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    Want to upgrade m17x r3 graphics card without loosing the 3d feature.

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Inzi9969, Jun 13, 2016.

  1. Inzi9969

    Inzi9969 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have been planning to upgrade my Graphics Card of my Alienware m17x r3 but I don't wanna loose the 3d feature. Any suggestions, because everywhere I read they said it will loose that feature If I upgrade unless it's 580m but apparently they also said not to go for it as its lifespan is short. I really need help.
     
  2. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Afraid what you have found out so far is correct. There is some sort of licensing (I was told it's in the BIOS) that the NV software looks for before activating 3D Vision. It contains the panel ID's and gpu's certified for use. I got lucky with dell and they replaced my R3/580m with an R4/675m. This is the same chip as the 580m just rebadged, and just as unreliable! Luckily for me the R4 can use the 680m as well for 3D, so I just got one and it was plug and play to install.

    I went through 3 x 580m's and have seen dozens of failures so it has to be real cheap if you need to use one.

    I also like the 3D (a lot) and tried to get it to work on my X8 as it has a 120hz panel. Even after getting the full NV kit and manually running the 3D config it just errored on the panel ID and would not install, grr....

    The max card for the R3 is the 780m but the 680m is (IMO) a far better card, running cooler and has top reliability :D. You do not need to mod the bios as you might read elsewhere as on a 120hz model the iGPU is already disabled.
     
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  3. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    Just wanted to add that those maxed out cards would not work with 3D, and that what you've seen so far is accurate.
     
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  4. Inzi9969

    Inzi9969 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Do you have an
    Do you have any idea if I can install an Amd Firepro m6000 graphics card on my alienware m17x r3. It is just for checking purpose because I bought it for my m15x r2 but when I run any games the display driver crashes in that and the blue screen of dump comes. So I wanna install it in my m17x to check if the card works so I can be sure if the card is faulty or is it something else that's causing the trouble in the m15x. So is it compatible?
     
  5. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Not a clue I'm afraid :(.

    It's not likely as I believe only NV cards support 120hz boot.