[Research] Retrofitting an eDP display to M18x R2

Hi all

Recently bought a M18x R2, and am weighing my options for a GPU upgrade. It currently has a GTX765M.

I have read a number of threads here as far as options go, and the most interesting one is obviously the 1070. I gather due to the LVDS display type some jiggery pokery is required to get things off the ground.

So I have a theory I would like to run by you kind folks, what if:

* it was possible to replace the original panel with this one, assuming it is eDP:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/113709947601

* then connect it via an eDP to LVDS adapter to the mainboard, I mean maybe this one:

https://www.laptopspareparts.co.uk/blq-edp-hd-cable-dd0blqlc010-screen-lvds-flex-lcd

* and maybe then all this faff with the SG mode and the iGPU malarchy can be forgotten and with an unlocked bios the below GPU would "just" work with the internal LCD?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/323752845882

Now, I do realize there is a high likelihood I may be talking out of my ass, so I won't mind for my wishful thinking to be shot down in flames!

Would appreciate your feedback on whether you think this could be pulled of

Thanks

 

The lcd cable on the m18x r2 does not use that connection type like the one you linked.

 

But in theory if I found one that matches the one in M18x, could it work?

https://m.uk.dhgate.com/product/3-3...7785071|011018003002|GB|topstore1|m|2|#pd-011

 

I once tried directly wiring a edp port for a 4K 18.4’’ lcd I found on taobao. This was on an Alienware 18 but I used the mini display port capacitors to a solder wires for data pins, I can’t remember properly but it was 8 I believe. The power was the main concern though. I maybe fried the circuit somehow but the voltage was no cause for concern as 18.4’’ edp screen uses 5v too (same as default lvds).

All in all I tried the screen connected with a 4K cable and the laptop beeped, I remember the beep code being display error or bad cable. I tried the original cable on the motherboard and it was the same. I basically failed, it could have been due to two things: I didn’t correctly solder the lvds detection wire to the edp cable so it wouldn’t work or I fried the circuit by joining a data pin to the 5v line which essentially killed the mdp ic and lcd probably.

Remember I tried this with a alienware 18 not 18x r2. You will most definitely have better luck with an adapter...

 

Thanks for responding, I guess the bigger question is, let's say you had succeeded with connecting the edp display, do you think that you could just plug a Pascal card into the MXM slot and it would just work in PEG mode (heatsink and bios modding aside) ?

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

Probably not, because there was no output via the mdp even with direct peg mode. It seems like something else is causing an issue. I only wanted to do the upgrade for the 4K resolution.

I’ve sold the laptop now, there are many flaws with it which I couldn’t bare. Plus I fried the mb there was little I could do. I bought a p870dmg instead. And am modding it currently to support a 9900k. A laptop way more capable than any I’ve seen out there.

 

Be very careful when messing with LVDS/EDP pin configuration, it’s very easy to screw up if you do not have schematics, send power some place it should not be going and fry the board or fry the display.

 

At this stage I wasnt going to do anything, I wanted to research it first to see whether the risk is something I am willing to accept, but so far the risk seems very high so yeah, definitely not going to be messing with that yet

 

The panel you linked is not edp. Its same panel used in MSI GT80 and GT83VR. Its lvds panel. As far as I know only asus 18.4" sli laptop had 4k edp panel.

 

Like this one?

http://www.panelook.com/NV184QUM-N21_BOE_18.4_LCM_overview_29299.html

 

That’s the panel I tried using. Has a nice 4K res and it’s basically an AUO panel rebadged as BOE

 

Youre better off staying with 8700k to be honest, 9900k runs way too hot (in a desktop with ample cooling, I can't imagine how hot it would get in a laptop chassis with 120w heat pipe) and it's not a matter of inadequate cooling or not being delidded. Derb8uer did excellent work showing that the die thickness is behind the temps:



The 9900k is twice as thick as 8700k (9:16 mark), and der8auer believes that that's why it runs so hot.

When you look at gaming benchmarks comparing both 8700k and 9900k both running at the same freq. the 9900k is not actually faster because of unavoidable thermal induced throttling coupled with the fact that nearly all games do not care about core count, but only IPC and freq:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwIBrNcpjZA&t

Ultimately youre wasting your time, you already have the best CPU for gaming.

 

I'd only advise a 9900K for desktop owners, sure you can pop it in your Clevo, it'll burn your house down and throttle to below base clocks, but it'll still run if you're just after 8c/16t. Even in a desktop, its only marginally faster in gaming loads. However, in workstation-type multi-threaded loads, in scenarios's where you can cool it, it beats out the 8700K/2700X by a decent bit.

 

Another thing that has just sprung to mind, can you run two 1070 in SLI in Optimus?

There is a guy on Ebay selling a M18x R2 with a 1070, but only single, and when I asked said he was sure two would work as well.

Has anyone tried dual 1070 in M18x R2 in Optimus?

 

How would that possibly work

 

It’s not possible at all. There’s not enough bandwidth for both GPUs and the IGpu together. That guy is talking straight crap to you lol.

 

Thats what I'm saying. Optimus is single GPU only

 

That's what I thought too based on what I had read here, but he planted a seed of doubt
He sells modded M18x laptops on Ebay, Transylvania laptops or something he is called, so one would assume he should know what he is talking about!

 

Oh the romainian! He charges rip off prices though and I don’t think he knows the details that people like @Khenglish know.

 

Yup, him, I would never buy a M18x R2 with a 1070 for £1.9k lol.
Ok, so no 1070 SLI in SG mode...crap, I was hoping I would buy one SLI capable 1070 now, and then in a few years buy another to keep the system relevant but hey ho. I might just have to settle for the same plan but with a 980m instead.

 

A single 1070 is already approaching bottlenecking with a 3940XM or other extreme editions, another would surely be a bottleneck.

 

So considering upgrade paths for and beyond my M18x R2, what would you recommend please?

I was thinking that if I get one SLI'able 1070 now, even if I cant stick another one into the AW due to bottlenecks maybe I can move it to another (my next) laptop...the cheapest option now would obviously be 980m...what is this scaling issue with SLI anyway? tried to find what it looks like on YouTube but no luck really.

I secretly wish someone mods a newer gen CPU into the M19x R2

 

Get a gtx 1070 mxm right now. It's the best option available. You never know clevo rtx 2080 cards MIGHT work in the alienware if a mod similar to the p870dmg is done, addition of a 3v line and detection wire...

 

You need one with an sli connector, I got you covered

 

You selling?

 

Would recommend a newer laptop if you prefer maximum performance, or a single 1070/980M if you just want your M18X R2

 

Thanks Grant, I should have mentioned I would like to stay with 18 inches, so not much to choose from within my limited budget and high upgradability.

 

You can likely sell the M18X for a decent bit of cash, people are still paying oodles for old AW stuff
If you ever do decide to upgrade, take a look at the GT75-GT83 series from MSI, if you don't mind thin and lights, the GE75.

 

i have a Super Barebone GT83VR (No GPUs) and GT80S (with Dual GTX 980 Desktop MXM) planning to get rid of them soon.

 

How much would you charge for the gt83vr barebones, and does it have a 7920hq?

 

Yes it has a 7920HQ.

Where are you located ?

 

For me I can run optimus with two AMD r9 m290x crossfire in my alienware 18...
So I can see in device manager 2 AMD cards and internal Intel 4600 HD

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

That internal hd 4600 is only active because crossfire can work on an X4 bandwidth. You will never ever see this on an sli system which requires x8 bandwidth.

 

Thats enduro not optimus. See what both cards are running PCIE wise and a pic of the device manager, I would like to know

 

Here is pics

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Are both cards running at 8x or 4x?

 

@mido.fyad Use GPU-Z to get the bandwidth usage of your MXM cards.

Link to GPU-Z site HERE.