94
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hi,
    i would recommend to download the drivers for specially 3D controller (not GPU drivers but 3D controller) available on on Dell website heres the link
    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]
    it works independently to controller 3D stereoscopic IR transmitter alone... Its different then what nvidia drivers do ... You need to install this drivers too no matter you have latest nvidia 3D vision drivers; 3D won't work if this is not installed... Try and reply...

    Regards!
     
    vginside, Jul 17, 2012
    #185
  36. vic_doom69

    vic_doom69 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    87
    Messages:
    248
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    whatever the outcome, i just wanted to say thanks for the effort. +rep
     
    vic_doom69, Jul 17, 2012
    #186
  37. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Didn't work, but thank you for the suggestion! :)

    I'm here to help. NBR is a great community which has answered and solved every question I've ever had on here. I figured it was time to put some effort into giving back.
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 17, 2012
    #187
  38. airacutie

    airacutie Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    154
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi guys, just a quick info, dont remember to see it in this thread. I have recently exchanged couple of mails with Dell representative regarding R3 upgrade to 7970 or 680, he told me that there is not problem to upgrade to 7970 and they can send me the card (although only within US ;-) but upgrade to 680 is not possible on R3 (at least officially).
     
    airacutie, Jul 17, 2012
    #188
  39. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What's funny is that I've had two reps tell me the exact opposite. One even said something about checking it with his manager. (Not that I'm doubting -you-, just the inconsistencies with reps)


    Thanks for the info though, I just really need NVidia cards, as they work drastically better in the software I use.
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 17, 2012
    #189
  40. airacutie

    airacutie Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    154
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    wow thats really funny ;-)
     
    airacutie, Jul 17, 2012
    #190
  41. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm heading off to bed for the night, but I have started to toy around in the registry to see if I can remember how to force-enable the 3D menus in the control panel. The keys I am looking at are located under:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\Stereo3D


    I tried setting the dword ControlPanel to a hex value of 1... no dice. Then I tried 5 as it seemed like other enable/disable options were set there. Also no dice.

    EDIT:

    With some further investigation, I really don't think toying with the registry is going to fix this. :(
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 17, 2012
    #191
  42. Mahesh_Singh

    Mahesh_Singh Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    57
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    +rep for the effort...
    The man has a heart of steel! :)
    Would have really wanted the 3D to be possible with the 680m on the r3... Oh well, dreams are the foundation of greatness :D :D
     
    Mahesh_Singh, Jul 17, 2012
    #192
  43. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    3,159
    Messages:
    6,473
    Likes Received:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    331
    MickyD1234, Jul 18, 2012
    #193
  44. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    BlakeE450, Jul 18, 2012
    #194
  45. fam

    fam Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Today is the day that everything changes.. one way or the other..
     
    fam, Jul 18, 2012
    #195
  46. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I've brought my M17x with me as I travel today in case they release that new BIOS. You guys can count on me to test it out with the 580M flashed as a 675M. :)

    On a site note, if someone notices the BIOS release before I do, please either post below or PM me.

    Thank you!


    EDIT:

    Starting to think that update was for r4's... :(
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 18, 2012
    #196
  47. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    3,159
    Messages:
    6,473
    Likes Received:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Hope not - the R4 shouldn't need any bios to use the 120hz screen and 680 so I'm hoping Luis is confusing (sorry to luis if wrong) the new bios notes.
    Fingers crossed.

    +rep for the testing with a bios flash and slv7's bios mod. I've seen a lot of posts from r3 owners that say that loosing 3d is the killer on upgrading to 680 so lots of hero points to go around :D. It's usual for oem's to update their bios when new cpu's come out so maybe dell are fixing the 3D 'upgradability'
     
    MickyD1234, Jul 18, 2012
    #197
  48. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I appreciate the +rep, thank you.

    Out of curiosity, do we think that writing a petition and making AW aware of it (via Dell's idea storm or whatever else would work) would increase the chance of them updating the BIOS so they can get more money from us?
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 18, 2012
    #198
  49. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    3,159
    Messages:
    6,473
    Likes Received:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    331
    If this new bios turns out to be a dead-end then definitely. I was thinking something like that may be needed - if I still had my R3 I would be very 'vocal' about loosing 3d for an upgrade that otherwise works fine. :mad:
     
    MickyD1234, Jul 18, 2012
    #199
  50. BlakeE450

    BlakeE450 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah, I think I will throw one together after we see what this new BIOS offers or doesn't offer.

    They may of been referring to the A05 that came out for the r4, unless I am mistaken about its release date.
     
    BlakeE450, Jul 18, 2012
    #200
← Previous pageNext page →