Questions regarding Alienware 17 R1 and 980m

First, please treat me like a complete idiot. I am one when it comes to these things, but I'm willing to learn and give it a go.
Now, I have ~40 or so tabs open right now, mostly from this forum. All in the search to unequivocally answer one question. So I thought I'd just bite the bullet, create an account and post a new topic to get some clear answers or at least links to clear answers.

Is it possible to upgrade the Alienware 17 R1 (mid 2013) running Windows 10, with the 120hz 3d screen, a 780m and no integrated GPU... to a 980m?

If not, then
If yes, then that just opens up whole new questions.

Is it as easy as that Eurocom video would lead me to believe?
If not, then what additional steps are necessary?
Do the drivers have to be modded?
Are there even drivers for windows 10 that would work?
If so, where would I get them?
I read somewhere that a new heat sink might be needed, but I think I already have a 3 pipe one?

And I'm sure there are more questions I missed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have an alienware 17 r1 120hz running a 980m at 1350core/1400mem 1.125v oc. I go mostly stock clocks for games though. I can guarantee that it works. The 3 pipe heatsink is all that is needed. No extra parts but to be honest you should look into flashing the vbios to either slv7 or prema. Better stability and performance. The catch is I have no idea if windows 10 will work. I run windows 8.1 because a full uefi boot is required. Otherwise your laptop will not boot with the 980m. I've heard that windows 10 can cause issues with your screen but I have not confirmed that it will do so with the aw17r1. Techinferno has an aftermarket driver thread for alienware machines. I currently use 353.63 drivers with great success. Mileage will vary but the 980m is the best upgrade for your laptop currently especially since optimus is not an option due to the 120hz. If you have windows 8.1 I recommend going that route for now.

 

First!!!! to use Windows in pure UEFI, make sure your storage devices are formatted in GPT, not MBR
-Installation is the same as Eurocom video.
-For the 120Hz it's almost, almost Plug & play.
-Change Bios settings to pure UEFI (no fast boot , no secure boot, no legacy rom)
-Save & then shutdown.
-Remove back cover.
-Remove heatsink and old GPU.
-Install New GPU, thermal paste, pads and install the heatsink.
-Turn on the computer > go to Bios and check under the graphics adapter, if you see Nvidia GFX > you're good to go.
- Install either Win 8 or 10. (recommend Win 8 for now)
- Reboot to the advanced menu, and select disable driver signature.
- Install Modded Nvidia driver.
- Game on !

Note: if you are going to use your existing OS, either Win 8 or 10 under pure UEFI, and GPT formatted storage (no clean install). Use DDU to clean old drivers before installing the 980M.

Here's my thread :

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/installed-980m-in-m17x-r4-120hz-3d.778177/

 

Cool (here come the stupid questions), so can I change to UEFI and reinstall windows now, then later install the 980m and drivers? I don't actually have the card yet and I wanted to do a clean install of windows 10 anyway as I've been having problems with User Account Control and Onedrive ever since I upgraded from windows 7. It gives me the opportunity to clean up some of my junk. Also, how do I reformat my storage devices from MBR to GPT, can I do that while installing windows 10 from a USB?

 

Answering your question: I think so, but before installing the new GPU, use DDU to remove old drivers.

First check the disk format style.
1- Run cmd as Admin.
2- type "DISKPART"
3- type "list disk"

You'll see an "x" or * under either Dyn or Gpt. If it's Gpt, no need to change format style.
If Dyn, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro Edition. By using this you can change the style MBR-> GPT & vice versa with out losing your files
Once it's Formatted to GPT, change the Bios settings and install windows.
Plenty of info in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...able-uefi-usb-drive-work-in-alienware.762256/

 

not on win 10 if you've been reading this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10-upgrade-warning-for-alienware-owners.779449/

you can try if you want but you're best bet is to run win 8.1.

 

Agree +1 , Win 8.1 is better due to it being bug-less/perfected. I lost my original Win 8 dvd still searchin for it.
Windows 10 is giving me a headache over general system performance & tasks. However, gaming performance is excellent.

 

you can still download the win 8.1 media creation tool and download the ISO that way.

 

It says here that there haven't been any issues with those machines that have the 120hz screen?
So can I still do a fresh install of windows and switch to UEFI or do you think that'd be dangerous?
Sadly I don't own Windows 8, I went directly from 7 to 10 with only very minor problems.

 

best to switch to UEFI first then install as UEFI needs the HDD/SSD to use GPT and not MBR for drive partitioning so switching after would require more work to convert the drive. best to format the drive into GPT first....windows will do that for you.

you can find cheap keys if you know where to look

 

Honestly I have no desire to install windows 8 or 8.1. I'd rather stick with 10 or 7 and I thought UEFI wasn't supported by 7 so...10

How will windows format the drive into GPT? You mean when I go to do a fresh install? I don't care about losing data on my system drive, as most of my stuff is on my secondary HDD, I have most of it backed up and everything can be redownloaded. (I need to do some spring cleaning anyway) and I already converted my secondary HDD to GPT using AOMEI

 

only the OS needs to be GPT, your non-primary drives can be MBR.

10 has only been out for less than a month with a total acceptance of about 3.6% of the market. you won't miss much if you did go to win 8.1. I just install classic shell to make it run like win 7.

 

Ok so how do I convert my system disk to GPT? I'm sorry I'm such a laymen.

I found this: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/dn336946.aspx

If I'm reading this correctly, it means i have to
-Set my boot list option to UEFI in the BIOS boot menu
-Boot from windows installation usb
-Delete all partitions on desired disc
-Choose "unallocated space" and Windows should automatically convert it to GPT????
-Install Windows

Also If I delete ALL partitions on my disc, Is the OEM partition important to keep/backup?

 

nope, no need ot keep the OEM partition. delete all the partitions and windows will do it automatically.