M17x r3 680M compatability

Just download nvdm.inf ignore instructions from my post, download NVIDIA DRIVERS 306.23WHQL -extract>installation failed>copy&replace(Display.Driver folder)>Run setup.

 

Alright, I've got the 306.23 drivers in. Didn't have any different between the beta 305 though, but glad I got em in, yes, yes, yes

I should call dell and have them send me the higher CPU for my model, lmao, see what that brings to the table.

 

For gaming no need to upgrade CPU, OC the beast! :yes:

 

I'm afraid to OC my CPU, the sucker is already hitting 79C - 81C under full load, lmfao. I spose I could, just watch the temps closely, but what about OCing the top CPU I could buy? LMFAO

 

If you want higher numbers OC the GPU.
Gpu Boost is not supported for the R3 so a modified vbios is required to increase & unlock core clocks.
Overclocking : NVIDIA Kepler VBIOS mods - Overclocking Editions, modified clocks, voltage tweaks

Alienware M17x R3 680M 3D support comment and vote : Idea Storm :thumbsup:

 

Haha, I was just thinkin this.

I was looking around, I read that there isn't much in OCing my 2670QM cpu anyways, just bumping the BLCK lvl to 5% and increasing the turbo mode time, that was it, probably not much of an improvement I would think... lmao. So no thought in bumping it up to the 3.1 anyways, or anywhere near it I would assume. lol

 

Hey guys, I have an m17x r4, I want to upgrade to the gtx680M. Anyone know where I can get the card? Hidevolution does sell the card but I dont know if they are selling used card or brand new one. For eurocom card, do I need to do any modification since my laptop model is R4

 

Ok, so... it appears that.. LMFAO, I some how managed to disable my turbo mode which wouldn't allow my CPU past 2.1, after turning it back on, I was getting 2.9, still not sure how I can pump it up to 3.1, what frequency or step should it be set too? lol, I could just increase it by every 100, let me know. I still read somewhere that the 2760QM can't be overclocked.

 

Enable speedstep, currently using unlocked ThrottleStop when required the 2760 sustains 3.2 GHz forever.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...top-4-10-alienware-m17x-r3-qm-proccesors.html

 

Okk thnx, cool.

I do have an issue, I was trying to set my clocks prior to seeing your post and I set the base clock to 10100 and then increment the BLCK by 100, however.... NOTHING is saving... I hope this Throttle thing will help.

Another quick question, since I have a 3D system (120hz screen 3D), if I set my bios to defaults, will I brick my bios and get black screen from having issues with IGD? I read somewhere that the IGD doesn't work anyways on 3D systems, is this true? Can I set to defaults with the 680m in here?

 

Ok, three things.

1.) I've lost the ability to change the backlight brightness, don't know if it is because I turned off the IGD or maybe I disabled an option in my bios by accident.

2.) I can't seem to overclock the GPU, I've got the Memory pushing 2300 over 1800 now, and holding stable with 64C, love the temps, but every time I've tried to push the GPU clock it doesn't make a change.

3.) I can't OC my CPU... even with everything that was told to me, my bios flickers and that's that, if I F10 and reboot into bios, also nothing changes, but usually when I change the base clock or BLCK to anything other than default then go to apply immediately as permanent, bios flickers, that's it and it goes back to defaults, I am wondering if I'm going to have to re-flash the bios, currently using the A08 Unlocked.

QUESTION, with the 680m installed on a 3D system, will enabling the IGD cause any "bricking" issues? or returning my bios settings to default also "brick" anything due to the 680m already being in?
I figured it would just boot up and be running off the IGD because it would be all like WTH is this in my laptop!

ADVICE please? lol

 

Hi, can't help with everything but some info that may help.

If you are using the bclk to OC your cpu then be very careful. This is the overclock equivalent of a sledghammer. You are overclocking just about everything at the same time. PCI bus, memory, etc. so very quickly some component will not be happy with the setting. If it happens to be the memory then it can brick (done this!). Only use very small increments.

Dont know about your GPU issue, the 680 is still a black art to me! What software are you trying?

As for the iGPU, it is not connected on the 120hz model. You CAN brick it with an unlocked BIOS by trying to force the iGPU (done this as well )

PS. Adding a sig with your config would make it easier rather than having to scan the post or look back

 

Yeah, I'll add my system config, lmfao.

Idk, I was told to use BLCK however the first time I went to do it... well, it just pretty much said no, I made sure that the intel something_step was enabled and it just kept saying no lmfao.

Yeah, I just set my IGD to Enabled... bricked, lmfao. I was hoping that I can get my damn backlight dimmer function back, turn it up or down, maybe initially IGD was set to AUTO and I completely forgot about it. Sigh, since I've never blind flashed a bios before, it just took me an hour to located a guide on doing so, ugh.

Going to flash to the A10 Unlocked with A08 eSata fix.

I would hate to brick the system from the BLCK, any recommendations? or if I just keep going up and up, I'll just brick or break something? Thnx. Am I better off just raising the base clock? I just want to get it so my cpu is pretty much always at 3.1 while gaming, it never hits it, lmfao.

Until I update my sig

Config i7 2760QM|680|1TB Raid 0|8GB 1600|120HZ screen

 

1) Flash system Bios to unlocked A10 Downloads >load defaults>reboot>F2 bios> your settings same as before flash AHCI-RAID>advanced tab>BCLK(bottom)>set 10000>SCC set it to 0>apply changes permanently>twice apply changes second option>F10 save&exit.
IGP isn't even connected as the screen is 120Hz, install latest OSD application.

2) As I said before you need to flash vbios, before doing this ask here : [GUIDE] NVIDIA VBIOS flashing
VBIOSs : NVIDIA Kepler VBIOS mods - Overclocking Editions, modified clocks, voltage tweaks.

3) For the CPU you can use Unlocked ThrottleStop which is cleaner 100% stable less services running no administrative events errors (Event Viewer) that will consume ram when the system idles.

My R3 never BSOD 10 months now, learn how to manually edit the registry as cleaners will give you false positives use Sandboxie free version (one sandbox at a time) to test software or to sanboxed windows explorer web browser many fully configurable options this is better than any antivirus also extremely positve for SSD together with a RAMdisk as it prevents wear, I've sandboxie container folder into a RAMdisk 7000 MB/s (ImDisk free- as a task at logon).
Inform yourself before applying the recommendations.
Good luck!

Edit:

Here is how you can set a 2-3GB RAMdisk that will speed up the R3 : The easy - and free - way to create and use a RAMdisk
ImDisk developer forum : ImDisk - reboot.pro

 

Ok... this was... crazy, I thought I had re-pasted my CPU, I guess I hadn't. Pulled off the sink and to my dismay... the amount of DELL PASTE that SHOUDL be on there is missing, don't get me wrong, there was paste... but it was AROUND the CPU. Cleaned it and palced arctic silver, so now both my GPU and CPU are sticking to the same temps 48 - 50 idle, 63 - 66 under load, I'm loving it

Ok, so ironically I bricked my MB, blind flashed it to the A10 unlocked bios and replaced the 680 and BAM, it works. Strangely, after disabling IGP, I don't know why I did, it was on auto and not like it had mattered anyways and now my flipping dimmer controls work, lmfao.

On that note, I'll have to flash the 680m like j95 mentioned.

Also, thanks for some of that info, but I'll look into ImDisk in a day or so. And don't owrry, I have messed with the registry quite a bit and I don't generally use any anti-something programs, they always usually turn out to be a hassle anyways, but thnx for the advice. I'm just new teh AW club and never have had to blind flash.

 

Lots of good info there from J95 to try out.

Depends on what your aiming for? If you're just wanting to see how far you can safely push it then tinker away .I did post earlier saying to make sure you had a USB prepared - somehow didn't get here .

Anyway, since you have already been through the of a blind flash that worry is behind you

I noticed you said you'd OD'd the memory. If you did this before trying the BCLK then you would have been bringing the memory up even higher. The BCLK will take effect instantly and the BIOS can recover while it is running (the flashing screen). A memory table change requires a cold boot, hence the chance of a brick if the timing is not possible .

Try putting the memory to default before increasing BCLK?

Have a look at Intel's XTU and see if that sounds like something you want to try. I tried it a while ago on an R3 and it worked OK. The 'auto' feature will push components till they fail and roll back (or that is what it is supposed to do).

As for the having to disable Igpu even though this should not matter,

 

The memory on the GPU was increases, but does increasing BLCK really also push my 680m further, it was only the memory I have OCed.

And yeah, I looked all over while installing my GPU, I hadn't seen nore got the brains to prepare myself for a brick, lmfao. But, it was fixed without a hitch wee, I actually had to blind a second time because I could finally OC my cpu (without BLCK) and I only increased it to 50(ish) in increments of 10 and it somehow bricked soooo, yeah. I put it back to 10000 and just left it there... lmfao. I'll check out intel XTU, sounds cool.

And yeah, the first brick was because I forced the IGD on, LMFAO. I think it's disabled now, Idk, however Idc since my dimming function works now. lol

Thnks guys.

 

You're welcome. It will add to the 680 as well but only via the increase on the pci-bus. I don't know the bus ratio for a video card but throughput would be increased. How much . You would probably only 'see' it in benchmarking.

 

Good that it's working, no need to reflash bios each time something goes wrong just shutdown>start>F2 bios. Let others test different VBIOSs before flash there is a new system bios A12 so better wait to see what this will bring.

MickyD XTU 2.1 suggestion works, run wPrime 3.2 GHz sustained speed if it fails try unlocked throttleStop as it needs XTU to be installed first to unlock it.

Sandboxie doesn't behave as an anti-virus is a sandbox where it virtually creates everything needed to install and run games/apps/web browsing as it is isolated no changes are made to the system.

Dataram RAMdisk is easier to configure, IE9 temp folder/Firefox cache/editing/ sandboxie not windows temp folders (windows updates/ installations) or pagefile as others do.

Dataram RAMdisk benchmark:
Sequential Read : 5727.443 MB/s
Sequential Write : 7295.352 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 5588.564 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 6749.575 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 687.550 MB/s [167858.8 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 517.022 MB/s [126226.1 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 659.791 MB/s [161081.7 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 518.421 MB/s [126567.7 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [J: 3.6% (36.4/1021.0 MB)] (x5)
Date : 2012/10/08 9:19:34

Edit : daddyz might have some insight on oc'ing R3 680m.

 

Sorry but i'm not english.

I have a 680M mounted in M17x R3 with Bios A12.

I can not install drivers, not detect any compatible device.

In windows device manager I find generic video card with this error: can not start the device.

I have NO 3d Panel.

is there a way to install the drivers and use the 680M?

thank you so much everyone!

PS:
I do not care to overclock

 

Hi,

Download Nvidia driver 306.23 NVIDIA DRIVERS 306.23WHQL
1-Install Nvidia driver.
2-Let it extract
3-Installation failed -no problem-Close dialog.
4-Open Display.Driver folder copy and replace nvdm.inf.
5-Run setup.exe within the extracted Nvidia folder.
6-Select custom install>next>Check clean install option>uncheck Nvidia update.

 

It will be interested to see if this works without the guy disabling the IGP. So far everyone has reported you cannot use Optimus on the R3 with the 680m.

If this doesn't work the guy should try changing the option in the A12 bios to use the PEG only and see if that makes any difference.

 

If not work i must select PEG Only in BIOS A12?

 

Yea, but try it with SG first just to see. It will really be a lot better if we can find a way to install it with SG. However, if even with the modifications the drivers won't install then try changing it to PEG.

 

nvdm.inf is for dell sytems (1028).

Yes.

 

Work only with PEG.

These operations must be repeated every time a new driver comes out?

The two files that I downloaded from your post are universal for all driver? or should be changed each time?

Thanks!!!!!!

 

Yeah each time, but it's easy just edit nvdm.inf no need for ListDevices.txt.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/672230-m17x-r3-680m-compatability-32.html#post8846464

 

Hey J95,
Do you have any ideas why Optimus doesn't work on the R3? You think the 680m uses a separate ID for an Optimus install or is it a base incompatibility at the motherboard level or what?

It is just so weird that it works set to PEG but not using Optimus.

 

So if I'm on unlocked A08 with IGD disabled, there shouldn't be an issue, correct?

 

580m ID M17x R3 : DEV_1211&SUBSYS_04901028 "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M "
Same IDs 60Hz ?

580m : %NVIDIA_DEV.1211.0490.1028% = Section190, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1211&SUBSYS_04901028

680m : %NVIDIA_DEV.11A0 0490.1028% = Section190, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11A0&SUBSYS_04901028

I edited the .inf with the same install paths for the 580m with 680m IDs which are for Dell (nvdm.inf 1028) Alienware M17XR3 (04901028) exclusive.
If someone could try this with IGP enabled, in this case replacing both files.

Start a thread laptopvideo2go regarding this.

Contact Eurocom asking if optimus would be supported selecting the 680m with a sandybride cpu as the option is being offered. Kepler&Sandy Bridge HD3000
If supported then there is a workaround.

Script a custom power saver plan that switches to high performance when plugged in.
Configure Power Plans

A10 bios is required, nothing to worry thanks to svl7 A10 unlocked with Sata III fix.

Downloads

 

The mainboard of R4 is compatible with R3?

Change mainboard should resolve any incompatibilities?

 

Not really. It might physically fit, although the engineer that replaced the 580 on my R3 and the display on my R4 said that the R4 was easier to dismantle - hinting at possible changes. Also it has a different chipset so you'd probably need a new CPU as well

 

I will test this within a few days along with some other stuff. The thread on Laptopvideo2go is a great idea.

 

Up??

There are anyone who have r3 full working with gtx680m?

 

Lot of people have it working without Optimus, no one I have seen has it working with Optimus. I should get one next week and will test a bit more.

 

Thank you Master Yoda


And with 120hz 3d it works fine?

 

It works great with the 120 hz but 3D will be disabled for your laptop screen. This is something set at a very low hardware level and the 680m is not an approved card for the 3D screen. However, aside from 3D it will be fully functional.

I don't have 3D so I wasn't really worried about that, but I guess there are 2 known issues. Optimus doesn't work, and 3D doesn't work. Optimus MIGHT be fixable, 3D will never work.

 

That's not true, it could be possible to fix this, but apparently there's no big interest. Someone asked for this at bios-mods and I said I might be able to help if he's willing to test some things, but he never replied. Same at T|I.
People don't really seem to be interested in this, not worth a lot of time on something like this if in the end nobody is willing to test it.

 

it would be nice to get the 680 working with Optimus as i cant roll with just a dedicated gpu as i bring my laptop into college thats the one thing putting me off getting a 680m and well the price as well.

 

Interest might pick up as the 680m becomes more available. It is still really expensive on eBay and Dell is back ordered on the card only. Since I don't have the 3D screen I can't test it, but maybe someone else will see your post here and be able to do it. I was under the impression it was basically not feasible to add the 3D support, but it is good to hear it might be possible.

What I am currently planning to do is just to manually switch. In the unlocked bios versions there is an option to select what adapter to use. It is really easy to get to and you just change the single option and it switches. Maybe takes 4 key strokes or something. It isn't perfect, and if your switched a lot it wouldn't be feasible, but I only go mobile a few times a week so it will work for me. I will also probably test to see if I can get Optimus to work, but I don't have a lot of faith. Lot of other people have tried and failed.

 

A12 Bios F2 GPU switch function.

 

But Dell sell the R4 3d with 680m . Why on R3 3d the 680 not work for 3d ?

 

Is this from within Windows or what? I haven't found anyone really describe it. If it is still in the bios then it isn't really helpful.

Because it is set within the system bios exactly which cards are supported for the 3D screen. The R4 has the 680m listed but since the R3 never officially got any of the 6XX cards then it doesn't have any of them listed. I guess this is why svl7 might be able to fix it, since he could insert the new card ids into the older bios.

 

Hey guys!
pleae help me in this thread...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...lienware-m17x-r4-please-help.html#post8902837

regards!

 

Just reporting in, I installed my Dell 680m today. It was a bit of an adventure, had to modify the INF myself since the laptopvideo2go INF did not seem to work.

Got it all installed, here is a benchmark NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P6697 3DMarks

Scored roughly 5800 graphics score stock, flashed a vBios to bump it up to 850 and scored 6800 graphics score. On the R3 there does not seem to be any throttling, at least not in 3DMark 11, it sits at 850 constantly. In the future I might try another bios, but I really don't want to overvolt and I think 850 is nearing the top of stable at stock voltage. Plus, the only way I can OC is to flash, so if I end up with an unstable flash it could be a problem.

So far Optimus is a no go, though I bet it is a weird INF issue. I might pursue it more in the future, but right now the card works and it is still possible to manually switch between PEG and IGP.

 

Nice scores, which vBios?

 

Attention to anyone who is planning to upgrade to GTX 680M, please hold back and check out the GTX 680MX
GeForce GTX 680MX | GeForce

 

The Dell 680m - 850 base - 889 boost.zip by svl7. On the R3 there is no boost, so base is what you sit at when gaming. Some people said it might do 900 at stock voltage, but I don't know if it is worth it. It is already plenty fast and I really don't want to flash an unstable OC.

If you always wait for the next great thing you never get anything. The 680mx won't hit until the new year (certainly won't be widely available until 2013), by then you are a few months from the 700m cards, then when the 700m release you are a few months from 700mx, then those release and holy what we are a few months from 800m, etc.

Plus, the 680m to 680mx is basically the desktop 670 to 680, and many people actually preferred the 670 for lower temps and better overclocking.

Benchmark Results: 3DMark 11 : GeForce GTX 670 2 GB Review: Is It Already Time To Forget GTX 680?

 

Anyone get the 680m in a 3d R3 with OC to work yet?

Cant believe they made the R3 3d unupgradable. Alienware/dell you are terrible and awful at the same time.

 

Idea Storm