Windows 10 and nVidia 980M GTX upgrades for Alienware (M17X-R4, without Optimus: Working Great!)

Currently, the working windows 10 previews I have tested and have worked are Windows 10130 and now with Windows 10159 , Windows 10162, and now 10166

WARNING do not install EVGA Precision, it increases chances for EDID vulnerability and can lead to unrecoverable LCD failure in Windows 10.



I saw a thread on T|I thanks to a friend, and J95 there posted a modified Driver for Windows 10 and 9XXM series videocards for Alienware's. **WARNING WINDOWS 10: Please fully update your system with ALL drivers and updates, and do all the multiple restarts you need to do, before installing, so there is no overlapping of driver installations. Also - ONLY install the drivers and the Physx drivers for Windows 10***
(This should keep you safe, as a practice)

After much deliberation, it is working great ! I gained roughly about 25% better performance, over all, with stock vBios this way. I also gained about 10% using a modified vBios, the latest overclocked vBios from SLV7 works great, very stable.

I am using a 240Watt PSU, though I do have a 330Watt, I do not need to use it anymore, and it adds no more performance.

Anyways, this is the thread : http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia/6307-[alienware]-aftermarket-upgrades-driver-support-modded-inf-30.html#post135452
(Pages 33-35 really)

nVidia GTX 970M and nVidia GTX 980M both work, on the M17X-R4, tested them myself.

Pads go here :

I must have made every mistake in the book, and then some, figuring out how to make these work properly, what can be done what can not be done, so if anyone needs help, I do not mind adding my experience to it.

If you need to modify your heatsink, here is an example on a MSI heatsink what one of my client did : (starts around 5 minutes in)



From scratch I was instructed to do this :


If using SG/Switchable graphics OR Windows 7, go to step 9, but enable Legacy Mode (this is to enable Optimus Mode/SG/Legacy/Windows 7 compatibility)
For better performance, use dedicated mode, follow full steps.
(OR if your a pro and have unlocked bios and can just click/select PEG mode, its much easier to toggle then trying to force it by chance.)

First : BIOS reset M17X-R4 Optimus
1- Unplug power cord
2- Remove battery
3- Hold power button for 30 seconds
4- Remove CMOS coin battery(next to GPU fan)
5- Remove nVidia GTX 980M/970M -> 2 screws only, there's no need to remove the heat sink.
6- Reinsert CMOS battery

• 120Hz Models only
• (IF using PEG/120Hz model will require a "backup card" 680M, or 780M would be fine, to access BIOS settings, step 7 - 9)
• 7- Install "backup card" -> Plug power cord
• 8- Power on -> Beeps -> hold power button until shutdown.
• 9- Power on -> F2 -> Boot menu -> "Boot list option" UEFI -> "Load Legacy Option ROM" Disabled -> "Secure boot" Disabled-> " Windows 8 Fast Boot" Disabled -> Exit menu 'Save Without Exit' -> Power off.
• 10- Reinsert the nVidia GTX 980M/970M
• 11- Power ON -> F2 -> shutdown.
• 12-Re-install Windows.

(IF USING OPTIMUS/60Hz)
7- Plug power cord
8- Power on -> Flashes and shutsdown > Beeps -> hold power button until shutdown.
9- Power on -> F2 -> Boot menu -> "Boot list option" UEFI -> "Load Legacy Option ROM" Disabled -> "Secure boot" Disabled-> " Windows 8 Fast Boot" Disabled -> Exit menu 'Save Without Exit' -> Power off.
10- Reinsert nVidia GTX 980M/970M
11- Power ON -> F2 -> Checks settings are same, and not reset > shutdown.
12- Re-install Win10/Windows 8/Windows 7

Note:
Make sure you have GPT and not MBR partition for Windows.
(Incase you use a USB drive, like using Rufus, select GPT for UEFI option)
Or see this link I just found after :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/question-about-creating-the-uefi-boot-drive.776877/


When installing the driver, make sure you have Driver Signature Enforcement : Disabled (DSE)
Windows 8 :

Spoiler: Windows 8 DSE

Disabling the Driver Signature Enforcement for

Windows 7 Driver Installation in Windows 8

--Installing new Video Card drivers in Windows 8

Instructions
• From the Metro Home Screen
• Go to the bottom right corner of the screen and hover over the “Minus” sign
• Select “Settings”
• Select “Change PC Settings”
• Select “General”
• Scroll down, to “Advanced Startup”, select “Restart Now”
• Select “Trouble Shoot”
• Select “Advanced Options”
• Select “Startup Settings”
• Select “Restart”
• After restart, select #7 “Disable driver signature enforcement” by pressing your #7 key
• Back in the Metro Screen. Install Drivers.
•In the Metro Home Screen
•Hover over the minus symbol in the bottom right corner.
•Select on “settings”
•Select “Change PC Settings”
•Select “General”
•Scroll down, select “Restart Now”
•Select “Trouble Shoot”
•Select “Advanced Options”
•Select “Startup Settings”
•Select “Restart
•Select #7 “Disable driver signature enforcement” by pressing your #7 key
•Back in the Metro Screen. Install Drivers.

Windows 10 DSE:

Spoiler: Disable Windows 10 DSE

a) Press the Win + C and click on PC settings.
b) Switch over to the “ Update & recovery” section.
c) Then click on the Recovery option on the left hand side.
d) Once selected, you will see an advanced startup section appear on the right hand
side. You will need to click on the “ Restart now” button.
e) Once your Computer has rebooted you will need to choose the Troubleshoot option.
f)Then head into Advanced options.
g) Then Startup Settings.
h) Since we are modifying boot time configuration settings, you will need to restart your computer one last time.
I) Here you will be given a list of startup settings that you can change. The one we are looking for is “ Disable driver signature enforcement”. To choose the setting, you will need to press the F7 key.

The driver I used had a Modified NV_DISPI.INF
It was driver version 352.84
Heres my drop box to it (Windows 10 modified driver for M17X-R4):
(REMOVED, USE THE ONES FROM OUR SITE)

Here is a (Modified) driver List for my Alienware friends :
(Already Modified, and usually kept up to date. Multiple confusing versions is thanks to nVidia)
http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/upgradeyourlaptop/Alienware/


Here is a drop box to the drivers I use on M17X-R4, if anyone has a complete list like this for other systems, for this 900 series, give me the link and I will upload it.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6i8ejny8o86kzji/AAAh8_sEXYAL50gAP-_CYvkYa?dl=0

There are three drivers and also all the drivers for the Alienware M17X-R4 and various setups.
Some drivers outdated.
___________________________________________________________________________

Here are some other tips, because people have asked for them, these apply to M17X-R4, and are fro my personal experience.


M17X-R4 has sata 3 speed limitted to 300MB/s on the mSata. So do not put an mSata for speed, its slow. The two HDD bays though are both Sata 3 6G i.e can both do 600MB/s ea. RAID 0 in those with 2 850 Samsung pro SSD should give you over 1GB/s bandwidth on your drives. Very fast !
If your always using the LCD on the laptop and not an external monitor, you could always go 120Hz. Makes things look incredible. Its insane how much nicer things go. Its the same as basically upgrading your videocard so things look nicer and play smoother. Your mouse movements will have less lags etc..
You need the LCD itself and the CHIP and the LCD cable for it. "thegh0sts" that you see in that thread you were on, knows where to get both, you can tell him I sent you. (which is funny cause he's probably reading this too..haha )

The DVD drive can be turned into a HDD Caddy, and thus stick your 1-2TB mechanical drive in there for storage/backup, then you can use a cheap small SSD to run as Cache for the mechanical drive. You could also use the mPCI-E slot for the WiHD card and set that all up to have wireless gaming to a monitor. (difficult though, expert installation and knowledge required)

RAM, (I would recommend Cas 9 1600 LoVo SoDimms instead of regular, and run them at lowest voltage. Mushkin makes some. Cheap and EXCELLENT quality, get 2 sets of 2x8Gb(16GB total x2) for 32GB.

Then get the M14X-R2 CPU fans and use it instead of the M17X-R4 CPU fans. Tis should be 4CFM vs 11+ CFM. You will have to cut the tabs off on the M14X-R2 Fan and then just use some black cloth/hockey tape to hold it on, if your careful you can suspend it with the tape and thus lower the noise (still very silent) but it lowers temps by 5C easily.

Take Both your heatsinks out, and clean them with a wool pad from the grocery store. you know the disposable kind, and do some circles on the parts that make contact with the GPU/CPU die, until the varnish and oils and color comes off/changes and it becomes increasingly smooth, this will increase temps by 1-2C on the top end of OCing. Using better thermal paste too like TX-4 or even better Gelid Extreme for an additional 5-10C extra of cooling. Google and youtube how to apply them perfectly. Buy two tubes and keep doing it until you learn to smooth it properly. Tip - stick the tubes ina glass of hot water for 5 minutes before using, so they're warm. Run the heatsinks under hot water (keep them dry afterwards) just so the paste doesn't get cold and solid, so you can smooth it as thinnly as possible afterwards.

On your heatsink for your RAM on the GPU, add 4 small 1cm^2 0.2mm thick copper shims. make sure they do not short circuit anything, but stick these directly on the RAM parts after touching the Thermal pads, but before touching the heatsinks. Make sure they fit though, do a proper inspection. Triple inspect even. Then test and be careful. This will add some life to these. (Add paste between the copper and the heatsink, but like super super thin gelid extreme, just to cover air gaps.

there are some Components near the CPU that the CPU heatsink also cools, do the same and add a small shim of copper to those, and make sure not to short anything out, make proper contact with the thermal pads. Always do the paper test to see what kind of contact a heatsink/pads/shims make. Too much os no good, and not enough contact is bad. Should be able to pull a paper strip out, with tension, but not easily or not at all.

Jimmy a single 3v or 5v wire red or orange if you know,. from somewhere on the motherboard connecting a different port like an HDD or something, to the Fans + voltage IN to get more RPM out of them. Double the noise, but get like 5k RPM. Lowers temps by 15-20C easily when OCing. This is how I also beat Fox for a few months in XTU when we were testing AW17 R5...


Drivers:
depending on hardware ID of the GPU
AW17 358.50)

05AA: http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...ptop/Alienware/17_R5_05AA1028_9xxM_358.50.zip
05AD: http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...ptop/Alienware/17_R5_05AD1028_9xxM_358.50.zip
05AE : http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...ptop/Alienware/17_R5_05AE1028_9xxM_358.50.zip


M17X-R4: (358.50)
0551: http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...top/Alienware/M17xR4_05511028_9xxM_358.50.zip
057B: http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...top/Alienware/M17xR4_057B1028_9xxM_358.50.zip
0580: http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...top/Alienware/M17xR4_05801028_9xxM_358.50.zip



If hardware ID says 057B...(358.91 Day 1 Fallout Driver)
((Warning - bad drivers for SLi capable Alienware!))
For those of you with a M17X-R4 and Playing Fallout 4 on Windows 10 with 980M
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cxlltm72fe24lox/AAAPonvzqli11KueVllgQxY8a?dl=0


THERMAL PADS : the ones I provide are EXTRA to make BETTER contact : Observer the follow photo's

Spoiler: Thermal pad placement precaution

See how I used the extra thin thermal pads to make a PROPER contact, over time these things sometimes do not make proper contact, if you have too, use the supplied extra thermal pads to make better contact like this. It helps. Now remember, if it is already make contact, do not just cram them in there and have them squished, that is bad !



Extra options :


Skip DSE permanently :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To TURN ON Optimus/Verify if Optimus is present... (R4/R5)

How to verify Optimus is turned on in your Alienware R4 Before installing your New GPU, make sure you are running in optimus mode. Go into device manager and verify that there are 2 cards listed. One being the intel, and the other being your current card. If you DO NOT have both listed, press FN+F7, and they system will request a reboot. Then they both will be there.

R5 Before installing your New GPU, make sure you are running in optimus mode. Go into device manager and verify that there are 2 cards listed. One being the intel, and the other being your current card. If you DO NOT have both listed, press FN+F5, and they system will request a reboot. Then they both will be there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to Find Hardware ID's

How to Find your GPU Hardware ID go to device manager, select the GPU, in W7 it will be listed as “standard VGA adapter”, in W8 it will be listed as “Microsoft display adapter”. double click on it and select the 3rd tab labeled details select the second item from the drop down menu labeled hardware ID's.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PDF to download to DISABLE DSE
http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/upgradeyourlaptop/Digital signature disable instructions.pdf

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUPER MASTER LIST OF VBIOS's (not really, but if needed, might be here)

http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/VBIOS/


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People have asked me for these cooling pads that can go underneath the GPU's to help cool the RAM. I have them, but this is not a sales thread, however you can see them here in these photo's what they look like. I do not know the difference, between not using them and using them, for sure they contribute to the longevity, but I doubt they add performance. mainly they would keep your videocard alive longer instead.

Spoiler: TEP pictures

Latest AW17 driver for windows 10 in dedicated mode : Thanks to Gh0st
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jhnrz1g4g7wehpv/AADevY_qIoJQ1ZTY6Jl-9GEca?dl=0
(it should be the folders created by the 359 driver, and then the modified inf's)

here is a windows 10 64bit 364.51 driver
https://www.dropbox.com/s/02idfagm63mfzyo/nv_dispi.inf_v364.51_Win10_PEG_Dedicated.zip?dl=0

should also be this windows 8.1 64bit 364.51 driver : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k7d1jr57tdv1bg6/AAA74IN9HDqcn-wNpRSbCvFha?dl=0



a windows 10-64bit driver more recent 376.19 : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ptxii8rqai320nu/AADi_lL6DjW3XnRIgj6Th1ama?dl=0

 

I'm guessing this works with Windows 7 and 8.1, but with a different driver (say 352.86)?

 

windows 7 no, because you need a pure UEFI environment to get the 980M to work correctly. only Windows 8.1 and 10 will work in pure UEFI environment.

 

This is good news! I was waiting on info regarding the r4 with 980m and Windows 10.

 

hmmm....cold boot = black screen.

 

Black Screen ? What did you do ? You have a R5 though, no ?
I know this works for R4.. thanks to J95

 

from a cold boot it would load the alienware logo and then go black like no signal black. this didn't happen in win 8.1.

not sure what the cause is either

hmmm....looks like if i turn it off for a few mins and turn it back on it goes black: no back light or anything.

EDIT: Reinstalled the nvidia drivers....i didn't even need to change the boot menu policy.

 

wait wait, no you do need to disable DSE and boot menu policy, When I didn't it looked like things worked, but didn't use the 980M. Remember?
If this worked on a M17X-R4, surely it works on the AW 17. I had to , like a child, follow baby steps step by step to get it working. But I got it working, and its amazing!

Anyways, the Alienware logo is part of boot/Post. So, something is working. Advice at this point is going to be tough, since we're both Pioneering into the unknown, right ?

There was a point where I had to force shut down the computer, when the logo would norm ally come on..(but it does 4-5 beeps instead..) then after the forced shutdown/poweroff, I am able to go into bios and change all the settings to work.

What exactly happens for you ? AFAIK, you should be able to at least get windows 10 going..even without the driver working for 980m/970M right away. Like the Optimus way. From there, you MIGHT** be able to force full UEFI (If you installed via Full UEFI/GPT boot etc..) Then you can just switch to PEG/Dedicated and UEFI boot doesn't need to change. just install the card (Again in this case, if you tried it with optimus)

 

First boot it does not show the spinning circle of dots and it just went straight to black no backlight.

Going back to 8.1 to see if it isn't a hardware issue.

So bummed.

EDIT: there's so many variables when it comes to installing preview OS oh well.

 

Get it sorted yet? Working OK with Windows 8.1?

 

win 10 IP 10130 - 352.84 nvidia driver + cold boot = ok
win 10 IP 10130 + 352.84 nvidia driver + cold boot = black screen (no backlight) with no cursor before reaching login screen: it just shows the alienware name logo the goes black.

It only loads after doing a hard reboot from the black screen for some reason. I have tried 2 modded INF files from @j95 and they did nothing.

I also know that 8.1 loads fine with or without the nvidia drivers so that leads me to believe it's not the GPU or any piece of hardware and deducting from the above means it might be a nvidia driver issue.

So will be reverting to 8.1 till release.

Strangely I get 8 beeps when trying to enter the diagnostic setup though I am guessing it is because it's not a stock GPU. Windows still detects my GPU so that's good.

J95 modded the 353.17 beta drivers so will give them a try tonight.

 

I am ONLY using the modified nv_dispi.inf for the 352.84 driver.
I have windows 10,version 130
I reverted to a STOCK EUROCOM vBios for my 980M (this was done because of power issues, 1v vBios also means it takes up an additonal 10-15W)
I have M17X-R4, I am in dedicated mode. UEFI, secure boot disabled, fast boot disabled, legacy boot disabled.
I run a mini-eDP to DVI-I cable to my HP LP3065 Monitor at full resolution. Works fine.

P.S> I reverted back to STOCK vBios after testing SLV7's modified vBios, and it worked.
I also have windows update to download new versions right away, and any updates asap.
So, maybe I updated my vBios to stock before anyone was having issues, and something changed.
(assuming others having issues, I am not. Windows 10 is getting more stable by the day for me, I have't seen a single crash or anything all day today, playing games testing new hardware etc..)

There is 1 bug I find : I have to run STEAM as Admin, or my games won't start. But otherwise fine.
I included my DXDiag to show what I have.

If you look at the DXDiag, its as I say for my system. Let me know what you have tried and have failed with as well as any mild successes, any small detail might help.

 

So you're saying that the unlocked vbios might be breaking the drivers?

Ok, I flashed a stock vbios from prema and now it won't shut down, it just reboots.

Edit: stock vbios is a no go, win 10 still crashes from a cold boot.

 

I am pretty sure its a driver issue though. I keep changing my vBios back and forth and it works for me. I mean, how different can the AW17 from the M17X-R4 be, right ? (I think your using the AW17 in your signature, naturally). I don't know what to say, I would even try your stock PSU...

here is the driver I am using, already modified.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/14ja9pai92qrqgk/DisplayDriver.zip?dl=0

 

tried the stock psu before and no dice.

i am thinking of trying in optimus mode. also any oc i do crashes so i am stuck with the svl7 bios clocks

 

Welcome to OS X Windows 10, LOL... buckle up kids, the ride is going to be a bumpy one. The Digi-Nazis are on a roll here. Expect drivers to suck more and more as we all become safer, thanks to our hallowed Father in Redmond that loves us so much. Like Freddy said, "You're all my children now!"

 

Well, what I have is working amazing. I do know this : During my first few installs I noticed something. 1) I couldn't change to dedicated mode properly when I had windows 10 installed when using Optimus. Also Optimus, really didn't work at all, not matter what I tried. 2) DDU did NOT work properly, even when it said it did, and worked as if it did, the registry values it was supposed to delete did not get deleted. The only option was full install from scratch. I tried a full install with files and settings from a backup. that failed. Only following the steps 100% did it work.

I infact did more things too, that might not be there, maybe it will help, I made sure to 100% whipe my drives. I did a low level format on them, then initiated them as GPT partition using gnome partition tools. Then i removed the driver I had windows on completely, and used only the drives I had just whiped clean, for my installation. I started totally fresh.

I don't know if that make a difference. But, I am pretty sure no one else needed to do this, for me, I was trying to recover some of my OP space on assorted SSD's (which I got back). Then I installed on them, they were 2 850Pro's, in RAID0

 

Don't quote me on this, as I might be wrong... a trusted source mentioned it to me a while back. I don't have any technical details on the subject. If initial information I received turns out to be reliable, I believe Windows 10 will no longer use NVIDIA Optimus technology. I believe it will have its own built-in switching crap for notebooks with hybrid graphics switching (Optimus and Enduro) that plays nicer (gives more control to Micro$haft) over hardware behavior in a Secure Boot environment.

If that is accurate, that could explain why things are behaving in an unusual manner for some folks. Hopefully, all of that will be made right when Windows OS X goes RTM in July. Actually, I hope what I was told was not accurate, because I think it will be botched up and misused/abused for selfish purposes.

 

Yes just what we need. An OS that auto installs drivers through Windows updates even though you told it in the system properties to never check or download drivers from WU, an OS that pops up random notification messages about stuff you don't care about like news, etc.. An OS that leaves the user at the mercy of Micro$haft and now the Microsoft version of the cursed Optimus that chooses which GPU to use for which application! LOL

I don't like the way the future is going when it comes to technology, everything seems like a downgrade these days, the new laptops, the new OS, new hardware.....you name it

 

i can confirm that optimus doesn't work for win 10 on my AW17 R1 and I got so many OS freezes that it wasn't really beneficial. games won't auto switch to the nvidia GPU. i still have no idea why in all that is tech holy that the nvidia drivers fail on a cold boot.

back to win 8.1.

EDIT: I don't understand how it works fine on an R4 but not on the AW17 R1? i am completely baffled.

 

When it works, when we find evidence elsewhere lets post it back here, just incase others wish to follow the thread, I know a dozen people who would welcome the fix/information on how to get it working for AW17

 

It's definitely a software issue because it works all fine with win 8.1.

EDIT: i even did an impromptu repaste just to reseat the GPU to make sure. i definitely think it's a software issue or maybe even an issue with the UEFI and win 10....or maybe it's just the nvidia drivers as all other drivers work fine in win 10.

 

Its weird how Optimus seems like its going to work, but clearly you only get the performance of the INTEL graphics. I even seen that the dedicated card gets clocked and seems to even get loaded..but performance is clearly the HD Intel chip. If you monitor it, does it act like the discrete videocard is actually being used, aside from n0 performance ?

 

the theory was solid but the real world results said otherwise. so either way i am screwed if i want to go to win 10.

 

still wondering why my 980M crashed while benchmarking resulting it restarting the PC into optimus mode! i have no idea.

EDIT: getting crashes on the stock clocks for the svl7 bios when testing the heaven benchmark....card busted?

 

Your card still works, and your OC's are ridiculouos. Don't blame the card. 1V and 1300Mhz is not stock speeds, even if its stock on SLV7's vBios. These cards only crash or the driver crashes, from not enough power. From my experience. You can try and use a larger PSU, that doesn't mean that more power is going to be able to be drawn to the GPU though. Imagine if that were the case too though, imagine all the other issues that can result from it. The vDroop would be especially larger with more power consumption, which means between pulls from the large current, other things in the system would shut down practically, for a split second. this is more likely to causes crashing.
I do not know about damaging the system, but I do know more current can result in less stable too, is what I mean.

 

trying build 10147 that got leaked. it's asking for a key but that's ok it's only a temp install though i am using my spare SSD to test. i should have done it earlier LOL

EDIT: first cold boot and no black screen. using the 353.17 betas.

 

spoke too soon. got 2 black screens

 

I updated some steps.. hope it helps.

 

Has anyone tried windows 10 on the new 15? GTX980m.

 

Hey woodzstack, I'm thinking of purchasing a 980m from your ebay store. I have an R4 with Win7 and a 7970m. I'll upgrade to Win10 when it comes out but what steps will I need to do in order to get it working now and what will I need to do when Win10 comes out if it's already installed?

 

Since nobody has responded, maybe ask in the Alienware 15 Owner's Lounge. I'd be surprised if nobody has tried it.

You can also ask in the Windows 10 thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10.762434/page-116#post-10036433

 

don't buy it through their ebay store, buy it directly from them via PM. they can offer a cheaper price than what's on ebay and they don't need to pay seller fees or tax as it won't be an official sale (EDIT: not an official business sale I mean).

sure it sounds a bit dodgy but i bought my 980m from woodzstack and it's working and it was about $850 CAD for the card....much less than what was going on their ebay store.

so send a private message and they'll get the ball rolling.

 

Hey Cross Edge, yeah sorry, was busy last few days. PM me no prob, I setup good deal for all user son NBR, but I can not use this thread for a sales thread.

 

Updated: 10159 version works with the same driver, seeing no need to change driver, I haven't tested any further.

Has anyone got any of the OTHER newer drivers to work ?

 

Hello woodzstack,
My card arrived yesterday, installed it and everything went very smooth. Here's the thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/installed-980m-in-m17x-r4-120hz-3d.778177/
I really liked the Thanking letter that came with the product, cheers.

Regards.
Faiz

 

Oh why thank you for the kinds words and reputation/mention here. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to contact me again !

 

tried the latest build with optimus and for some reason it decided not to recognise my 980M....probably because i installed old intel drivers. the 980m doesn't even appear in the device manager.

 

Well, maybe Windows OS X realizes that it's an aftermarket upgrade and blacklisted it so the GPU cannot run in the operating system.

Note: Unfortunately, I am not not kidding around or joking. I think we can expect to start seeing things like that coming from Micro$haft.

 

looks like i am stuck with 8.1 then and i can't even get video files to play....all video players crash for no reason.

 

Maybe they will pull a rabbit out of their magic hat at the 11th hour with the RTM version and Windows OS X will run everything great.

 

only time will tell.

 

I am going to go out on a limb and say chances are pretty slim. I suspect part of the reason they even have the "Insider" program is to drum up excitement about their latest mess, and it would not make good sense to hold back good things from those actively participating in the Preview. They need Kool-Aid drinkers, and lots of them. I think the buggered up mess we see has taken their best efforts and yet it's still not as good as Windows 7. That said, I believe in miracles and I'm still hoping for one against the odds.

 

LOL yeah right. WTF is Ulan mean ? Has this thread just been punked ?

Something about 10159 is horribiBAD ! Nothing you do has permission to access your own files. The upgrade from 10130 considered all my previous files to be another user and not myself. So, I do not have permission to do anything even though i am administrator. Its so stupid.

 

10162 - optimus mode kinda works before it decides to not accept the GTX 980M. then it doesn't accept any installed HDDs after OS install...this is turning out to be a pain. i might just get win 10 when i get a new PC cos to me win 8.1 is still functional (besides not being able to play video files )

 

I would wait and see what happens. Early adoption carries way too much risk any more, simply because newer doesn't necessarily mean better like it used to. Let someone else be the guinea pig and blow a huge wad of cash on something regrettable.

Windoze OS X is shaping up in what looks like a bad mess and the DX12 carrot might be worthless if the rest of the OS turns out to be a worthless piece of crap.

 

it's a shame cos i was excited for this and i think it's ending up being a waste of time.

 

I know... me, too. I was really excited at the start of the Insider Preview program. It was a waste of time for me. But, let's see what happens. We might be pleasantly surprised. If not, then we can just be glad we didn't jump on the bandwagon too early and be satisfied in our ability to do the " see, told you so" thing.

I'm signed up for the free Windows 10 thing on all of my machines, but I can only view that as "freebie" experiment at this point... with zero investment or commitment involved on my part. It will be comforting to have something awesome to fall back on if I don't like the outcome.

 

i still have a valid win 7 key so i wish i could redeem it and keep 8.1 for the interim.

 

I'm now using 10162..and its even worse. Most games simply do not run at all. The ones that do, only get 4-5 FPS no matter what I do. The GPU's load completely, and even use up nearly 3-4x as much memory as they used to, its stupid weird. But I have never seen a card actually use 8GB until today. The display drivers also crash alot.
I think it is possible Windows 10 is breaking my cards. Even though I am at stock vBios, I think they intend to break it. Somehow, someway. I would stay away. Its weird, it acts like it always under heavy load now, doing anything. Like severe memory leaks.

OMG, just noticed too, I keep testing this to be sure, but NONE of the FANS work on the latest build. they are disabled ! WTF!!!!

Okay, so they started acting normal after a reboot, but seriously WTF !!! 10162 is a nightmare, or at least scared the crap out of me a few times so far. Imagine seeing the display driver stop, 10x in a minute when you just opened a text file. nothing else. Then you see your temps in HWMonitor rise from 40-50-60-70 and they keep going. Your fans not even moving. The system crashed itself. Never had a windows act that retarded on me before.