Legacy Alienware m17x r1 predell blank screen

Hi, I've just acquired this laptop and i am struggling getting it to work.

It was purchased as a barebones and I'm just trying to get some signs of life before i purchase upgrades and parts.

Couple questions:

Do i need to have a graphics card in there or will the onboard one get me to post?

Will this board only boot up with certain supported cpu's? as i have only been able to try a t2330 and a t7500 that i have spare

I have a ddr2 1gb 667 ram and a ddr2 2gb 800 that i have tried

I have reset the bios by holding reset for 30 secs also i have removed the cmos battery for 30 secs

I have a 19.5v 11.8a power brick and it states use a 19.5v 11.28a on the back so that should be enough

So far i have the Fans going, the alienware symbol light up, the alien head on the monitor and the mouse, but screen blank. The keyboard is missing

I've tried the hdmi output also with no joy


Any help appreciated, Thanks

 

You would need the video card to continue, you can get it from ztronics.

 

Does the m17 r1 have the onboard intel card like the m15x-r1 does? If you do need a card ebay or the for sale section here will be cheapest.

 

double posted

 

You need a video card, the r1 is very similar to the m9750 which my husband still has. it predates the intel card/IGP by a couple generations and needs to see an MXM video card to POST or boot.

ztronic shows no GPU's so we would need to find which all are compatable, the 8800 I know was but is a ticking time bomb

 

Hi, thanks for all the responses on this thread. I have been trying to log in to reply but realized i have spelled my user name wrong.

So i will need a card to get it to boot, the only one i can find in the UK is on ebay a fx2700 which i beleive is a 9700m do you think i can get this card to work on my system?

Also will it accept any older mxm cards like the mxm i or ii, i believe that it is a mxm 2.1 or 3 I'm not sure as google seams to bring up all sorts when trying to find info.

 

Can you clarify whether you have the M17x-R1 or the M17-R1. They both take MXM 2.1 cards but the M17 only takes type III whereas the M17x takes type IV.
If it's the M17 you need to get a HD 3870, if the M17x you can get the 9800M GT (eBay item #221098819710)

 

It's the m17x-R1 (small m) it looks like it can take that 9800m gt because the slot it looks the same

 

If you can find one, a 4850 / 4870 would also work but will be hotter than a 3870. I think I have also read that the GTX280m will work in your laptop but again run hot.

 

I think the gtx280m is on a newer mxm slot, i think mine is a mxm he

 

Nope it's a Type III-HE.

Go here and scroll down MXM Store Legacy cards

 

Yeah but picking one of them up off ebay will be ridiculous money

 

As this is the m17x - x being the important part we do not know if it will work with the 3870 or 4850 - those cards were never sold with the system.
As I posted previously your best bet is the 9800GT.

 

Hi, everyone again. I have managed to get a 9800gt from a m15x, i've installed the card and i still have a blank screen. even tried hdmi with a screen.

Do i need to reset bios or flash the video bios or something?

any ideas appreciated

Many Thanks