MSI 1070 in Alienware 17 R1 Ranger SUCCESS!!!!

Yes. Like I said. Regular i7s can't usually run anything above 1866. Because it's a laptop I don't think overvolting the memory controller is possible either. My 2133 ram was unstable in my aw 17 with my 4700 and 4710 cpus. It runs perfect on the 4930mx.

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Well, It runs at 2133MHz PnP , I was so dumb lol didn't check CPU-Z first.. retarded windows reporting..

 

Nice Test a few rounds with TestMem5 [Memory test tool]

 

Yes you're right on this one. I found a trick to avoid unsoldering parts you don't want to when heating somewhere, I put the other side on water to avoit it can get too hot. But soldering this is really hard.

Thanks to you loafer, this thread helped me a lot making same kind of mod successfully on a M17X R4: https://www.techinferno.com/index.p...x-r4-another-socket-victory-against-bga-crap/

 

+rep for the share & the work, gratz !!

 

Great job! how much job should we do because Nvidia didn't want to build pascal in mxm 3.0b...

btw: I see you have a lot of aw17 spare parts and I'm looking for an 3d ir emiter (cheap ) if you want to sell one send me a message

 

Hey guys, I found someone on ebay selling a GTX 1080 MXM module for MSI notebooks that have that stupid extra tab on the upper right corner:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-MS16L1-...9fbc0b9&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=122471294696

It appears to have the same dimensions as the 1070 that loafer fit into his Alien.
I personally would not do anything to my Alien's chassis to fit this card in, but if anyone else wants to give it a go, there's the link to the card there!

 

This is not the same form factor of gpu. This gpu will get in the way of the cpu heatsink. The 1070 curves inward to clear the cpu socket. Also this gpu core itself is much higher up the card than on the 1070. This would mean a full custom heatsink is required.
I am also having some throttling issues with my gpu I believe are issues with the laptops 230w bios max. Anytime I pull more than 230w from the wall the entire system throttles. Temps are not the issue. I haven't even tried overclocking yet. I am 100% sure the 1070 is pushing the laptop to it's max already and the e 1080 would never see full clocks if this is true.

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Aww man, that really sucks. Alienware still did a very good job of future proofing this laptop though. I had no idea I'd be able to upgrade my Alien's grahics card 4 years down the road at the time I bought it, so I guess I made the right choice!

The zotac mini PCs: the magnus en1070 and en1080 have standard form factor MXM cards, so it's almost plug and play if you cannibalize their cards to stick them in your system. They just require an MSI vbios flash to work with your internal screen (allthough it has to be a 120Hz eDP screen).

Unfortunately the en1080 is more than twice as expensive as the en1070, and apparently the en1080 has an extra power connector on its MXM module, so the 1070 probably is the last card we'll ever be able to put in our Aliens.

 

the zotac cards cannot be routed to internal screen only to external unless there is a new breakthrough somewhere?

 

I have a zotac sitting in my 17r1 right now. Just has to be flashed. Works great

 

What LCD panel do you have? 120Hz edp or 60Hz LVDS?

 

It's an eDP, Dremeling a machine and not using 120Hz is not at all correct, Optimus is not even a point of Interest when you have a machine which has eDP port. Plus his signature says too.

Edit : Ivy and Haswell can work with 60Hz +Pascal but dependent on the BIOS I guess. As loafer said the Alienwares on 4xxx cpu models need 120hz iirc.

 

You must have the 120hz display on the 4xxx cpu model laptops.

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Why exactly is the 120HZ display required for laptops with haswell based cpus? Does it have something to do with Intel FDI or something similar to that? I read somewhere that Pascal + Optimus was possible on the M17X R4s because of Intel FDI converting the eDP format signal to an LVDS format signal and relaying that to the screen. Is this not present on the R5s/R1s?

 

Exactly. As far as I can tell the 4th gen cpus don't have the ability to convert the video output like the 3rd gen. That or during my testing I didn't have the bios settings just right. I feel like I tried every combination possible. A couple of times I had to install a non uefi card to recover the alienware 17 bios because it atopped booting all together. It appears nvidia have finally removed analog video output from the Pascal vbios.

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Hi all, anyone trying to do this with an M18x R2? Congrats on getting this thing to work in your AW17 R1!

 

m18x r2 will support the 1070 but the msi one I used here physically wont fit. You will need one of the other standard sized ones. You also must use optimus with the intel graphics to boot the card or you will have no display output to the internal display.
https://world.taobao.com/item/550426620322.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.DbUEAg#detail
Thats the card you need. Dont ask me how to get it. I've never used taobao. The other option is to use the zotac card and flash its vbios with the msi one.

 

Just to remeber, flashing vbios in optimus mode is not possible, so you (Vulcan78) need another laptop or serial flasher to do it

 

Excellent info. Even I was not aware of this.

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Edit:

Seems I'm wrong, sorry to all for lie, I've just backupped my .rom with latest nvflash64, later I'll try to flash the 1060n with another original vbios from MSI (mine is 86.06.44.00.08)

 

@loafer987

Did you ever try the unlocked bios to see if you could fix the seemingly artificial limit on the laptop?

 

Nope, unless they have made it so it flashes directly to secure boot its too risky and too much work for me to dismantle my laptop and reset the bios. I have upgraded to the 4 pipe copper heatsink from ebay. i had a couple fitment issues but I am 100% stable at 4ghz and havent had the urge to push further. I need the laptop to be 100% stable for gaming and lan weekends and 200mhz really isnt worth the edge of stability. I have been interested in fan profile upgrades and microcode benefits but again the risk makes it difficult.

 

Even if you had issue there is emergency backlash procedures for this laptop

 

ive run into the problem before and the issue is the gpu. I cant boot even on a full bios reset because of the 1070. I have to install an older non-uefi gpu to boot, then reset all my bios settings, swap back to my 1070 and hope I got it all perfect, then cross my fingers i dont have to do it all over again when I reinstall the 1070. The biggest issue with this is i don't have a spare gpu at the moment, so I would have to spend money on a gpu just to try it.

 

Sound reasoning.

Guess I'll just have to hope for the best when ever I can make the purchase myself.

 

There is a msi gtx 1070 on ebay right now for $399 , no sli connector...

 

Wish I could snag it, but I'm strapped for cash for a while. Had some medical issues that had to take priority.

What ever I do it will either come down to the msi 1070 or the rx 480 pending I could get it cheap enough.

And once again I do appreciate sharing the experience from you guys, at the very least helps me with a future decision.

 

Hi Loafer,

My version of the unlocked bios (A14+) solves this problem by having pure uefi as the default after a bios reset. I've also recently discovered after going through the schematics, there's actually a cmos reset point on the motherboard of the R1 so no need to dismantle, pull ram cmos battery etc.

Javers

 

This is excellent news. Have you also updated the microcode to the a15 version for the specter/meltdown fixes? Do you have a picture of the cmos reset location?


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CMOS Reset / Clear ME contact points.

But it's hidden beneath the battery bay, hard/not possible to reach out to it. Need some soldering and switch that would do the job.


Sorry I forgot that fact about Javer's A14+'s UEFI default option. I updated it but somehow I forgot your post, Glad that Javers posted it !!

 

Most of us don't want the spectre/meltdown update as it costs 11 percent performance. I'm sticking with v22 on my own machine.

 

Hello everyone, I'm new here in the forum notebookreview and first of all I apologize for my English more or less .. is that in fact I am fluent even in Google Translate !! kkkk .. Reading here all the comments for a few months, I finally created the courage to upgrade my Alienware 17 R1 laptop with a GTX 1070 MXM 3.0 .. then I followed the following procedures that have been described here and there in the forum ..

-I bought a 120 Hz 3D lcd screen and the EDP Cable

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-FHD-17-...h=item33c099def1:g:uNQAAOSw6ShZVQpt:rk:6f:0

-I bought a Modified Heat Sink

https://www.ebay.com/itm/All-copper...h=item3ae7543473:g:AfMAAOSwmuVafDUN:rk:2f:0

-I unlocked my BIOS with a BIOS A14 +
-Then I installed the video card and it seemed to connect normally, however I can not install the video drivers !!

Could someone please kindly assist me by providing me a Modified GTX 1070 Driver ?? I still have not learned how to do this !! I would be very grateful for any help !!

https://imgur.com/a/b8UrkjT

I further add that when I received the GTX 1070 MXM 3.0 video card my laptop connected normally, no problem, so I downloaded the alleged GTX 1070 drivers on the EUROCOM website, but none seemed to recognize the graphics card even though it is recognized in the laptop's BIOS! So reading a little more of the forum comments I took the video card to a friend who has a technical assistance and asked him to record the VBIOS MSI_N17E-G2_86.04.31.00.0C NON-GSYNC with an EPRON Recorder but when we make backing up of the original V-BIOS the file looked much bigger "512KB" !! But we still decided to write the new V-BIOS MSI_N17E-G2_86.04.31.00.0C "253KB" because we believed we did the Driver not recognize the graphics card because of the V-BIOS, so after installing the new V-BIOS MSI I can connect the laptop but gave some image distortions so after reinstalling the operating system it seemed to work normal but the result of the drivers were the same and did not recognize the graphics card so I was a little apprehensive as to the difference in size of the original file to the new V-BIOS MSI_N17E-G2_86.04.31.00.0C I was in doubt if at the end of everything I should bother again my friend to go back to the original V-BIOS that came in the Graphic Card !! What do you think I should to make, I should to return to the original V-BIOS "512KB" or I remain with the new V-BIOS MSI "253KB" ?? Although the image distortion soon after recording the new V-BIOS MSI "256KB" after reinstalling the Operating System seemed to work normal as before, however it does not install the video driver as it did with the first Original V-BIOS !!

https://imgur.com/a/JqC1pOC

 

Remembering that I'm no expert in hardware I'm doing all this as an adventure in search of the unknown !! But I'm willing to learn new things ..

 

You have to Mod the inf file in the driver. @j95 is I think one person who publishes modded drivers on premas website.

After that you should be good to go

 

Please, How do I get in touch with him ??

 

I mean, how do I talk to him ??

 

Google search premamod website I think they publish the driver for many laptops, the Ranger included.

I'm not sure if new members can send private messages.

I'm at work at the moment so I can't post links directly off the top of my head. Worst comes to worst you can contact @woodzstack as he also is able to Mod the file. He has a discord server as well if I recall correctly.

 

[QUOTE = "TheReciever, post: 10846986, member: 483062"] Você tem que modificar o arquivo inf no driver. [USER = 462874] @ j95 [/ USER] é uma pessoa que publica drivers modded no site premas.

Depois disso, você deve ser bom para ir [/ QUOTE]

Okay .. I'll try to talk to him too .. thanks a lot for your help !!

 

Thanks for the mention.

It's simple really, if you did the mods on the chassis, then disable DSE and run the modified driver as admin next login (when DSE is disabled). Just make sure to mod the driver correctly.

Now, if I help you with the install, and you did not buy from me, it makes me feel sort of like being used. My time is valuable as well, and I can not guarantee anything about this 1070 you bought because I know nothing about it.

For instance if I knew where you got it, maybe I would know the vbios installed, the hardware ID etc... and perhaps I could also just simply walk you through it if it was a partner, but say you bought the card from China - I'm not going out of my way to help, these Chinese sellers are scammers in the end, almost always, from my personal experience, and I'm tired of having to deal with thier messes.

Anyways give us your hardware ID's reported in device manager when the card is installed physically, we can start from that.

 

Gotcha, I'll be more measured when I mention you. But I do think that the drivers are pre modded and ready for down load on premas website. I just can't post links on mobile it for some reason doesn't let me on this website while on mobile.

 

https://premamod.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/j95-nvidia-inf/

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You're a gentleman and a scholar loafer, thanks. Lol

 

you can mention me all you like, no issues. I don't mind helping people, but people should know ahead of time that if they buy a product from someone they should get support from that person too. I don't mind helping people, really, but its way more fun helping people try new things, rather then support the clients of competitors by providing them the tech support that thier seller did not provide.

 

Oh I fully understand, just been working a lot trying to get things in order and wasn't thinking about the context after the point of his post not being able to install the driver.

All is well

 

good share !

 

Hi guys
Loafer's thread inspired me to upgrade my Alienware 17 R1 (240v) with a new video card. I'm choosing between a GTX 1070, 1060 and 980M.
I've upgraded to a 120hz screen (with the help of LTN173HT02-T01 and N392W). Confirming that a 120hz screen works with AMD Radeon HD8970M on a 17R1.

I had a couple of questions for Loafer mostly but any feedback is welcome.

1) Have you solved all the performance issues you had with your 1070?
2) Do you think that you are in fact getting better performance than you would on a GTX 980M (or a 1060) given the limitations of an R1?
How much a 1070 better than a 980?
3) Should I care about the maker of a video card (MSI vs Clevo vs Eurocom)?
4) Why did you go for an MSI over Eurocom 115w that Woodzstack sells too? Eurocom seems like a much easier upgrade (their size being right and no power-throttling problem)?

Thanks

Max

 

1070 is basically 980m sli with perfect scaling.

Eurocom GPU's are trash quality and tend to blow up while being more expensive with extremely short warranty.

Msi cards are over built, essentially being the top quality version of the 1070 available to us. That being said there is the zotac and "dell" versions as well which both serve there purpose quite well.

 

Eurocom version didn't exist when I did this upgrade. I bought my 1070 from woodzstack. I upgraded from the 980m so here's benchmarks from both.
https://www.3dmark.com/compare/fs/18269481/fs/11261567#
Full UEFI windows 10 install is required BEFORE you install the 10xx series card.
Modded drivers are also required.
My performance issues were due to overheating MOSFETs using the stock heatsink. I have upgraded to the all copper 5 pipe heatsink from eBay. It required a couple small Dremel mods like the stock one but it performs much much better than the stock one. I haven't had an issue or a temp over 75*c since the upgrade.

Honestly the only hard part was modding the chassis to fit the oversized card. Don't forget this also requires you give up your optical drive.

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Guys, thanks so much for your feedback.

With your help I just successfully upgraded my Alienware 17 R1 (240W power adapter) from Radeon HD8970M to Dell GTX 1070. Got a Firestrike score of 11k. It will improve once I move from my current 3-pipe ATI heatsink to a 5-pipe copper one.

At first I was unsure if I had the skill to pull off the upgrade but in the end it wasn't that hard and I made some notes to encourage any potential candidates to go with the upgrade.

I had an ATI Radeon card before and if you have one too it MEANS you've GOT a 60hz screen with an LVDS cable.
You need to upgrade to a 120hz screen with an eDP connector. Intel integrated GPU will be disabled after the upgrade.
To do that you need LTN173HT02-T01 (or similar) and N392W cable. Radeon HD8970 does WORK with a 120hz edp screen.

I have to say I WASN'T impressed with the LTN173HT02 when upgrading from the original 60hz screen. I think the colours aren't that good. You get used to them after an hour or so but at first I felt it was a LOWER quality screen than the original (I don't know if it's true, though). I would dedicate some time to find the best 120hz screen to for your 17.
Your main thread to help you with this step:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/120hz-3d-screen-upgrade-for-alienware-17-r1.758711/

The embedded youtube video on that page is extremely helpful. It will teach you how to strip your laptop into its parts (and you'll have to to replace that lvds cable with an eDP cable).
This video shows how to replace the screen:



Some notes:
- You need a 240w ac adapter. If you’ve got the 180w version, you can simply order a new 240w.
- I didn't need to unlock BIOS (makes your task so much easier). But I had to mod the .inf, disable signature enforcement and change some bios settings (Set to UEFI mode. Disabled fastboot, legacy options and adapter warning).
- I had to convert my HDD from MBR to GPT. WIth EaseUS Partition Master I DIDN'T even have to reinstall Windows (the whole process takes like 10 minutes with no input from you).
- Didn't have to cut/dremel the chassis or any plastic with the Dell variant of the 1070 (others are Eurocom, MSI and Clevo). The dell one is the correct size (mxm 3.0b, 82mm x 105mm).
- ATI 3 pipe heatsink fits the Dell 1070 perfectly (you have it if your laptop originally came with an ATI card).
- You don't have to mod the heatsink yourself (those heatsink modes seemed a bit out-of-reach for me techinical skill-wise). You can buy 5 pipe one here:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/All-copper-for-DELL-ALIENWARE-17-RANGER-M17X-R3-R4-GPU-Cooling-Heatsink-0VH0YK/253771766989?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

The main resources to help you with the business of preparing the system for the GPU swap and then actually swapping the GPUs (in addition to this thread, obviously):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...other-socket-victory-against-bga-crap.803637/
https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10982-m17x-r4-gtx-1060-upgrade/

Here's a very readable and short guide how to mod the .inf file:
http://null-bin.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-modify-nvidia-notebook-driver.html

For my Dell 1070 I used the following lines to mod the .inf:
%NVIDIA_DEV.1BA1.05AE.1028% = Section230, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1BA1&SUBSYS_05AE1028
NVIDIA_DEV.1BA1.05AE.1028 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070"