Bad Primary GPU on M18x R2, need opinions

Hello,
I'm new to the forum. I didn't realize how capable the laptop is that I purchased year and years ago. Let me start, I'm not a gamer. I bought this laptop years ago and I have a very capable desktop (also years old) but I have them in case I get back into gaming. I do see that Doom is coming back out and this is the laptop I take with me when I go out to sea so I need advice.

My current setup
M18x R2 with 3 HDDs, (124g SSD, 500g, and a 1tb), i7 3610qm @ 2.3. Stock setup was the larger power supply and 2 7970's in crossfire (I never used them in crossfire because it would always crash Diablo 3). It currently has 8gb of RAM and I am running Windows 10 (upgraded from 7) with the A11 BIOS. A couple weeks ago my primary GPU went out. I know this because it started showing lines etc. I was finally able to get it to reboot into safe mode and I switched to the integrated graphics.

Here is my dilemma
Seeing as I don't game I am wondering what I should do with this laptop. I do want to be able to run Doom on it so I want to keep it semi relevant.

My options as I see them, if you know of other options or can help me decide please let me know.

1. Remove the primary GPU and move the secondary over to the primary and run a 1 GPU system (this is basically what I was doing before the primary GPU went bad since I wasn't using crossfire, remember this will be 1 7970 GPU)

2. Upgrade the GPU to 1 larger faster GPU (I have no idea which one to upgrade to that would be cost efficient, I assume almost every GPU on the market will outrun my 7970)

3. Upgrade both GPU's and go nuts

4. Buy a new laptop (Price of Alienware 17 inch laptop is about 1400 with the 970m card)

I am very capable of following directions so installation and reloading software should be a non issue. I am unable to do the dual power supply modification though due to the limitations on my ship (it has to be inspected) so dual card setups that require that are a no go. I'm fairly certain I have 3 pipe heatsinks as well but not 100% on that on yet. (Is there a quick way to tell?)

Thank you all for your time.

 

single 980M would do nicely, you can add a second later when prices drop

 

So they do have 980m working on Windows 10 now? That will run off my 300 watt power supply and A11 BIOS? Do you think its worth it to spend the 900 dollars or buy a new laptop for slightly more?

I guess my 2nd question is Is the 980m worth double the 970m in terms of upgrade?

 

980M was always working in Windows 10, nothing new here. I don't know any laptop with a 980M for 900$, but I would go that route instead if it's really that cheap, considering the 980M is about 700$ by itself. I would stay stick to a single 7970M for now, wait for the new graphics cards to be released later this year, and decide then. It is a stupid time to buy graphics cards at this point, with new ones just around the corner.

 

Solid advice. I'll keep an eye out for the new gpus to drop. Guess I'll swap over the one good 7970. At least I hope it's good.

 

Or you could by my last 980m that is in the marketplace. Cheaper you will ever fine.

 

Looks burnt no? Or is my phone messing with the photo?

 

It's your phone lol.

Edited: that burnt looking image is the reflection of my phone case that used to be white, but it's dirty brown now. I used my phone to take those pictures.

 

Rengsey is a solid forum member, he wouldn't sell you a burned card lol

 

So it's your phone lol. I'll be in touch. Your price is lower than what I've seen and I'd like to keep the laptop fairly current. Anything special required to install that card?

 

And most of my sale is pretty much non profit , I dont make $$ off it.

Just install this BIOS , and that's it.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...maxwell-legacy-support-testers-needed.789322/

 

imo the only logical upgrade path is single 980m as others said

 

Looks like I need a new heatsink since my heatsinks are made for my 7970s. I'm told they aren't compatible with the 980m. Anyone have a primary or both for sale for m18x r2?

 

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/upgrade(2,265,0)ec

Believe @woodzstack can cut you a deal as well maybe if you ask him.

 

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy the card off the member here then buy a nvidia heatsink?

 

you do not need an nvidia heatsink. the two are identical except for the black tape around the GPU die area of the heatsink, which you can peel off.

 

Are there any other issues I need to look out for? I'm very close to pulling the trigger on the 980 for sale in this thread. The throttling thread does concern me slightly.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-m18x-r2-with-980m-possible-throttling-fix.791358/

 

The throttling has been a bane in the past. The only game that I have atm that did trigger it was FFXIV with max settings. I was able to get around it by not using HBAO+ and capping at 60fps but the thing is a workaround is now there at least with the latest drivers. As it stands just go ahead and get the 980m. I would even get a 2nd 980m and use the sli. Its a worthwhile investment because atm theres very few worthy replacement options out there that would be a true successor to the m18xr2 (the sky x9 would be my pick but only if eurocom make an 18/20inch variant).

Dunno if alienware will ever have any worthy successors ever again and until such a time its best to keep your m18x going as long as you can.

 

I'm not a huge gamer so I think 1 will work for now.

I'm backing up my laptop items now. Going to reinstall windows and load the custom BIOS as soon as o figure out how to download it. What driver number is the top one for this card in the 18x r2?

 

The custom BIOS is installed. I plan on reinstalling windows after I get the 980M to work.

Questions,
1. Do I need to use UEFI? If so how do I go about doing that?
2. In the custom BIOS how do I switch between integrated and pci graphics?

What else is required for me to get the single 980m to work on my laptop? I know I need drivers, the seller is going to provide me drivers. Anything at all that I need to change besides opening this, throwing new card in, installing new drivers, and going? I plan on doing all of that then reloading windows.

 

Ok picked up the card from Rengsey. Reloading windows tonight on the laptop via the integrated graphics section. I'll add the video card once I get it and update the drivers for it.

 

Dont use uefi if you installed swicks bios fix you dont need it anymore. Its also harder to access the bios sometimes on uefi as it can jump to booting windows without lettin you access the bios menu sometimes.

 

And before I even took receipt of the 980m I'm pretty sure I fried my mobo. Went to test my secondary GPU to sell and the cable for my HDD was ever so slightly crooked. Fried the connector and ribbon cable. SMDH. Will probably have that 980m up for sale shortly if I can't find anyone with a bad mobo to grab the connector off of