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    Swapping GPU question

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by LeWZ, Jan 29, 2017.

  1. LeWZ

    LeWZ Notebook Consultant

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    Hello, I own a M17X R4 with a 7970m. My gpu died a few days ago and I acquired an official Dell Alienware M17X R9 M290X gpu. It even comes with the X-clamp that will fit on my notebook`s motherboard.

    Anyway, I was just wondering: can I simply replace, install the drivers from AMD and everything will be ok it or must I flash a new VBios and control the fans manually with hwinfo, as you do when you swap an AMD gpu with a Nvidia gpu?
     
    LeWZ, Jan 29, 2017
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  2. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    Changing from amd to nvidia doesnt break the fans, it depends on a gpu support, some just dont have native fan control, and m290x doesnt have it neither in the m18x r2, m17x r4 or any older model. No need to perform a vbios flash though :)
     
    maxslo, Jan 30, 2017
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  3. LeWZ

    LeWZ Notebook Consultant

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    Let me see if I understood what you said: my m17x r4 will recognize the gpu without trouble but will not control the fans automatically, is that right? So I need to use software control like hwinfo to handle this manually?
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2017
    LeWZ, Jan 30, 2017
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  4. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    Thats correct :)
     
    maxslo, Jan 30, 2017
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  5. LeWZ

    LeWZ Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, thanks for the answer! Another noob question, where can I find a good fan setup to address this issue?
     
    LeWZ, Jan 30, 2017
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  6. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    You should make one yourself, to tune it how u like it (better performance or more pleasant for the ears, in any case i suggest u try to keep that gpu under 75°C :)
     
    maxslo, Jan 30, 2017
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  7. LeWZ

    LeWZ Notebook Consultant

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    Last question: what's your opinion on MSI Afterburner? I heard good things about it, since you can make profiles with different fan speeds according to the gpu's temperature.
     
    LeWZ, Feb 1, 2017
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  8. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

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    It may be able to do it for Desktop GPU's but i highly doubt it can do it for mobile GPUs.
    Desktop GPU -> Fan profile burned in the GPU, and GPU adjusting fan speed directly
    Laptop GPU -> Fan profile burned in the motherboard, GPU reporting temperature to the motherboard and then the motherboard adjusts the fan speed.
     
    maxslo, Feb 2, 2017
    #8