The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Will my M17X R4 turn on with new video card but no new drivers?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by james6348, Dec 9, 2017.

  1. james6348

    james6348 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi everyone,

    I have an M17X R4 (i7-3610qm version) with several parts missing including the screen and video card. I tried turning this on to test it but got the 8 beeps error. My questions are:

    1) Should it turn on with a screen installed but no graphics card plugged in and run the integrated intel graphics, or would I still get 8 beeps?

    2) I don't know what graphics card this had previously and I have read that whenever you change the graphics card you need to update the drivers before changing the card. Is there any card that would definitely work without changing the drivers? I was hoping to get a 460m to begin with.

    Thanks in advance to anyone that can help!
     
    james6348, Dec 9, 2017
    #1
  2. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    3,159
    Messages:
    6,473
    Likes Received:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Hi, you should be able to boot without a GPU card BUT it still must have a panel attached to pass POST. The machine came with two panels, 120hz and 60hz. The 120hz bypasses the Intel and must have an NV card attached. The MB has two panel connectors, one for for each type, sorry can't identify them so research needed.

    I have never messed with a driver install if the machine has an existing NV card. It always just works and you update it after install. This avoids the problem of a driver not installing - you still have a working machine!

    Good luck.
     
    MickyD1234, Dec 9, 2017
    #2
  3. ll_r1d0_ll

    ll_r1d0_ll Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    41
    as far as i remember m17x r4 used to come with GTX 660M..so 660m would be a plug and play card for your alienware ..im currently using gtx 780m in my m17x r4 and only thing that was required to modify was the nvidia INF file..thats all
     
    ll_r1d0_ll, Dec 9, 2017
    #3
  4. james6348

    james6348 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Many thanks for your replies Micky and r1d0.

    Regarding the screen do I need to match this to an exact part number? I'm struggling to find anything explaining the differences between the following screens:

    FCF0T - 1600x900 fits R3/R4
    8HPX1 - 1600X900 fits R3/R4
    YD9K2 - 1080p fits R3/R4
    0FKCP - 1080p fits R3/R4
    DHCG2 - 1080p 3D-ready fits certain R4 models/video cards

    Does anyone know if the top 4 screens are definitely compatible? I know the 3d model uses a different connection on the motherboard, is this the 120hz version you describe and are the others all 60hz?

    If the 0FKCP screen fits and is 60hz it will work out well as I can get this and test the machine without buying a video card
     
    james6348, Dec 9, 2017
    #4
  5. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    3,159
    Messages:
    6,473
    Likes Received:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    331
    I'd be guessing but maybe glossy/mat versions. IIRC the 120hz panel was only glossy.
     
    MickyD1234, Dec 10, 2017
    #5