M17x-R1 HD 5870 install --> SUCCESS!

Today I went to a place local to me, Eurocom, who manufacture high end laptops to see if the new ati mobility HD 5870 card would work in my Alienware M17x-R1.

My computer has the CORE2DUO cpu and 260m graphics card (as opposed to the new i5/i7 processors). I presume this means that the motherboard is different between the R1 and R2.

The 5870 does NOT work in this computer. I can get the computer to boot and even load the drivers, but the whole screen is all pixelated and funnky colored. The techs at eurocom say its probably a VBIOS or a system bios compatability issue.

If alienware could muster up a bios for either the videocard or the motherboard, maybe we would be in luck, but it looks like were stuck with the 200m series cards for now!

**Edit: Status updated, the mobility 5870 appear to function in the M17x, continue discussion here**:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/610357-m17xr1-5870-crossfire-running.html

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I wasn't aware you could upgrade from an Nvidia card to an ATI one and vice versa?

 

You are wrong, you can upgrade from any card brand to any card brand as long as its connections are compatible like MXM 3.0b...

Today any M17X R1 can take any MXM 3.0b video card that is available in the BIOS that is 260M, 280M, 285M, 4870 and maybe many others. I would assume the 5870 will be in the BIOS relatively soon.

 

yeah it looks like you need a bios update for the card to work correctly.

 

I wonder how much work it would be to actually update the BIOS for a new graphic card.

 

flipstar
+1 for giving it a go.Have a look M15x 5870 thread see what drivers they have been using.If your booting to a pixelated screen sounds like drivers to me.Good luck.If that fails mail TeamBlackhawk ask if they plan on releasing bios support R1

 

yeah if it boots up it sounds like a driver issue. in most cases you wouldnt get past post if the bios didnt recognize the card.

 

This is not a driver issue if it happens outside of Windows.

 

Hmmm, I'm interested to see if this can be resolved, would be nice to drop a 5870 in there.

 

I wouldn't be hopeful for anything new for the M17x-R1.

 

i took it as he implied it was a IN windows occurrance

 

Why you think that? Dell in the past have supported popular systems for many years.

 

Support is one thing. New development is another.

 

Well there is enough R1 owners out there if they push for things like this there is a chance .I have seen a few Dell/Alienware employees in here posting its a pity they dont start a thread here for requests like this.

 

Nop! The problem is, the R-1 have PCI express 2.0 x16, and the R2 have PCI express 2.1 x16, ATI HD 5870M is PCI express 2.1 x16

 

The pixelated display occurs both during bootup and in windows. The alien head on boot looks like a fuzzy TV Screen. The issue is not driver related.

I was told by the techs that Dell typically does not update or develop anything for their systems that have been outdated ie. there is little chance for an updated bios for the M17x-R1.

If someone knows of a contact at Dell/Alienware that we can lobby, I think with enough interest, we could get a bios update written for us. If bumbo2 is right, I suppose were out of luck.

 

This is, to put it plainly...wrong

unless intel does not know what they are doing....or alienware is getting a custom intel chipset...

Mobile Intel PM55 Express Chipset - Overview

 

So does it boot to windows? You mentioned that you load the drivers? At which point is the screen pixelated? Also, did you try two different ATI cards? Maybe the Ati card was broken?

 

He is seeing the same thing I am with the R2. I've tried 3 different 5870s so I know they are not broken.

 

The Bios A04 fix this problem ?

 

Sadly no....

 

I was looking forward to upgrading in the future, I really hope Alienware decides to employ this in a bios update, hopefully they're reading the forums and wondering why not?

 

Keep in mind, these are still with the non-Dell 5870s. Maybe the Dell cards will simply work.

 

I'm 99% sure it's not a gpu issue.

 

Always possible, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though.

 

bus inteface compatible

 

dell just released a BIOS update for m17x R1 Drivers and Downloads
try updating your BIOS and see if the 5870 works !!!

 

5870 was not mentioned in the update notes, so I doubt it. I don't have one on hand myself to try. I am already running A04, though, and there are people including myself that are noticing some "quirks". I'd hold off until we're sure the kinks are out of it.

 

good luck with that. Hopefully you will get it to work.

 

Did it work?

 

People are still experiencing power adapter problems with A04, but some have not seen problems yet. I have a thread specifically related to the A04 BIOS. I've reverted back to A03 safely, so try A04 if you feel like it and if you see problems (power adapter warnings on boot, forced stealth mode, Windows reporting it refuses to run off A/C) simply revert and post on that thread what you experienced so we can get Dell to look at this.

 

I would try it, but I dont think the guys at Eurocom want to waste any more time fiddling with my alienware

 

Hmm since the R1 supports nVidia 200m series, is there a chance it will support the future Nvidia Fermi 400m series if they are ever released for Alienware?

 

Not likely. I tend to think that the new Fermi cards will use a new MXM socket because they suck SO MUCH power, as far as I'm aware MXM 3.0 isn't enough to power them unless they REALLY tone the cards down-in which case, you'd be better off with an ATi card.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the notebook Fermi cards using a new MXM.

 

I think it is unlikely we will see a new MXM this year...MXM 3 came out last june only. They will HAVE to be butchered to work in a notebook, expecting anything else is foolish

even ATI is cutting down cards for notebook use now (5870m=desktop 5770 downclocked - not even half a real 5870)

 

What MXM type have the M17x R1?? acording to MXM upgrade site it use MXM 2.1 type III.. is that true?? where can i get official information about it? Some guys says the M17x use MXM 3.0 cards..

 

a dell employee posted about this when the 5870 first came out and he said the r1 would not accept it

 

The R1 would need a BIOS update to support it. Some of the instruction addresses are different (thermals in particular). Even if it booted, it's likely it would not function properly and could potentially burn up if thermals aren't read correctly.

 

So,any news regarding this upgrade?

 

so 5870 does not work on R1? I was dreaming to upgrade to 5870 someday...

 

you are really not missing much. For all intents and purposes, the 4870 is just as good. The difference only really comes out in benchmarking. Even in games, DX11 does not matter as enabling it drops performance to unplayable levels anyways

That is a big part of why I am perfectly content with my current laptop

 

the dell 5870 does indeed work in the m17x r1. i currently have a single 5870 in my system and it scored 8593 GPU in Vantage with the A05 Bios

 

A08 bios chiefs?



Cheers.

 

Sure it works in your system, because for sure you have a M17x R2 !! there is no A08 BIOS for M17x R1, we are stuck wating for A06 BIOS who I hope will fix touchpad polling rate.

 

ya my mistake its actually an m17x r1 a05 with a p8800 (i pulled the qx9300 because i needed some battery life) i installed the 5870m (dell version) from my m15x and it works. i can take screen shots if you dont believe me.

according to amd clock tool it only runs at x8 instead of x16 but i still manage to score over 8500 in vantage

 

hope thats proof enough. if you need anymore proof i will be glad to post another screen shot

 

Some of us knew 5870 worked with R1, but never seen 5870 CF in R1 yet. Anyone test?

 

oh wow, how did you do it. I have an R1 with SLI 260m and would love to upgrade to the 5870m. I just need to upgrade the screen too, 1440x900 does not go too well with the 5870m.

 

Yes would like to know this also.