Alienware M18xR2 - Weird "green lines" on screen

Hi everyone,

I own a m18xR2 since 2013, and after multiple problems (crossfire, keyboard, hdd caddy), i managed to get it working by :
- using only one gpu (7970m) to solve the crossfire problem
- buying a msata and a hdd caddy for the "optical drive place" to solve the hdd caddy problem
- using wireless keyboard to solve the keyboard problem

I run unlocked bios and Kubuntu 20.04 and everything worked until a few weeks, when it crashes in game, and i couldn't boot it again on the PEG.

If i boot on internal GPU, everything work fine, but on PEG (7970m), i can't boot, and i see green lines on screen during Alienware Splash screen, or even in recovery mode. I try Windows 10 usb installer, and i see also these green lines.

I thought my GPU was dead, but when I tried to switch it by using the one I kept in a box (the other 7970m), the same problem appears.

So I guess my problem is linked to the motherboard...

Is that the end for my old m18xR2 ?

 

It's quite possible that both GPU's are bad and have the same issue. The first one sounds like it was already bad since it wouldn't let crossfire work. The cheapest way to test would be to grab a cheap GTX 660M and see if the issue is still there.
What was the issue with the HDD caddy? They are pretty fragile and tend to crack if you bend them too much

 

Ty for your answer.

I bought this M18xR2 in 2013, and I had issue with sound and Dell send a technician at my house in 2015. The technician broke everything, and after a few interventions, Dell replaced my M18xR2 with a realy poor 17 R2 (2015) that I sold quickly.

After a few years (early 2018), Dell never take back this M18xR2, so i decided to try to fix it.

When I first disassemble it, I saw that a lot of cable were missplugged, so I fix it easily by plugging the cable correctly, except for the 3 parts i mentionnend above :
- the hdd caddy was "cracked", so no more hdd => fix with a msata, then with another hdd in a caddy installed instead of the optical drive
- some keyboard keys did'nt work anymore => fix with a wireless keyboard
- crossfire gives artifact when enabled in windows => fix by using only one gpu, i tried both in primary slot and they were both working in games

With these fix, everything works like a charm on Windows 10 until the beginning of 2021, when i was bored of Windows updates on this "secondary" computer, and i decided to give Ubuntu a chance.

I used Lutris + Steam on linux and every game I played on Ubuntu worked better on Linux than on Windows, because open source amd drivers are better on Linux than AMD proprietary one on Windows (not maintained anymore for the 7970m since 2015).

So I enjoyed Ubuntu, until 2 weeks ago when it crashed.

Maybe both GPU are bad, but I used them both in 2018, and both were working, except the crossfire part, but i thought this was a motherboard problem.

If I decide to try with a nvidia card, i think I have to change the heatsink, or at least, the x-bracket ?

I was thinking of buying a quadro p4000 for a real upgrade, but I'm not sure the investment is worth it...

Is there any other way to test my cards ?

 

Sounds like another horror case of a Dell 'technician'. They usually are just local repair store idiots who have no idea what they're doing.

The other way to test your GPU's is to find another MXM laptop.
You can use the AMD heatsink without any issues but you may just have to remove the black plastic sticker that sits on the heatsink plate. If you buy a second hand 660M then the X-bracket should come with it. They are usually quite cheap and you can always sell it again later once you've used it for testing.

It's definitely still possible that it's the motherboard but these old MXM GPU's are far more fragile than the boards they used in the M18x.

A GPU upgrade is an investment that you'll have to decide for yourself but you'd definitely want to confirm that the board is ok first. If you really love the M18x (like many of us still do) then I'd go for it, if you can afford it. I had a GTX 1070 in mine but I recently sold the card.

You can replace the HDD ribbon cable but they can be expensive, keyboards are getting harder to find too, depending on the language you want.

Motherboards are still quite expensive so if yours is bad then it may not be worth fixing. If you do want some parts then I could possibly help you out.

 

I just saw that 8970m has 4GB of RAM where 7970m has 2GB

I prefer amd over nvidia for driver support in Ubuntu.

Does this GPU work for m18xR2 ? https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002277856583.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.217e731fZy8DLf&algo_pvid=c821ecc3-e402-4057-9fcf-5ac0af760221&algo_exp_id=c821ecc3-e402-4057-9fcf-5ac0af760221-0&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000019881263275"}

Or maybe R9 390X (W7170M) : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002647302023.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.7b0b696e6VkLwV&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.169870.0&scm_id=1007.13339.169870.0&scm-url=1007.13339.169870.0&pvid=b87189a4-343f-41fe-a393-d4603ccc7a73&_t=gps-idcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller,scm-url:1007.13339.169870.0,pvid:b87189a4-343f-41fe-a393-d4603ccc7a73,tpp_buckets:668#2846#8108#1977&&pdp_ext_f={"sceneId":"3339","sku_id":"12000021545876960"}

Or Quadro M4000M (980M > M4000M > 970M) If I give up with AMD, and i want best performance with very low budget (little more than 660M) : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002401167284.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1dba5c4bNmKP9P&algo_pvid=e2ee8c83-64f8-4d69-b2e6-b98405d72468&algo_exp_id=e2ee8c83-64f8-4d69-b2e6-b98405d72468-0&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000020530021481"}

 

The 8970M will work, even in crossfire I think in M18xR2 (using same heatsink and cable as 7970m). Not sure if they are much more reliable than 7970m (probably are).

W7170M don't bother with. Will not work.

M4000M is a good option, I have one ordered for my M15x. Although to be honest I'd spend a little more for 1060, 1070 or P4000 for a machine like this (they all work in SG mode only).

You can check eBay as well sometimes there's good prices there too.

Do you see green lines at all during iGPU only mode? If not it is most likely the GPUs. MB on M18xR2 is pretty good.

 

I don't have green lines on IGPU, so all indicates that both 7970M are bad, except that they were both working when I put the second in a box in 2018... So I don't understand...

If I buy a new GPU, I'm going to contradict what I wrote above, but considering the performance/price ratio, I think I'll go for a m4000m at 100-115€. 1060, 1070 and p4000 are too expensive for me, they are at least three times expensive.

Can I buy any M4000M ? Or is there anything I need to focus on before buying ?

Edit : M4000M seems to be well supported on Ubuntu, ans has a good compatibility with Vulkan. So it's a real upgrade for me, and at a very low cost.

 

The M4000M if its anything like newer Quadros, should be plug and play. Only thing you might have to do is reuse the X-Bracket off your old GPU so the heatsink fits right. As far as your keyboard issue is concerned, if your ok with a US layout, the Greek M17x R4 Keyboard or any M17x R4 keyboard for that matter works with the M18x R2.

 

In windows M4000M might require INF mod but that's it. Should be plug n play heatsink / x-bracket wise.

In Linux I am not sure but should be plug n play

 

I ordered a M4000M yesterday from a seller where a feedback said it worked with a M15x.

I'll comme back to you when I receive it and install it, hoping that it would be plug & play on Ubuntu.

Thanks for the help

 

I ordered one for my M15x. Good luck to us

 

I receive my M4000M and it is not new, it is already used.

To plug it in my m18xR2, i had to :
- take back the x-bracket from one of my 7970m (it was glued, so not as easy as i thought)
- take back the black strip from the heatsink and remove all the glue

On the first boot (in PEG, not SG), Ubuntu boot, and M4000M was detected.

I am on A11 unlocked bios, and i wanted to try to enable legacy rom in boot options, and now, I have 8 beeps (not 7) and no boot screen, so I can go into bios anymore

Just because i set legacy rom from enabled to disabled ?
I saw previously that disable legacy rom create some visual glitch on bios screen, that's why I used to enable it.

I tried to reset CMOS by unplugging adapter and battery and push power button for 30 sec, but still no boot..

Any idea ? Everything was working fine on the first boot, no artifact, no freeze... I rebooted a few times and I had absolutely no problem, until I change the legacy option, and just after that, no boot anymore.

Edit : I will try the advanced reset cmos :
Disconnect AC adapter
Remove system battery
Remove bottom cover
Disconnect CMOS (coin cell) battery
Ptess power button 30 seconds
Reconnect CMOS battery
Connect AC adapter
Power on - if you get 5 beeps, don't panic... This is common. Power off and on again and you should be fine.
F2 to enter BIOS. Set date/time, any custom settings (be sure to leave Non-Turbo Flex Support "Disabled")
F10 to save and exit setup
Power off
Reinstall bottom cover and battery

Edit 2 : CMOS reset worked, so i put it in SG + legacy, and it boots normaly.

Edit 3 : I only had to uninstall mesa-vulkan-drivers on ubuntu used for amd gpu, but after that, I can say that it's almost plug & play. And this confirms that my m18xR2 MB is ok, it was really both 7970m that were bad.

Thank you for all your advices. Maybe I will buy a keyboard someday, but not at 100$, and I don't find cheaper, even in QWERTY.

 

For the keyboard just keep an eye out as it is not unique to this machine and several others used it as well M17X R1 on through to the R4. I wouldn't pay $100 but sometimes one can get lucky.

 

My alienware was running fine with the M4000M until it crashes earlier today, and my M4000M is no longer detected...

I am still in SG mode, no beep, but bios and ubuntu don't detect the nivid card anymore. They only detect IGFX.

Is the M4000M already dead ?

Edit : when it crashes, it was during a game loading, I heard 1 beep, the sound of the game was going on, I had to power off it manually to unlock it. And then, the nvidia card was not detected anymore.

 

Do you know how can i check what the problem is ?

With my previouses AMD cards plugged in primary MXM slot, they were both detected, but I couldn't use them because of the video artifact.

Today, in SG mode, the new nvidia card is not detected, and in PEG mode, it's like there is no card with 8 beeps at start.

I guess I have to test one of the following :
- the motherboard : how ?
- one of the mxm slot : can I use my nvidia card in secondary MXM slot (the right one) ?
- the nvidia card : how ?