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

Throttling is present while gaming & benchmarking.
First time I installed 358.91 There was no throttling, I gained more than 600 points in firestrike. I didn't need to match p-states in NVinspector.
After restart/shutdown throttling happened. This is very strange indeed. It's like the driver has a mind of it's own. Even with Win 8.1.
I hope to find WTH is happening.

Cheers.

 

Okay, but your only using the newer drivers then, your saying ?
They haven't been tested really.

 

@Solo wing what sBIOS you have? If A11 unlocked then go to "PCI Expless Graphics" -> "Aways Enable PEG" Enabled. This fixed throttling for me on my R4 (no overclock).

 

Thanks for your suggestion mate
But I have the 120Hz display, in which Optimus is disabled. PEG is always enabled.
Anyways I'm back to 352.84.

 

352.84 is a great driver, worked for many people without issues. I'd stick to it, until some new driver comes along and has its own thread of worship. lol.

 

Unlock Hello! Woodzstack

I recently purchased video card NVIDIA GTX 970M CLEVO, your annocer on EBay.
then I have a bit of trouble with my Alienware M18X R1 (Unlock Bios A05, Windows10 pro 64bits converted GPT UEFI)
Does not detect the video card and I can not go to bios
when I execute your boot setup onthe site http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...m17x-r4-without-optimus-working-great.777145/
in the bios I have 5 beeps when I reset and power off
When I restart I detect hard drive then any image to entering the F2 setup is not apper
they always 8 beeps and another 8 bits
Except when I disable both SLI video cards GTX970M and GTX580M SLI
I'm left with only the internal card Intel HD3000
It is with this internal HD3000 video card I could do an update GPT Format Option with UEFI (Aomei Partition Assistant)
Note: the USB disk RUFUS clear all data.
Question: what is it that I forget to do?
I apologize for my English with google translation.

 

Unfortunately, the M18xR1 is not compatible with Maxwell GPUs. You will need to either sell the GPU to someone that can use it, or buy a new platform that can use it. Even M18xR2 and M17xR4 are just barely compatible (not 100% plug-and-play). You must have full UEFI support because Maxwell cannot boot with VGA in Alienware laptops. Can only boot using GOP on Alienware. M18xR1 has minimal UEFI support and no support for GOP. Your best upgrade GPU option for the M18xR1 is 780M. 880M will work, but that is not a fantastic GPU. The good news is that 780M and 970M are very similar performance.

Additionally, having a 580M installed with a Maxwell GPU is likely to present problems even with a system that supports Maxwell.

The only uncomplicated Alienware support available for Maxwell is Alienware 18 with BIOS A12 and special vBIOS designed specifically for the Alienware 18 to avoid compatibility problems.

 

So, I remember telling you it would not work, and it is not supported, before you purchased.
You said it is confirmed on the nVidia website.
Where you got the information, is where I would look for trouble shooting.


However, its been a mystery to me, but there HAS been people claiming a single 970M or 980M can work in the M18X-R1.
I'm curious to know, if maybe a PREMA system bios of say A09 or such can make it work ? (If anyone knows, please speak up)

What i suggested for best chance was default to your latest system bios, make sure bios is reset, 100%. You know its reset when the date needs to be put in.
Install windows 7, using the HD intel graphics, and no videocards in the MXM slots.
I would make sure you have the latest MEI firmware too once in windows 7.
Install the 970M. Do not change boot settings or setting sin bios yet. Just try and boot.
If it can make it to windows, then we try and see if programs like GPU-Z or if device manager can see it.
If you can see it, get the Hardware ID. We need it to create a driver.
The vbios I put on the card is a DELL compatible vbios, should be like 84.04.22.00.11 or such.
Ask PREMA if he has a VBIOS or system BIOS that makes these two work in tandem, IF you can not get the hardware ID of the videocard.

Anyways.. before this gets too far out of hand and is into more speculation then working mechanics, lets see if any of this works first.

Also the link you have to the M17X-R4 thread, is really more for AW17/M17X-R4 (Mainly M17X-R4) some of it is useful for say M18X-R2 or AW18 but not really.. and most certainly very little of it applies to the M18X-R1 if anything.

 

The newest BIOS for the M18xR1 is A05 if I am not mistaken. There is nothing in the BIOS (I have one and tried to get it working) that enables UEFI functionality. If you told him it would not work, he should have listened. You're the expert and people need to listen to experts rather than take advice in random forums unless proof is provided to back their claims. I would love for it to work in the M18xR1.

 

Added extra photo's to original post, to show how to use the extra thermal pads, because many users seem to not pay attention to this detail.

ALSO - noting to check how LEVEL the heatsink is on the videocard, while observing the installation when done. INCASE the heatsink actually does not fit, after all.

 

some of the latest drivers do not work properly. Last driver known to work without issues : 353.70 - no notes on performance -

 

going to do a test install this weekend....here's hoping it goes ok with my AW17 R1

 

good luck. keep us posted.

 

Remember, they are watching and listening using the Windoze OS X customer surveillance malware edition. Installing this will fix it and block Windows Updates from corrupting everything: http://dws.wzor.net/

Good luck, and have a nice weekend.

 

its incredibly how many issues spring up everyday because of windows 10.

 

Hi everyone
Regarding to my priv conversation with woodzstack,I decided to write here. This my help other people who has upgrade or want to upgrade alienware m17x r4 to gtx980m.
I was runing in dedicated mod (windows 8.1) without any issue untill one day. I got low framerate in fallout4 so I decided to check different drivers.
Before that ( I remember now ) I've installed "evga precision" that was before I've read this threed. I didn't notice any improvement so I set clock back to default switched off precision.
I wanted install eurocom drivers I used DDU to uninstall old drivers and then after restart to safe mod I've heard 8 beeps.
Since that Iam not able to install any drivers becouse lcd goes black immediately. In safe mode without drivers is ok but no with drivers installed. This happend no matter have gtx installed or runs only on intel graphic card.
Test run shows LCD EDID - unable to access EDID EEPROM.
Is there any way I could fix it ? Rather than order new lcd ?

 

send the panel to @Mr. Fox or @t456 to reprogram it.

 

Holy friggin shiz, I called.. argh.. you need to have the EDID EEPROM reprogrammed...or even LCD replaced. This is not entirely eVga's fault - but malpractice at QA. They are supposed to cut off a pin on the EEPROMs so they can not be accessed or reprogrammed etc... otherwise - something accessing low level hardware ID'/address- can find it and access it...and do this.

If you have any semblance of warranty i'd have dell replace it. This is truly their fault at manufacturing really. EVGA precision shouldn't be held responsible for this, as its not meant to be able to access the EDID EEPROM.

If someone like Mr.Fox or whomever else has the time and patience to help fix this for you, you should throw them a beer!
Its going to be a bit complicated and tedious, but it can be done.

 

Iam just wondering if I could buy new lcd 120Hz this time. Is all that lcd cables same for 60 and 120 Hz ?

But if this isn't precision fault this can happend again?

 

the cables are not the same.

 

Thanks a lot I ordered 60Hz I dont want any more problems with this laptop.

 

probably better if you run in optimus mode.

 

@eslord - before installing the LCD, wipe your HDD and reinstall Windows or EVGA Precision X may nuke the new LCD. If you need to, pull the drives and format them using another computer. If you cannot do that, then before doing anything else, uninstall EVGA Precision X and run CCleaner Registry Cleaner and wipe out any keys left behind after removing it. During the uninstall tell it not to save any settings.

 

What a trainwreck. Thanks @Mr. Fox for all of the crazy work you've done to contain this (also thanks @woodzstack for the boatload of support I'm sure you're dealing with atm). That said, I'm likely going to have to move up to w10 around the same time I pull the trigger on a new GPU (need w10 to test my work on edge as the usage numbers move up). Are you guys recommending doctoring the lcd cable as a preventative measure? Or is there actually no threat at this point outside precision?

 

AFAIK once you do not have precision access hardware.. your good to go. (Based on what we know - and when your LCD works)

 

Guys I got new screen and it works now. But problem is after I restart BIOS my intel g. card appeard in device menager and fn + f7 doesn't work, I cant switch it off in bios becouse I have A13 latest one. Is there any safe way to install A11 unlocked one ?
In optimus mode I got 5000+ ;((

 

I've had fn+f7 stop working periodically (and the only thing that has restored it is re-installing windows or using a backup - probably a conflict with other installed software or a windows update - totally not known on my end).

Last night I rolled from A13 to vanilla A11 using the regular Dell utility (you know, the one that flashes your bios without confirming what you've just double clicked on). It was terrifying but it went without a hitch. That is the first step. Afterwards, you need to get the unlocked A11 bios to flash overtop. This may be challenging at the moment as techinferno is down.

-- I should likely point out that I can in no way guaranty your success in flashing from A13 to A11. There is no such thing as a safe firmware change (moreover a firmware rollback). You can try to stack the deck by say, loading failsafe values before flashing, but it's an inherently risky operation.

 

Congratz ! Yeah, i knew something was up, thankfully it was not the videocard. I'd never intentionally wrong anyone like that, but you know, things happen :S

Yeah there is this crazy work around if your going to use that bios. I think it requires you installing windows 10 from scratch not from an upgrade, and using a FULL Uefi boot.
Schurke is right about shame TechInferno is down, its one heck of a resource for doing most this work.

However, the users there that help out alot, are also on this forum. Just got to find them

So you need to find out how to downgrade your bios, and then upgrade it to the unlocked one.
Unfortunately I do not have too much experience with that, I've done it like 5 times ever.

 

just flash normally the original A11 bios (from Dell site). Like if you were updating from an older version. Once you have the original A11, flash the unlocked one then disable Intel in: "Advanced tab" -> "Video Configuration" -> "Primary Display" PEG. Now go to "PCI Expless Graphics" -> "Aways Enable PEG" Enabled.

If your system is already booting (if I understood correctly it is) you will have also to perform the steps regarding removing the battery, the coin CMOS battery and hold down the power button for 30 secs. (No need pulling the card out).

Good luck!

 

Thanks a lot did downgrade successfuly

PS: Iam sorry for offtop but I can't send pm yet.
Maksym can you help me with unlocked bios... Could you pm me or email me please [email protected]

Again guys thanks for your support...

 

Hey Eslord, awesome that you found some help.

You able to send PM's yet ?

 

Yes thanks woodzstack.

 

Hi guys
Finaly evrything runs ok for now.. unlocked bios ( thanks to Maksym ) win10 + 361.43 gave me 8400 in firestrike... latest ddu works for me me and I could uninstal all drivers I checked before... Iam instaling the witcher 3 to see how it goes.. Is there any app for overclocking I could use in win 10? I mean save program I dont wanna buy one more lcd screen.

Last update: the witcher 3 runs much better than previous overclocked card on win 8.1 a lot more smoother on even higher settings.
Next test fallout 4.

 

Hello. I have tried many tests to make m17x R4 and m18x R2 980m work well (dGPU mode) on win 10.

My conclusion right now is that 352.84 is the only driver that works flawlessly even after cold boot / power drain. The bad thing about this driver is that it doesn't support gpu core OC.
All the other drivers, old and new, may work for awhile but not after cold boot /or power drain.
I am sure you know what I mean about "may work for awhile".
I have mentioned about this "cold boot/power drain" since last year when I first succeeded 980m sli on m18x R2.

Any one has any other thought about flawless driver other than 352.84?

 

so technically you can only ever run it in optimus?

 

I can run "ever" without optimus using 352.84 driver.
But this driver doesn't support GPU core OC

 

Hi guys.
I was wondering if you could help me with some driver problems. Currently i am only able to run driver 347.09 (uploaded here called M17xR4_9xxm.zip).
Every other driver just wont seems to utilize the gpu at all. Ive tried alot of other drivers on here as advised by woozstack, and have also tried the more recent drivers using modified inf files. Selecting the option to use the 970m in Nvidia's control panel does not seem to change anything either. I am new to all this so any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks

- My system is an alienware m17x r4 running windows 10.

 

yeah I only put like one hardware ID into those drivers, most I just quickly made by going to laptopvideo2go.com and using the hardware ID

Try my drivers here then too : http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/upgradeyourlaptop/Alienware/
They're updated alot, but I stopped remembering which ones worked for everyone, they're not detailed on which driver is modified for whom, so just download a few and see what works.
(like download the ones for your specific Alienware and videocard..) Or submit your hardware ID's and I can show you how to use laptopvideo2go to just copy over your own modified INF file whenever you need a driver.

 

Thanks for the reply
I gave almost all of the drivers listed a try.I either seem to run into the problem of the driver not installing, 'cant detect right components', in which i use a Modded INF (from the tech inferno link) to get them to install or if the driver does install it wont use the gpu still. It so strange that one driver will work but not the others. Although strange enough if i am using adobe premiere pro the gpu does seem to get utilized to a certain degree (around 4%) yet no other program will. How do i go about submitting my hardware ID's? This is the device id of the 970m: 10DE 13D8 05511028. It would be great if you could show me how to use this 'laptopvedoeo2go'. Thanks for all your help so far woodzstack. much appreciated.

 

There you go, 13d8subsys05511028

did you try this : http://downloads.eurocom.com/suppor...top/Alienware/M17xR4_05511028_9xxM_358.50.zip

or search this list of drivers : http://downloads.eurocom.com/support/drivers/upgradeyourlaptop/Alienware/

 

Sadly it still hasnt worked. It is so strange that only the aforementioned driver (347.09) works and not any other.What should we try next? trying an unlocked bios? thanks again.

 

if 347.09 works, use it.

However, I've only seen this issue when windows was not a fresh install, I had it too, people even have it on desktops. Windows scans the hardware it identifies before the upgrade and makes note of what not to install i.e unsupported hardware ID's it doesn't recognise, and puts them on this almost ignore list (least it acts that way..) then you can never use the hardware, and it always uses what was there when it was being installed from the free upgrade.

You want windows 10 to work, use a windows 10 product key (or email address) and install it fresh. I have the feeling you did not do that.
You also might just be able to copy the nv_dispi.inf from the display.driver folder in the 347.09 driver and replace the one in a newer driver, or at least CTRL+F to use "FIND" and see the lines that represent your hardware ID's in this case look for 13D8 and spot the line that also has 05511028, then modify the newer drivers to have the same lines in the same area of the same file, etc..

then make sure you DISABLE DSE everytime you install a driver. Some people try it once and think its a permanent feature or something. The driver will pretend to install, you will notice it doesn't give you the prompt saying "install anyways" thats when you know DSE was not disabled. Windows has a tendency to triple confirm you wish to do something ... like an insubordinate lackey questioning every decision...

 

Brothers @woodzstack and @j95 - try this. It works and I just recently discovered the command.

Open an elevated command prompt and run the syntax below. Reboot, and it should be disabled for good.

Code:

bcdedit.exe /set nointegritychecks on

I am now able to install modded drivers without having to boot with DSE temporarily disabled. Works on the Sky X9 and Panther with W10 TH2. I've done it probably a dozen time in the past two weeks.

 

Oh **** ! Well that sure goes on the first page, awesome tip !

 

so it just disables DSE for good?

 

Yessiree... deader than a door nail. Really sweet tweak. You can installed modded GPU drivers all you want without the silly nonsense.

 

consider it done!

 

Right ?! I was more then happy to find this out.

 

I have just completed a fresh install of windows 10 and unfortunately the same problem is still happening. I guess I will just have to stick to driver 347.09 then. thanks for all the help and advice though.

Update. Success! Driver M17xR4_05511028_9xxM_358.50 has installed. Im not sure why but it did. What i did was installed over driver 347.09 without removing it first with DDU and it just worked.

 

hmmm....fluke!

install after a DDU wipe and then you're getting somewhere.