Aw m18x R2 Dual 980m SLI upgrade!!

downloading heaven benchmark, another issues:

No screen power safe
No suspend when i close laptop....
battery recharges too slow, in a hour from 26% to 53%

....

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 068R5X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4940MX,Alienware 068R5X

No secondary GPU, meaning this guy "really" succeeded without optimus BS.
I hope he opens out his method, vbios and stuff.

 

Where did you get that score from? We already know it works under 1 card no matter what he used. 2 Is a completely different matter.

 

I searched it in 3dmark.com results tab.

http://www.3dmark.com/search?_ga=1....11/P/1883/987/500000?minScore=0&cpuName=Intel Core i7-4940MX&gpuName=NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M


We already knew it works with iGPU. It did not work as 1 card without iGPU.
That score means someone actually succeeded without iGPU.
There is no secondary GPU on the result.
If that score is legit, then SLI will work as well.

 

It may read different in the AW18

Scratch that. Its an AW17. So that means it's a dell vbios...Speculation of course.

 

My own cards are now but 30 miles away awaiting delivery I'll be able to join in the fun on Monday evening.

 

if all that score is correct, why I can`t make it works with the same system configuration????

 

Yeah your efforts will goin to take us forward

As from Benchmark, he/she got Dell vbios.

 

heaven benchmark makes windows crash, and msi aftherburner, after 2 minutes, freezys, we need that bios.....

 

If im correct, you got 980m from Eurocom and they claimed it is compatible with Aw17 and m17x R4. You can shot messages to them about compatibility issue. I bet they will sort it out.

 

I am talking with support center at eurocom, they say that must make test with my enviroment, as all can see in the youtube video they upload, only we could see how install 980m, the test screens, is just photos, not an aw17 running those bench.... i think they had got same problems

v12 vbios or msi vbios give same results???? anybody cannot get any score from 3dmark, only that guy and no name or any evidence of who is

 

You should be able to run 3DMark and gaming with any GTX 980M if you have enabled Optimus and install drivers for it with the INF trick. The people who did it said that using INF from MSI`s latest driver was most stable.

But they said they experienced crashes now and then so we are not where we should at all regarding stability and being able to disable Optimus

 

If I disable optimus, then laptop crashes, only black screen when I start up

Do you recomended me msi vbios????

 

@godfafa_kr has tested all 3 available vbios but non stable with Aw systems. As i said 3dmark score is with Dell vbios. Aw17 wont work without igpu.

 

Oh sorry, I meant you have to enable Optimus to make the GTX 980M work

 

jeje, no problem, we need that vbios nowwwww!!!!!

 

here is a video I uploaded, game starts but crashed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VcsTjATxbI

 

Try this driver
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/31153-v34424-windows-8-64bit-mobile-oem/

This is the latest one
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/31187-v34465-windows-8-64bit-nvidia-mobile-oem/

 

here 3dmark too crashes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNXX7j4Yq8Q

 

When I reinstall drivers this is the result

 

During installation select "Custom advanced" and select "Perform a Clean installation". Could be some old drivers getting in the way

 

I am on it, because vga was disapear...

 

This is not like reinstalling a driver using windows 7. You must disable driver signature enforcement.

And the strings in the inf file have to match your machine and card.

 

I know I must disable driver signature, but now i cant reinstall driver.....




Drivers reinstall, but I cant backup vbios anyway

 

Looks like you need to install chipset drivers still as well as ethernet.

 

That should be a problem???

 

You should have at least your chipset drivers installed.

 

I think Win 7 is better for experiments. you can try to install Win 7 then install all stock driver first then install mod Nvidia driver.

 

Well, some of you may remember my rants about the advancing UEFI roadmap to upgrade hell. Some of you may remember the hellish nightmare DumbDumb went through with a brand new M18xR2 with A07 BIOS trying to unlock it. With these changes came the nasty need for signed firmware. Sounds really fancy, but it's not. There is a root of evil intent behind having things locked down. This is why svl7 had to find a workaround for us using the PRR tool for the M18xR2. They can call it "security" all they want to, but I call it "controlling customers" and there is no way to put a positive spin on that filth.

As far as I know (which isn't very far) Clevo does not use newer UEFI with settings stored in NVRAM and no firmware signatures are required. If I had a pair of 980M that I was trying to get working in an M18xR2 I would be blind-flashing A03, unlocking it and then seeing what happens. I believe A03 offers minimal UEFI support and does not use NVRAM to store anything. That may not do the trick, but I think it's a good place to start.

If dropping to A03 works, what this could mean is the upgrading to 980M SLI in the Alienware 18 may not be possible due to it's nasty, filthy locked-down BIOS unless doing the same trick to "unbrick" an 18 works (pulling RAM sticks to flush NVRAM, etc.). If M18xR2 A03 works, the 980M should also work in the M18xR1. Once established and working, it might be possible to flash up to a newer BIOS if doing so adopts the settings from A03 and does not impose conflicting code that prevents the 980M GPUs from working.

 

In the clevo machines you can either switch it on or off. You can in mine at least.

 

Can't really tell anything from that screen shot other than it doesn't work.

Try have disk method and see if it will at least install that way.

 

Then you meant dell did blocked 980m with the new bios??? could I install a13 bios in my aw17 with a14 bios version???

 

UGH so it could actually be the BIOS blocking the upgrade from not working on the AW18/M18x then.

I have an offer standing to buy AW18 for a very small price and I was thinking about buying that one and just upgrading the GPUs. But the lack of any progress, the process one may need to go through to have a chance of making it work along with this rumor about a locked down BIOS that locks away stuff in the memory and checks for firmware match etc...it could scare anyone.

My only other choice is going with GT72 and a single GTX 980M but that will hardly be any better than my previous GTX 770M SLI that I overclocked. Maybe 20% max better. And then I will be stuck with a mediocre TN display which the AW18 PLS display blow out of the water.

What the hell do I do?

 

downgrade bios couldn`t be possible????

 

Asus G751 with IPS Display and better cooling

I think that is your best option.. Or waiting for the Clevo P771ZM

 

Asus G751 would be a great choice if it didnt have complicated design that makes upgrades and repasting difficult. Plus the GPU is not MXM which means I cant upgrade it.

Clevo P1771 is very tempting with desktop CPU and 9:series chipset and all, but the chassis is just like any other Clevo machines which makes me wonder about the noise from it. But will keep an open eye for it although I ideally want SLI.

 

alright flashed A03 usin recovery. Installed single 980m > after Raid settings nothin just black screen with 8 beeps
done power drain > same results
removed Cmos battery n power drain > still same result

I think Aw R2 just dont detect 980m graphics card. i think we've tried all possible solution so far but no luck. As i think if someone can disable Aw R2 to check for graphics card then it may be possible we can pass boot.

 

You talk about noise but my 17x R4 makes so much bloody noise coming from the G73JH I had.. I seriously doubt all the people that say that Alienware makes less noise then Clevo..

 

any news for original dell vbios????

 

there is no dell 980M so there is no "original dell vbios"

 

hey i just found that you got 3D screen? Actually 980m on Aw 17 only work with non 3D display. I think that is why card is not compatible with your system. No Dell vbios yet.

 

There isn't a 3D screen on the AW 18.

I think Mr. Fox is right about the BIOS being the issue for the 980M and the AW 18.

 

That doesn't make sense. the M17x R4 has the same BIOS for all intensive purposes as the M18x R2, UEFI and all. Still works fine when you leave it on SG muxless

 

3 benchmarks says otherwise. 1 of them from a completely new notebook due to new motherboard codename.

 

Lol i just realize i've typed 18 instead of 17. Actually i just found that @lechonman got "Alienware AW17 i7 4930MX@4 Ghz, 24GB crucial DDR3L 1600Mhz, Plextor SSD 128gb Msata, OCZ Vector 512gb, WD 2Tb 7200rpm, Nvidia GTX980M 8gb, 17`3" FHD 3D 120Hz" as per his sign. at Techinferno.
Yes it is related to MB bios or 980m vbios or it may be possible that this time Clevo made their cards as it wont compatible with Alienware systems.

 

Welll according to Notebookcheck's measurements:
Clevo P177SM > MSI GT70 > Alienware 17/M17x > Alienware 18 > MSI GT72 > Asus G751

Og course the AW18 har significant better hardware (SLI and 4930MX) so since its not particular loud but still is unmatched perfomance wise is the reason why I want it.
But you are def right, Asus is the best cooling wise for single GPU notebooks

I think there is indeed something the machine search for during bootup thats only in the vbios Dell have. Thanks for being open minded and trying out suggestions, so that we can rule them out.

I think we should create hell for Dell if they dont issue out a fix for the Maxwell cards in out Aw18/M18x because if they dont, they are pushing out notebooks with MXM slots but without the function to work like a MXM port. That is misleading if you ask me

 

Until one of our members has it or Dell officially confirms it, it is of no use to us or somebody could be pulling our collective leg. This is still a waiting game.

 

lol dont worry we got few options. Dell will only release vbios when they official start sellin 980m. Im not sure but in future i may get Clevo with desktop CPUs.

 

I removed 3d screen, and now using an old 900p screen, Eurocom advise me that 3d screen didn`t works with 980m, only external monitors... the case here is that dell did launch a newest bios at the end of october, and I think they block this update before they could launch them 980m.

Yes my laptop is an AW17 or M17X R5, last of all Alienware 17, bought at december 2013.

Should I return this 980m vga and wait for new gtx980m from dell???? are 700€ (over 925 usd) and I dont want to waste more my time and money with this

 

Nobody knows for sure why it doesn't work. Here is my theory, which might be valuable enough to buy a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks if you chip in a quarter...

Alienware has always been engaged with new GPU technology from NVIDIA. They have had input and things have been implemented at an engineering level that have historically allowed NVIDIA products to work flawlessly in Alienware machines, as stock or upgrade options... until now.

Alienware--as far as we can see--his totally disconnected from its enthusiast customers and it seems they have disconnected from their competitors and the rest of the industry at the same time. For the first time ever, they are behind the 8 ball, off in la-la land, doing their own thing and wandering around aimlessly in left field. Alienware have focused their efforts on panty-waist products like the 13 and the <del>Alfalfa</del> Alpha console replacement. This kind of worthless mainstream low-performance crap is not what made the brand famous. They ignored us and ignored their competitors. Both of their new product offerings are being deployed with obsolete GPUs before the first one leaves the warehouse. The Alpha and Alienware 13 both sport yesterday's mediocre Maxwell 860M BGA dog poop GPU. Because they are out of touch and not keeping up with the direction the rest of us are headed, they had no input and there is nothing in GTX 980M architecture to make it Alienware compatible. It might be something that can be fixed. If Alienware shows up late to the party in 2015, there could be some vBIOS revisions that fix whatever is broken or missing.

The other thing we have to consider is the fact that GTX 880M was a pile of feces that NVIDIA has never acknowledged. It looks like they plan to leave it broken and move on. It's a painful and costly example of what NVIDIA looks like when they are left to their own devices and not held accountable for their actions. For all we know, the same level of half-butted effort may partially explain why 980M is not functioning correctly in an Alienware product. Having to enable Optimus for it to work with the Alienware M17xR4 and 17 is really evidence that it is partially functional garbage. Not working with a 120Hz display is also garbage. So, even if Alienware did not engage NVIDIA and influence the development of GTX 980M for the better, this was not NVIDIA's first rodeo and you can't tell me those shysters had no idea earthly idea that end users would want 980M as an upgrade for an existing Alienware machine. They already knew what was necessary to make previous products work as a drop-in upgrade on existing Alienware machines and they left those ingredients out of the 980M. Why? Conspiracy with Alienware to block aftermarket upgrades? Or, just NVIDIA offering an encore demonstration of what a half-butted outfit they truly are? They way I see it, both are to blame for being lame and releasing a half-baked product. It is starting to look like neither company gives a rat's butt whether their products are worth a darn... as long as people are stupid enough to buy it. In other words, why try any harder if they can still make their millions selling garbage to morons?