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    Problem with my alienware m17x r3 and the gpu replacement

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by patykewl, Sep 22, 2013.

  1. patykewl

    patykewl Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys,

    So yesterday i got a 7970m AMD radeon video card from my friend. I replaced the 6990m in my alienware with the 7970m since the 6990m broke.

    However, when i installed the thing, put in new thermal paste and boot it up in order to install the new drivers, the computer boots up fine. But the moment
    I plugged in the charger, the screen did some artifacting and crashed. When i powered the laptop on again, the screen goes blank, but the fans, lights on the keyboard, and even
    the sound (*windows boot up sound) works. I tried plugging in an external monitor, but it didn't work. I went to best buy to get it fixed (Since they said that it was a mother board problem), but they couldn't and told me to send it to alienware.

    However, my warranty has expired so i had to pay more =(. What should/could i do?!

    Thanks
     
    patykewl, Sep 22, 2013
    #1
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    Get a different card to test it out? Does that one have the DELL vBios?
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Sep 23, 2013
    #2
  3. patykewl

    patykewl Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't have another video card, im not sure if it had DELL Bios or not, since i can't even turn it on... What could i do apart from sending it from alienware and getting ripped off once again?
    Thanks!
     
    patykewl, Sep 23, 2013
    #3
  4. sjgore

    sjgore Notebook Geek

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    Sounds like something shorted and blew the card. When you swapped cards, did you remember to put the large pad back between the underside of the GPU and the motherboard? Just a thought, although admittedly not much help to you! :)

    Presumably you can still boot using Intel integrated graphics and the display works fine?
     
    sjgore, Sep 24, 2013
    #4
  5. souleh

    souleh Notebook Enthusiast

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    souleh, Sep 24, 2013
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  6. patykewl

    patykewl Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well I did set it to PEG and disable the integrated graphics. Oh yea, I didn't uninstall the 6990m drivers before putting in the 7970m though...

    Any other ways to at least make the screen usable?

    Thanks
     
    patykewl, Sep 24, 2013
    #6
  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Do a CMOS reset and take out the graphics card.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Sep 24, 2013
    #7
  8. Sojto

    Sojto Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I am a Alienware m17x r3 owner with a GTX 580m. I read your remark about large pad between underside GPU and motherboard.
    I need to replace my GPU and when I took it out, I saw this pad was ruptured and I need to replace it.
    Do you know what kind of thermal pad this is? Thickness?
     
    Sojto, Apr 2, 2014
    #8