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

Hi there

So I have had used DDU again in Safe Mode, then disabled DSE in startup options and after restart installed 385.41 Eurocom drivers. Restart and code 43 again...

 

yeah for get the EUROCOM drivers, they could be the issue, follow my instructions via PM. I created you your own specific INF etc..

 

Whoever is following the thread and for anyone who may consider it as help.

Now finally I have completed the installation of the card. Eventually I had to send back 980M because of code 43 that couldn't be resolved. Thanks to @woodzstack who was trying to help me as much as possible on PM, he even asked me to send him a card to look after and sort out. Unfortunately there was to point to do it as the cost would be very high. So.. I have been refunded for 980M from China and bought 1060M from @woodzstack for very reasonable price. The card came within 5 days from Canada to Ireland. I have put the card in run modded drivers and the card worked nearly perfectly. The only thing was it wasn't switching (Optimus switching problems) so all games were using Intel HD4000. The problem was in drivers or rather modding the drivers. Again @woodzstack have sorted for me and sent me nicely modded inf file. After that is switching great. I've been testing the card for last 4 days and all games running on high or ultra settings with 60fps capped. Firestrike result is around 9400pts.
Summary that may help anyone who want to upgrade their m17xR4 to 1060M.

My system is running on Win 10 Pro with FullHD 60Hz (non 3D) screen, i7-3630QM, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD + 2TB HD and now with 1060M 6GB. The nVidia drivers I have downloaded from nVidia website 397.31 (latest for this moment) and run with modded nvcvi.inf by @woodzstack which enables Optimus to switch easily. The Driver must be installed witth DSE disabled and run as Administrator.

I hope this will help someone.

And yet again big thanks to @woodzstack who was a great help and support. Very easy to communicate and helpful.

 

oh wow thank you for the kind words, it was a pleasure helping you too.
if you need anything else ever let me know.

 

Hello I'm new on this place. I come from france. I supposed that this post was the most appropriate for my problem.
I have a m17xr4 with the 970m and windows 10 64 bits. For now always work find. I found a nvcvi config file for updating. But since few update available on nvidia site i couldn't update my system. Card driver installation failed.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance for yours answer
Regards
Johann

 

Hi. Try to use the file I have updated for 1060m but change the line with your device (mine was 1C60 05511028) this works with the latest nvidia drivers. This file switches like 650m. Before installing disable DSE and run setup as administrator. During install it should ask you if you're sure to install unknown (not signed) drivers.
Good luck

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Hi thanks for your prompt reply

I tried with your file and latest nvidia oem driver 397.64. Always the same
Installation process failed.

Current graphic card driver 353.54
Bios a12
Id card 13d8 0551 1028

 

You find bro @j95 modds for Nvidia drivers here (check each nvidia driver posted). This one is the latest.

 

I've been doing this with DDU first.

Does it fail when checking the hardware or during the installation (Says driver as Not Installed)?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

@Ziggydi : the second one when installation

@Papusan i going to check this

 

I'm not an expert but I had the same wgen struggling with 980m and the mod file I was using wrong. You may ask @woodztock he's the expert and might kniw the best.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Papusan
I tried the latest one
My card wasn't recognized with the config files i must modified the inf file
And after card was recognized to install process but same issue
Driver installation was failed

 

I had the same problem and probably you must mod the inf and use a different section. I dont want to mislead you anyway.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Ok thanks guys for helping me i will try to find a solution
Regards

 

http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...top/Alienware/M17xR4_05511028_970M_385.41.zip

Just steal the INF's from here. Should work fine.

 

Hi woodzstack
Thanks for your answer
I will check that tomorrow

 

Hello
@ woodzstack
I tried your solution. So i downloaded the files you mentioned and copy paste the following files on the display repertory of the latest nividia driver:
Nv_dispi
Nvdmi
Nvcvi

The card wasnt recognized in the installation process

I forgot a inf file?

 

Hello,

a latest oem nvidia driver i can used is 388.71, installation was a success.
The installation works with my initial nvcvi.
But from 390.65 driver installation always failed on each version.
Thanks in advance for your help

Regards

 

Hi
I made a windows update today. Version 1803 and now i have a code 43 for my graphic card. So after 390 driver version i couldnt make an installation. And before the installation works but code 43 all time...

 

Hello
Any ideas?

 

If you read the thread 1 month back I had the same problem with 980m. The drivers were installed successfully but after restart there was code 43. I have had send the card back to seller and bought 1060m from woodztock. No more problems.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Hi
I read most of post here. I don't think that I have the same problem because I have this card since early 2016. I worked with windows 7. And i worked with w10 until the 390 driver and update 1803 windows. I think is a software problem not hardware.

 

Try roll back to Win build 1709 or whatever you had before and try (make a backup of what you have) clean install with new or older Win 10 build.

 

If i returned to 1709 version. My card works but only with driver under 390 version
This windows makes update alone and its boring that why i tried to fix it with this version

 

Hello,

My computer is working now, with the latest driver from nvidia 397.64 and the update 1803 from Windows.

I was thinking that i could fix the problem but not. So I contacted the seller.

I bought this card with hidevolution from California. This card was bought in end of 2015, and Zoltan from technical support gave me the solution in only few hours !!!

I gave me a nvcvi modded for me, and all work fine. I have to learn how he do that.

I would like to thank you for trying to help me : papusan, ziggydi and woodzstack

Regards

 

That's great you have it sorted. Would you upload the modded inf. It may help someone with similar problem.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Great But read this!! http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/nvidia-geforce-driver-v397-64.816699/page-3#post-10729953

 

Hello
Ho...i going to make some test about gpu temperature... but all driver above 390 could be install now.
I will post the file tomorrow
Regards

 

HI,

Correct my Graphic card raised to 94°C. It's important so i going to change driver.
For upload the file could i used a zip file ? because it more than 2 Mo.

 

I have an alienware17 R1 (or what they called MX17xR5) with gtx 880m in it.
My 880m had a code error 43 as well, so I replaced it with gtx 980m (bought from aliexpress vendor).

Apparently, all the steps and everything described here are not necessary anymore.
1. I just plugged my 980m
2. Execute DDU
3. Download the latest GPU device driver (399.24)
4. Install the GPU device driver.

Viola, it successfully work!

I'm still wondering why I don't have to modify the .inf file or used modified driver as described here.

Any thoughts guys?

 

Nvidia started officially supporting the 980m with driver support!!

 

WOAHH!!! THIS IS A GOOD NEWS THEN!! save us all from the hassle when updating to aftermarkets GPU! thanks for the info!!! ^_^

 

Yes sir real big surprise. It's been like that for months too. Mine running latest with no issues I have noticed although I don't game too much. Oculus VR also works good (not great) with all games I have tried!!

 

There should be a few drivers that actually support maxwell in these, did not know the latest was one of them.

 

Hi

I just wanted to check i have an alienware 17 2013, i have fitted a 120hz panel and added a 980m gpu. Bought the gpu directly from woodzstack a few years ago and it's been amazing and still is.... I have one question im currently running win 8.1 and wanted to upgrade to win 10. do i follow the instructions on this post or would i need to do anything different?

Please let me know, thanks in advance.

 

oh i didn't know Dell has added support to automatically update the drivers, without amending the inf file, that's great news... So do you basically uninstall current driver set using DDU and then download the latest from the nvidia website for the 980m and install?

thanks in advance

 

Join my discord server and will guide you through it as needed in real time.

 

Yes

 

Is it applicable for 1060 upgrades as well? No more inf edits needed? Still hanging on to June/July drivers.

 

Hi

Thanks for the offer, i've never used discord before. So i'm not sure how it works and the time difference as im in the UK. Perhaps at the weekend (saturday) if your free. And what prep work should i do before getting together

Thanks alot

Ian

 

you still need modified drivers I believe.

 

Discord is a gaming live chat sort of thing that people use extensively these last few years for hanging out with friends or people in an organization etc. It start as simply clicking the link in my signature for instance, and it brings you to the webbased version of the server and you can take a username and offers to let you download standalone client as well etc.

 

Ah I see. Thank you for your reply. Could you kindly message me the latest modded driver please? Thank you very much!

 

Hi

Sorted out wins 10 and it’s running fine. I have two devices where the drives haven’t loaded not sure what they are

Question I have how do you install the Alienware command centre

Thanks in advance

Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

what is your hardware ID reported by device manager in the details drop down tab in properties on the videocard ?

 

install the OSD and AWCC from DELL's website. Make sure the chipset and IME are installed first though. Vidiacard should be last, even after sound drivers.

 

Hi

The problem is I have sold it now and plan to buy a different manufacturer for a change

I’m sure the original driver disc was sent with the laptop

I will check with him to see what he’s got and help him from there thanks a lot

Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What’s the OSD and AWCC and IME?

Thanks I’m advance

Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Hello guys!!! Please help me))) Sorry for my English. Yesterday I was by GTX980M from Alienware M18. My Alienware is M17X R4. Old card is GTX660M. Heatsink connected without any changing. I have pover adapter 180 DPA and I now I need 240 DPA. So.... I’m installed the card, switch on My Alien - no detected. Ok... in safe mode I deleted all previous drivers. Reboot Alien - ok detected. I didn’t update my bios, just insert the card and clean the drivers. Install nvidia driver, put new modification file. Looks like all working and detecting, but my cooling system (ventilator) off every time. Power alien keep 22% every time. My diler say in my new card other bios for Alienware 18. I don’t understand how to reinstall bios special for my Alien m17x r4. I see youtube and found allot of video but I don’t understand where take special for my Alien. Sorry a lot of bla bla bla )) May be you understand my problem and you can assist me.? ) anyway thanks allot

 

No need, but still thanks you! I found your old discord messages on how to edit inf and did it myself for the latest drivers! Thanks!