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    M15x won't boot after upgrading to GTX 980m

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by OptimusPrimeRib, Aug 16, 2018.

  1. OptimusPrimeRib

    OptimusPrimeRib Newbie

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    Hi there,

    Hope someone has a suggestion. I have an old M15x R1 that I installed a GTX 980m into last night and now it won't boot up. (Previously had ATI video card and worked fine.) The laptop powers up, keyboard lights come on, and Scroll lock and Caps Lock both blink...with Num Lock lit constantly. After less than a minute it beeps 2 times and just stays at the black screen. If I put the original ATI card back in, the laptop works fine.

    The 980m card that I bought seems new, but who knows could be bad. I guess should the 980m work fine with the laptop? Assuming the card is good, is there anything I can do to try to make it work with the M15x?

    Cheers,
    Chris
     
    OptimusPrimeRib, Aug 16, 2018
    #1
  2. MatsueMaiku

    MatsueMaiku Notebook Geek

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    My 980m Dell card worked right away without problems, but I've heard some people mention that they had to modify the INF. Maybe look into that?
     
    MatsueMaiku, Aug 16, 2018
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  3. OptimusPrimeRib

    OptimusPrimeRib Newbie

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    Thanks for your reply. I've read about modifying INF files for the Nvidia driver installation but I thought that would be after the card installed and I boot into Windows. My M15x won't even POST or boot into Windows :(.
     
    OptimusPrimeRib, Aug 16, 2018
    #3
  4. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Could be your 980M is gsync version in which case it will never work, need non g-sync version.
     
    Raidriar, Aug 16, 2018
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  5. OptimusPrimeRib

    OptimusPrimeRib Newbie

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    Ah crap, thanks for telling that, Raidriar. Is there a way for me to know if I have the gsync version by looking at the GTX 980m video or chips on it?
     
    OptimusPrimeRib, Aug 16, 2018
    #5
  6. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    not really, need to plug into a computer that can use intel graphics + nvidia graphics to check the device ID, that's the only way to know if it is gsync or not.
     
    Raidriar, Aug 16, 2018
    #6
  7. LodestarRising

    LodestarRising Notebook Enthusiast

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    Mine was a non-GSYNC device ID but it never displayed on the internal display. I also tried a R9 M290x and it wouldn't work on the internal display either
     
    LodestarRising, Aug 21, 2018
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