Urgent help required re: M17R2 GPU replacement - in shop awaiting repair

Hi folks,

I have an Alienware M17R2 with a single ATI mobility radeon 4870 GPU and Core I7 CPU. My computer suddenly failed and wouldn't boot and I took it to the local computer shop and they said they were unable to ascertain the problem but it looked to be motherboard or GPU related. They sent it on to a repairer who they use who repairs/diagnoses etc motherboard and GPU stuff. They have diagnosed it is the GPU that has failed and quoted £300 for a replacement GPU (presumably 4870)

Before I drop £300 on a 4870 replacement I thought I had better check on here what my best option is considering that I use the laptop for photo editing in Lightroom mostly and don't have the money for a new Alienware M17R4.

I gather that the M17R2 can accept faster graphics cards than the 4870 including the 5870 and 6670 and 6690 for example but reading the forums on here sometimes the upgrade to 6690 seems to prevent video or audio over HDMI working properly and as I use a nice colour calibrated offboard monitor for photo editing and film watching etc the idea that I can't send video or sound to my monitor is a bit of a downer. In addition it looks as though you need a bigger power transformer for some of the card upgrades. This isn't necessarily a problem because my power brick has a problem currently charging the battery (it powers the laptop OK - just doesn't charge the battery) What I need is reliability from the system because I am in the process of establishing a photography business and depend on the computer to be able to maintain my website and edit photos.

So in short - what are my options? What would you do? Is another 4870 the best options and is £300 fair?

Thanks in advance, your urgent help would be appreciated because I'm supposed to go back to the computer shop this afternoon and tell them what I want to do!

best wishes,

U744261

 

You can replace the GPU quite easily for 50 quid by yourself. They're just ripping u off. If you want to upgrade GPUs u can get a 7970/8970M for 250 quid and you'll need a 240W power brick. You can crossfire the cards but you'll need 330W brick then.

 

Thanks Tom but I gather there are HDMI sound issues if I upgrade to the 7970 or 8970m - also if I do buy a 4870 where can I obtain one for £50?? I gather Dell can supply me with a 5870m for £172 fitted if I have the service tag which I don't because I bought it from NDC a Dell refurb seller and they take the service tags off. As the machine doesn't currently boot I can't get the tag from the command line anyway.

Grateful for any help.

What's the best graphics card I can fit that has working HDMI and sound and where can I get one?

Brg,

U744261

 

If you buy a dell card 7970M you have HDMI sound as long as you use DELL VBIOS.

That is the best card you gen fit in your computer.

 

They're quite hard to come buy and seem to command a premium over the normal 7970M cards from Clevo.. Can't you buy a clevo card and flash a Dell vBIOS?

Alienware AMD HD DELL 7970M 2GB GDDR5 M15x, M17x ,M18x Dell P/N # 747M2 | eBay

 

Clevo cards from what ive heard are slightly different from DELL's.

Not sure how they operate with dell VBIOS. Someone tried and gotten HDMI sound?

Stay away from MSI's. (they have not crossfire option.)

 

OK I need to finalise my order and get the laptop sorted asap so assuming I go for either a 580m or 680m will I need a new heatsink and x type mounting bracket? Also will the bios need flashing if it's a Dell card?

I also have the same questions for if I go for a 7970m??

Thanks in advance,

Jonathan

 

I would avoid the 580M, notorious for failing very prematurely. 7970M as long as it is a Dell vBIOS you shouldn't run into the issues vs a Clevo card.

 

If your'e going the NVIDIA route, stay away from the 580M it's just a fail ... Get the 680M... I would personally stick with AMD 7970M as it will save you buying the heatsink and mounting bracket.

 

OK the laptop is coming back to me un-repaired and it seems most of you are saying 7970m so I will avoid the 580m if it has a tendency to fail as everyone is saying, but the issue remains that HDMI audio does not work and that is a must have for me - I plug my laptop into TV sets via HDMI and need to be able to watch films as well as use it to show videos to clients (I am a professional photographer). I realise there are workarounds like carrying powered speakers with me and plugging them in via the headphone jack but that's more kit to cart around...

Still tempted by the 7970m because the 580m is supposed to be unreliable and the 680m is too expensive really but then I read this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...rex-ultimate-installation-tweaking-guide.html

1. Requirements:


- Two 7970m cards. WARNING. CHOOSING THE WRONG CARD WITH THE WRONG VBIOS WILL RENDER YOUR MACHINE NOT POSTING AND YOU WITH A USELESS CARD. As far as I am aware of, Clevo cards have no restrictions, whereas Dell cards are restricted to being released with vBios versions up to and including 015.021. 015.022 vBios cards are not supported (the machine will fail to Post) nor can they be downflashed (Attempting to do so will brick the card). There HAVE been reports of users getting 015.022--firmware cards and having them compatible, but unless the seller allows you to return the cards, you can't figure out which one would work and which won't.

The 7970 I was about to buy here: Alienware AMD HD DELL 7970M 2GB GDDR5 -for M15x, M17x , M18x ,upgrade monkey | eBay has the following note in the listing: 015.022 vBios ， check compatibility with older generation alienwares

So am I correct in interpreting from this that the 7970m from upgrademonkey comes with 015.022 bios and will not work with the M17R2 and cannot be downflashed to work??

I seem to be going round in circles with this and am getting nowhere!!

At the end of the day I'm not a hardcore gamer anymore (used to be a keen flight-simmer) and I might play something like Dirt3 or some tennis games occasionally but do most of my gaming on the playstation nowadays for Gran Turismo or games with the family. I could send the bloody thing back to Dell and have them put a 5870m in it, no flashing bios, no confusion and no hassle plus presumably a guarantee from Dell they will get it working for £178 - I'm beginning to think this is the safest option and I get a working HDMI sound output too.

Really I just need it to work fast in Photoshop and Lightroom plus lightweight gaming.

Views?

jon

 

Thought you chaps might appreciate an update and thanks to those who tried to help.

I got the machine back from the computer repair store. I phoned Dell tech support and they were excellent - reseated the memory and the CMOS battery and the bloody computer booted up!!

So clearly the computer repair store who said the GPU was fried were talking bollocks - numpties!!!

So computer fixed free in an hour or so!!

The lesson in all this is not to trust most computer repair shops who rip you off and are clueless. Call Dell - ironically their repair charges are excellent too and very fair indeed...

U744261