Some questions on the Alienware 17R1 1070 upgrade

I've been reading all sorts of posts on here on the "1070 upgrade" topic, but I still have some questions I need answered before I decide to go ahead with it.
(I am italian so my terminology may not be 100% correct when it comes to more specific stuff)

1) is this a good 1070 or is there something better?

2) I must upgrade the screen to a 120Hz EDP display this requires me to find the EDP cable not just the display, right? Is the EDP socket a different socket from the LVDS socket when I go to connect it?

3) I've read some talk about UEFI Boot and Optimus Mode, while UEFI boot is already enabled on my laptop, can someone explain what Optimus mode is and how it comes into play?

4) I am running on the A16 bios do I need to mod my bios to upgrade? (if yes please point me in the right direction)

5) I am currently using the standard 2 heat pipes heatsink with my GPU do I need a better heatsink? (I've seen some 3 pipes copper heatsinks on ebay but I am not sure)

My current specs are reported in the signature.

I may need to add that I am not new to disassembling/repairing computers/laptops, but this is not a straight forward process and this computer is important for my studies (hence my need for an upgrade) so I don't want to mess it up.
I'll be very thankful if some of you guys could help me with this.

 

1) While not the best 1070, it is alright. The 2nd best 1070 is the MSI, which needs case modding and maybe heatsink modding to fit, the very best is the Clevo one with the very large overhang and needs serious modding (case and power)

2) While not needed, it is recommenced just because it's a superior screen and allows for more performance because.....

3) Optimus is when you have the Intel HD 4600/5200 enabled, which allows for conversion of the eDP only GTX 1070 to the LVDS of the 60HZ screen, but also introduces latency and lost performance of around 5%, and can be very finnicky.

4) No, but it is recommenced to have an unlocked BIOS as its easier to mess around in, or a lower BIOS (such as A14) as it doesn't cripple CPU performance due to Spectre/Meltdown patches

5) 2 heatpipes will thermal throttle/come close to it, and 3 pipes is recommended (the AMD one is preferred)

 

Thank you for answering!
I don’t want to mod the case (I’m not good with that kind of stuff) so I was looking for the best card that would fit right in.

As for the heatsink, I couldn’t find this AMD one, will something like this do?

 

That heatsink there is aftermarket, some had good experience, some bad, due to the fitting and heat dissipation is not 100% like the OEM one.

AMD heatsinks are a bit hard to source.

I'd also recommend to replace the GPU fan with that of the m17x r4, that is more powerful.


Btw: it's not only the case, the mxm slot itself also needs modding, for the MSI card to fit, iirc.

 

Thanks I'll add that fan to the list, I don't think I'll be able to buy all that stuff at once, I'll start with the screen then go for the GPU (it will take a month for it to get here) and the work my way through all the cooling upgrades.
Any guides on how to replace the screen and the edp? I've found this screen is it good?

EDIT: found the guide, and apparently this screen doesn't fit

 

The slot doesn't need a mod, just removal of the brackets. Slot mod makes it sound like tweaking the pins.

There is no heatsink with 100% dissipation, efficiency loss is inherent to the fan/heatsink design.

The n173hhe-g32 panel requires a bit of modding, just shaving off a bit from the assembly to allow proper clearance, otherwise it's plug and play. I hated the glossy panel in the day time.

 

Yeah, I meant the both sides of the slot, not the pins.

 

Good to hear! Is the panel in the link the right one? Do you know where I can get the edp cable? (I did find this one but I was hoping for something cheaper)

 

There are different revisions of the panel but to be honest I think they don't matter, no one has had any issues yet with what ever they ended up getting.

Word in the wild says the cable is becoming rather uncommon so that price doesn't surprise me much. Likely to get cheaper from China or US based eBay but with your location Chinese based eBay sellers may be the best choice.

 

very good I'll order it tomorrow then thanks for the help!

 

Be warned the only hard part is modding the hinges with a dremel or rotary cutter. Its not difficult it just takes a while if you are using a battery operated tool vs cable. The rest of it is simple since its anodized aluminum (I think) vs steel.

 

so the screw holes are good or do I need to drill my own?

 

You wont be using those, this is not a bolt on upgrade.

You will be cutting off the pins that hold the OEM panel in place. Then you will need some cardboard slips to prop the panel up about 3-5mm so it sits flush with the bezel. In order to hold in place you will use dousblesided 3M or equivalent tape.

The hinge mod is to provide clearance for the panels circuit board that sits on the bottom.

The N173HHE panel is thinner so even if you do make new screw mounts you will have a clearance gap in the bezel, and without modding the hinge and creating clearance you wont be able to close the laptop lid.

 

So cardboard to lift it up a bit because it’s too thin and doublesided 3m to hold it in place and cut off the screw brackets completely?

 

There's just two pins that are on the frame fitment that will need to be cut off (or at least I did)

The brackets themselves work fine if your talking about the mounting bracket on each side of the panel? Those are fine they just have two pins that you place into the original panel as kind or place holder for when you screw in the rest of the panel.

 

Okay I think I understand now. How’s the display compared to the normal 120Hz one is it worth the extra work?

 

I personally hated the glossy panel after my first "day" with it. Far too reflective for my tastes, its still a good panel though, just not my preference really.

To me its a no brainer, but its also TN and some people hate them with a passion and for good reason, you have to be in the right position otherwise the colors will warp, so the viewing angles suffer basically.

That being said I love this panel compared to the old one but again, its a matter of preference.

 

TN?

 

You've got homework to do

 

Yeah I've noticed I'll have a look around the forum

 

Not really specific to the forum and I couldn't give the quick guide to panel types as I was getting ready for job 1.

IPS has better viewing angles and usually better color accuracy as well but has a bit more latency usually. I don't think three is many if any laptops with ips and 120hz though.

TN has better response times and plentiful for 120hz but viewing angles suffer. For a long time TN was thought of as a cheap solution.

Both panels in question here are TN to my knowledge. The difference is glossy finish VS matte. I prefer matte overall but others like glossy.

 

Thank you for your patience. I have replaced a laptop display before but it was an OEM part so it was easy, I will have to put a bit more effort with my ranger. Matte is way better than glossy, I wouldn't be able to work with a glossy display.

 

update: the GPU seller told me that the GPU I ordered (and payed for) will not boot so I'm waiting for full refund and I need to find another seller. I've found this guy who's selling a 1070 in europe (and this alone is pretty convenient for me) my question is: is this one good?
He says it's from eurocom and I've read some pretty bad things on here about them, so I need your help again guys.

 

Unless eurocom stepped up their game I would avoid that one like the plague

 

may I ask what is the problem with the eurocom cards (beside the prices that are ridiculous)?

 

VRM's blowing up from 90W+ VBIOS's

 

okay this one should be the same as the original one I had found I'll try to make an offer for a cheaper price.

 

So far haven't seen any negative issues with that gpu. Played funky in a 7710 but likely was just the EC not wanting to cooperate.

 

update: that reseller told me that he's just found out that they don't have them in stock, now I cannot find any 1070s besides the MSI and the clevo. If you guys know of any other place where I can find this card it would help alot

EDIT: I did find some more on ebay

 

update: Every reseller I've contacted removed the product from their page soon after answering me, so it seems that version of the 1070 is not in stock anywhere right now. The only thing I can find is the MSI 1070 but it requires case modding. So I have some other questions:
1) Are there other alternatives that you guys know of?
2) Are there some pictures that show the kind of modding required to fit this MSI card? Is it easy?
On the other hand the N173HHE-G32 display has arrived and the edp cable should be here next week so I will probably do that upgrade first and then buy the GPU.

 

You could check taobao

 

checking right now it will take a while, it's all in chinese. Thanks

EDIT: Only msi cards, but I did find some images with instructions
image 1 (GPU installed)
image 2 (where to cut)

 

The chassis mod is relatively easy but will take some time, maybe a full day to complete correctly.

Or you could do it the shorter method but will lose some overall integrity.

Loafers experiences with the upgrade are here on the forum. On mobile so I can't pull a link at the moment.

You would also need to add a heatpipe or some other method of removing the heat from the vrm row, as it will not be able to handle the heat dump and will eventually kill the card.

 

Will a heatsink like the one in the picture work for the vrm row?

 

Only one precedent to draw from and that's a no.

Will function yes, but will eventually die.

Though that is all copper so who knows

 

I guess I'll have to wait for those other 1070s to go back in stock then

 

you'll need a 4930mx as well.

My 4700mq is full tilt with a 1060

 

does it bottleneck that bad? if so, will the 4930mx even make that big of a difference with a 1070?

 

I didnt say bottleneck, just full tilt. I still get max utilization of the 1060, but the 1070 will be another matter.

 

got it. I'll update when I find a good card or complete the screen upgrade, thanks alot for the help so far

 

Hello,
I will do same thing when Alienware 17 Ranger arrive with original 120Hz LCD. But I have some questions.

1) I would like to upgrade 780m with 1060/1070 from MSI. I read that it sometimes is problem with vbios and overvolting and after that card die. Best option is buy it from here: https://store.alezka.com/en/11-mxm-graphicscards. But I am from Europe and it will cost much more for VAT (more than 23% ). In Europe you can buy only clevo cards
Next otion of graphics card is https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nvidia-Q...164179?hash=item1ef7c900d3:g:5WoAAOSwya1cndXy. Will it work same as 1060?
2) The second problem is speed fan control or spin. With original bios not modded will it work normal? The same issue had Dell M6600 with 7970m.

Thank you for answer

 

2) Ebay/Taobao should have it in stock, thats in insane price to pay for either card.
2) Custom fan curves are a necessity

 

Can confirm that taobao had them in stock at a cheaper price too

 

I found on taobao MSI 1060 for 400 dolars and MSI 1070 for 580 dolars. That is price without shipping.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a21wu.10013406.0.0.5d272fe6ItjMzQ&id=585907355878
https://world.taobao.com/item/574777252917.htm?spm=a21wu.10013406-tw.0.0.8de447e4PtoEKe

 

I suggest you to contact @woodzstack

 

Yes I know his shop, but MSI 1060 from Canada to EU it is more then 530 euro.

 

Ouch, thats definitely a no go. I think taobao has them for ~$350, and shipping is ~$20, $30 for expedited.

 

UPDATE: I have installed the new display successfully and it’s amazing (1 dead pixel though) I need to mod the hinges a little better so that I can put the frame back on.

 

It's a nice panel overall, you'll love it after finally settling the fitment issues.

I had to stop my mods since I work 65-75 hours a week at the moment. This is all so I can fund more R&D into the ranger plus some other plans unrelated to laptops lol.

I'll start that back up again after I'm not working so much.

I'm stateside but I will also be selling my msi 1060 soon. I might have time on Friday to create a listing here. Plan to move up to the 1070/4930mx

 

I’ve noticed that 5 keys that are all close together on my keyboard are not working right now, it’s strage cause I’ve done nothing to the keyboard
Is the keyboard connector the one under the ODD? Maybe I’ve not connected it good enough