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    Sigh... Speaker fixed, GPU blown? M17x R3

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Disgustipated, Jun 9, 2011.

  1. Disgustipated

    Disgustipated Notebook Consultant

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    So today a Dell tech came to replace my blown left speaker on my M17x R3.

    Go to boot it up, white screen, four beeps, then four beeps repeat again before it restarts.

    Reseat the GPU, and now it does eight continuous beeps. Reseated the GPU several times, still doing white screen.

    This sucks. Any ideas? Also, what the heck could've gone wrong?
     
    Disgustipated, Jun 9, 2011
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  2. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    Could be a coincidence. Just have dell send you a new GPU...No reason for a tech to install it.
     
    LVNeptune, Jun 9, 2011
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  3. Disgustipated

    Disgustipated Notebook Consultant

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    Well, I figured it out. But this tech really did a number on my system.

    I took the laptop apart after talking to tech support again and the rep informing me that the 8 beeps is an LCD issue (I plugged in my HDTV via HDMI and when the laptop LCD is white, the HDTV shows an underscore in the top left corner, command prompt style), and I tried reconnecting the LCD panel to the OTHER port on the motherboard.

    After doing that, the screen works. However, my IGP is disabled, and for some reason my fans aren't spinning up unless I force them via HwInfo32.

    This is really confusing and frustrating. Anyone have some solutions? Do I need the motherboard replaced?
     
    Disgustipated, Jun 10, 2011
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  4. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    There's two ports on that board, one for the 120hz panel and one for the 60hz panel. The one with screw holes is the 120hz panel port...If you are using that port that would explain why the IGP is disabled. Might just be a bad board from factory.
     
    LVNeptune, Jun 10, 2011
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  5. Disgustipated

    Disgustipated Notebook Consultant

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    I think I figured it out. I think the reason the LCD wasn't working was because he had it in the wrong port (the 120 hz panel one like you said). I switched it to the other one, reset the BIOS by removing CMOS battery and IGP works now after reinstalling drivers.

    So basically everything works now.

    However, after replacing both speakers, the left doesn't sound nearly as bad... but when comparing it to the right by switching the balance, the left speaker STILL sounds scratchier and with more static-y frequencies being heard.. I wonder if this is a normal occurrence among all M17x R3 speakers? Would be interested in seeing if other owners have the same problem.
     
    Disgustipated, Jun 10, 2011
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