R1 GPU Upgrade

This just is not your day. We do have some very smart people on these forums who should be able to help though.

This situation is kinda like when my friends ask me for help when something goes wrong with their computers through text. The process definitely works best when I'm actually there with them.

You can inspect the cables thoroughly and see if there are any signs of damage. At least you have emergency BIOS recovery and the TV to act as your screen so the laptop is somewhat useful while we work through this silly issue.

 

I really really appreciate what you're doing for me! But I have a bad luck for these kind of situations. And you're right it's better to deal with these things in person. You're friends are so lucky to have you! By the way I tried to search the problem about the Alienware/Dell sign thing. There is nothing on the internet which is a global platform as you know. I'm the first one who experienced it ever.

 

That's super crappy luck . That must be incredibly frustrating.

I have a hunch that flashing BIOS version A14 *might* help. You'll get slightly better CPU performance too. A17 has some crap that Dell added in for spectre and meltdown patches that reduces CPU performance a little. I haven't measured the difference, but it's probably around a 5% difference. Just a secondary benefit.

The main reason I suggest flashing BIOS version A14 is because that's the version I'm using, and my 1060 works great for me! Just one additional thing to try since that's a difference between our machines.

The good news is that the 1070 looks like it works based on what I've seen and read, but we gotta get rid of this weird screen issue.

 

Yeah it is frustrating too much. I want to do it but I'm a little bit scared of flashing BIOS, it's risky right? But maybe I can handle it, I don't know.

I didn't know that BIOS versions make the CPUs slower. I actually updated the BIOS to A17 myself.

 

You can easily downgrade by the method i provided i can also provide you the files

 

My general rule of thumb is to keep using whatever BIOS version came with the machine or motherboard unless it's absolutely necessary to update. BIOS updates are supposed to bring improvements, but they can sometimes screw things up or decrease performance. If the firmware I'm using already works well, I don't see a reason to update it unless there's an obvious benefit in doing so. An example of a case I would perform a firmware upgrade would be if such an upgrade allowed me to plop in a newer CPU into my laptop, like how firmware updates on the Clevo P870xM laptops allow for a CPU upgrade (all the way from an i7 6700k to an i9 9900k).

The best way to help you fix the weird screen issue is to eliminate all differences between our laptops, or at least as many as we can. Mine works, so if we keep as many factors as possible between our Rangers similar, it will make it much easier to diagnose the root of the issue.

 

Hi guys, sorry to hear you are having problems with your setup. Hope you can fix them.
I am on A17 an no problems so far with the 1060.
Hugs.

 

I was there in your shoes when doing the upgrade on my M17x R4. Computers are just sometimes hard to understand and complex machines. My problem was the the 120hz LCD screen had no backlight with 8 beeps. I searched and searched and searched for a solution until I had given up. I even filed a return for the screen on ebay until It occurred to me for some reason out of nowhere to set my boot from UEFI to Legacy (My 660 didn't support UEFI environment because it didn't have a GOP driver Vbios). It worked like a charm and lit right up. I had more problems too after I installed my 1070 but they were simple things. My point is that it might be a stupid setting in your bios holding you back. Just Give it some time, think and Just don't give up.

 

Sometimes putting everything back to how it was originally and starting from scratch can help. As you change this and change that and try different things you can mess up the order on how to get it right.

 

Thanks for the support. I'll try my best, and perform the methods that you've given me.

 

here are the files for A14 bios just in case you need them ► https://mega.nz/file/koJUFKTB#zYGSTTwwGKVuoIRzy1E3C7EpatiWoZOSTFnZkCiR_iQ

 

Couldn't open it, it says it's corrupted or damaged. I also wasn't able to open the files that you were given me on BIOS recovery, I got the same error. Someting is wrong with your files Baqir.

 

The different splash logos are most likely due to you not running a pure uefi boot, the only time that I saw different boot logos was when changing between legacy and uefi boots..

 

Hmmm. I was able to check the BIOS with dell screen, it was shown as UEFI, fastboot, secure boot and legacy disabled. Is there a difference with pure UEFI and UEFI. You guys are using pure UEFI when talking. I'm curious. Maybe it's a BIOS version error, maybe it looks like it's UEFI but it isn't actually. Should I change it to Legacy with my old configurations?

 

Was it originally in legacy mode? If you have a UEFI windows installation and change your boot to legacy then I think you won't be able to boot to windows. Don't quote me on this as you might be able too and cant remember

 

Your Windows install might not be done with GPT partition, I know that in the transition between BIOS and UEFI you could do some strange boot things and have UEFI on with an MBR boot.

Try installing Windows 10..

 

Use diskpart in command prompt as admin / if its mbr disk partition make it gpt / reinstall windows uefi

 

Something just occurred to me this afternoon. I remember someone else having a black screen problem with the standard form factor 1070. It turned out to be a VBIOS issue.
Link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-r5-gtx-1070-mxm-3-1b.800137/

Brother Striker1234 flashed his GPU with an MSI VBIOS and that fixed the issue for him. However, I'm still confused as to why your splash screen says dell instead of alienware. Whatever is causing that may be the issue instead.

If the legacy option ROM is enabled, you should see what looks like a jpeg image of an alienware alien head taking up almost the entire screen. In pure UEFI mode, there should be a splash screen that says alienware.

I'd still downgrade to BIOS A14 anyway since that'll give you a slight CPU performance uplift. Version A15 and up contain meltdown and spectre security patches that impact performance on older CPUs. Now of course security is important, but we're just gamers here so we don't need the best security possible. We want performance .

 

That's very true. I completely forgot about the vbios incompatibility issues that is sometimes present. Depending which card you have, will determine if you will have issues. If you have the standard MXM black PCB HP 1070 with a dell vbios then that card will most likely have a compatible vbios (1BA1)

 

I already installed Windows 10, from the beginning of this upgrade it always was Windows 10.

I checked it, both my disks are on GPT.

Yeah it's MXM black PCB 1070, dell vbios 1BA1.

Then I'll need to flash vBIOS maybe it's the issue but I'm still getting the Dell splash instead of Alienware, don't know why, as I said disks were on GPT, with Windows 10. I want to downgrade to BIOS A14 but I fear making everything messed up more before dealing with Dell-Alienware splash thing. By the way do you know or have a link about flashing vBIOS and downgrading the BIOS? Thanks for the answers by the way!

 

Maybe Im wrong, but I think you dont have vbios in uefi version - thats why that box is unchecked in gpuz

 

That check doesn't matter. I also have it unchecked and it still is working fine

 

Hey killbillur! Nice to see you back! I'm guessing you took a few days to cool off from the PITA this upgrade has become for you.

To downgrade the BIOS, flash your machine with the bios from this link: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=RP3CC

That page even has instructions. Writing good instructions is one thing Dell consistently does well.

You can also run the BIOS flasher utility from Windows instead of having to prepare a bootable USB.

 

Hi Clamibot! Yeah I was so frustrated, actually still I am. Also I was taking care of stray kittens, and I got a friend who came from another city, that's why I couldn't manage to find time for my laptop's problems. I don't have any hope left but I'll try this BIOS downgrade and flashing vBIOS.

I don't know what causes my laptop to behave like this, first of all I can manage to use my TV monitor, it is turning on with Dell splash and I can use it with Windows environment, everything seems good to go so far. When I try to connect my LCDs, they go the same; LVDS has 8 beeps with a black screen, eDP has no beeps, and no backlight with a black screen. After that his brain gets confused I guess and when I remove the cables of LCDs I can't even use my TV monitor, I get a black screen on the TV as well. Before connecting the LCD panels I'm able to use the TV monitor. To be able to use the TV monitor again I have to remove almost every component like HDD, DVD-ROM, GPU, LCD panels' cables, and I have to connect my laptop to TV with HDMI. After that I get the Dell splash and "No bootable device found." error. Then I connect the HDD and the DVD-ROM to find bootable device which is Windows setup DVD for me. After that I do a fresh installation of Windows, then I am able to use my laptop with my TV monitor again. That's ridiculous! I don't know what causes these problems. I got tired for doing all over again.

By the way Clamibot where can I find BIOS flasher utility? Do you know any of it? I think using Windows while doing this downgrade it's better for me.

And I'd like to learn a little about flashing vBIOS. I got the folders from this link which you gave me Clamibot. http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-r5-gtx-1070-mxm-3-1b.800137/
(this one: MSI_N17E-G2_86.04.31.00.0C_non-GSYNC) but I don't know how I can flash the vBIOS. Thanks again!

 

The BIOS flasher utility that can be executed from within Windows should be on that link I posted. There is a download file button that will give you the flasher utility.

As for flashing a VBIOS, there is a utility called Nvflash that will do that for you, and also can be run from within Windows.

 

Okay, thank you so much Clamibot. I'll try it as soon as possible and keep you updated, I'm a little bit busy these days. I had a dream about this BIOS downgrade I was downgrading it to A14 and the eDP panel suddenly started to work and the splash screen became Alienware. I was so happy in my dream.

 

Oops! I think bricked the motherboard. I downgraded the BIOS to A14, it has been installed smoothly. Nothing changed though. But after that I wanted to enable the Legacy mode. And I got 8 beeps without LCDs connected, and no visuals on TV monitor either. I'm done with it! I've already lost my hope anyways.

Do you guys have any suggestions on what to do with the components I got? I'm pretty sure that most of them work but I'll be sure of it hundred percent.

 

So after the BIOS downgrade, the eDP panel still didn't work?

You can try doing another BIOS reset to get an image to come up on one of the outputs, but it seems like you're really fed up with it not working in the first place. I'm sorry to hear you've experienced so much frustration with this. The Pascal GPU upgrades have just worked for a lot of us on these forums (with some effort of course).

If you are just too burned out by this whole ordeal, you can post parts for sale on the NBR marketplace (get price recommendations before doing this). I'd highly recommend exhausting all other options before selling your Ranger's parts though since your goal was to make your dream come true.

 

Have you still got your old GPU?
If I was you I'd throw it back in and reinstall Windows and see if you can get your old system working again. You may need to do an NVRAM reset if you've messed something up in the BIOS. Then you can try to start from the beginning. It must be pretty frustrating though,
I've lost track of this thread, sorry, but do you have the 60Hz and 120Hz display?

 

So you say there is still hope for 8-beep error which is not happening because of LCD panels. It has started to happen after I changed the BIOS to Legacy. I thought I bricked my motherboard.

@Clamibot After I downgraded the BIOS I didn't connect eDP panel, I enabled the Legacy mode, which I regretted after. Then I couldn't do anything anymore. I try to connect old LVDS panel and every other components in original state. I got 8 beeps again because of the Legacy mode.

@Maxware79 Yes I got 60 hz and 120 hz LCD panels. NVRAM reset is BIOS reset that we do it by removing RAMs and insterting them again right? Or it's something else? Right now I can't do windows setups because of that 8beep error.

 

Firstly I’d start with the 60Hz display and no GPU just so you can rule out the GPU causing the beep code. There’s a bit more to the reset than just removing the ram and I think there’s a guide here somewhere as I can’t remember exactly how to do it on the 17. You can try removing the ram and the CMOS battery and do a power drain by holding the power button down for 60 seconds with no battery or adapter.
Removing the CMOS battery requires removing the motherboard unless you want to cut it out from the back side (next to the wifi card).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Oh that's new, I never dealt with CMOS battery and resetting by it. I know where it is. By the way I tried the 60 hz panel without the GPUs but I got 8 beeps again.

 

The CMOS battery hold the BIOS memory. You usually need to unplug it during a reset or the bios won’t reset to default.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It may not work but it’s worth a try


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I wish I knew that before. I'll try it as soon as possible, I'll let you know. Thanks a lot!

 

May the force be with you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

No need to remove cmos for nvram reset, Only all ram sticks, read the guide

 

I need to find that guide. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

My M18x is a little different as you need to remove the CMOS battery and bridge the connector pins on the board.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

If you find it please share with me! I tried to reset it before with a usb stick by pressing "End" button and plugging the power cable. It didn't work either, just the fans were working so fast, that's all. But I think I didn't remove the RAMs.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-18-bios-a07.751794/page-4#post9646431

 

I know this thread has been inactive for some time, but I just received a revelation from Maxware79 in another thread that may help you @killbillur if you still have your laptop.

For models of the Alienware Ranger that came out of the factory with the 60 Hz screen, the primary display output is set to the iGPU. That's the reason you get the 8 beep error code when the 120 Hz screen is installed. The iGPU is not physically connected to the eDP port that the 120 Hz screen plugs into. You should reinstall your 60 Hz screen so you can boot into windows, then press FN + F5 to manually switch your primary display output to the dGPU. Note you need the Alienware OSD drivers installed to accomplish this.

 

-

First of all thanks for remembering me and still trying to help Clamibot I've been dealing with lots of things besides my laptop. I gave it to some repairmans, one of them tried to work my eDP panel with another incompatible laptop I think, I actually warned him but he burnt his laptop's motherboard chips. I don't know if it is still working or not. Maybe he damaged my eDP panel too. He also said maybe this eDP panel is broken and it corrupt my laptop. I don't know maybe he is right, but I remember that eDP panel has got a backlight when I first try to insert it. That's my problem, I couldn't test the components and the cables. I don't know if they came to me working condition or not.

After that I gave my laptop to another repairman and he managed to work it with my old configuration. You may remember that my laptop was turning on with Dell sign, and after changing the UEFI to Legacy, I couldn't even use my TV's monitor with HDMI. Anyway he said I broke the graphic card's socket and its pins when I tried to replace the cards. I actually was so careful, but I don't know how it happened. He also said I damaged motherboard's feedings (I don't know what they are called in English, maybe supplies or something). He fixed my laptop but he didn't do anything to my old 880M card because sometimes it works, but last week it failed to work again. He's trying to fix it now.

I don't know what I should do but I probably ship this 1070m card to the seller, he still accepts returns. I actually don't know if it is still working fine but I believe it's working. I'll try my chance. After that I'm planning to buy the same card but the new one of course, 880m GTX, if the repiarman fails to fix my old one. But at the same time this thought about vBIOS change still eats me up because I've never done it before on my laptop. Maybe it was the solution. I don't know, this laptop caused me so many troubles but I'm still thinking what to do.