Swapping GTX 280M?? I really Need help!

This may sound weird guys but...
Three days ago, I bought another GTX 280M from alienware.com/dell.com
It was a big hole in my pocket. ~650 usd

As you know, i already have two GTX 280M in my M17x - not including the new one i just bought..
I was thinking about triple SLI-ing all three GTX280m together with a tri-SLI cable ( Don't ask).

But anyways, I got the gtx 280M card about three days ago. But before I attempt to do anything, i wanted to do a quick check to see if there is anything wrong with my new GTX 280M card.

I popped the new card it into my M17x as secondary (Right under the NUM LOCK) and hooked it to my primary(left card under CAPS lock)..

I booted up the computer and right off the back, the screen goes black!
The screen is blank! I mean, its supposed to on, but its blank!

I can still see everything such as desktop icons quality is sh*t.




I mean, is something wrong?
Am I supposed to do something with it first?
Was I supposed to flash it or anything?
I am completely lost as I thought that the GPU is a plug and go type of thing!

Your help would be appreciated!

 

You are crazy, lemon

How did you plan to hook the third card up? I am dying to know what you were thinking.

Anyway, it might be the card you put it (bad gpu), or it could also be a loose lcd cable.

 

Nope. not a loose lcd cable. because if i switch to the 9400M there screen goes back to normal.

I dont know about bad GPU. AW/DEll wouldnt dare sell me a bad GPU considering how much I bought it for.

Am I suppoed to flash it or anything? because moo and mandrake were talking about flashing and Bios. etc..

 

It shouldn't need flashed.

Did you buy a secondary or primary 280 from Dell? They are slightly different and might be conflicting with each other. The secondary has the sli cable run underneath the heatsink to the other end of the card.

If the above case is true (your running 2 primaries or 2 slaves) then flashing it with either bios will work.

Take out all 280's and install only the new one you bought.

 

I bought a secondary- the one the goes on the right side.
Will the secondary work well alone without the primary?
ill give it a shot. brb.

 

How much did Dell charge for the secondary 280?

I am selling one and am curious.... Thanks.

 

+ Rep for thinking you could put 3 cards in your machine .

 

okay. so i am back. thanks quadzilla.=)
i am trying to make this work. ill post pictures and results if i can get it to work.
i just pulled out my primary 280. and left the new 280 in the secondary slot.
i can't enable the 280M for some reason.
i fn+f7 wont work. only stealth mode works. it almost seem as though I cannot detect the seocondary without the primary.
im gonna go into BIOS and see if i can disable integrate and see if my system will go at all. brb.

but it alone is completely fine and does not act up.
i wonder if its the blue sli cable.

btw the amount is a hole in your wallet. much more than what you offered sleey0

 

That cable might not be secured properly . I had that issue once when putting mine back together. So i had to rip it all apart again . i learned my lesson of just attaching the keyboard and power panel then booting into windows to make sure its all kosher before screwing it all back together.

 

Yes, i know what you mean. exactly. i have my keyboard and my touch panel just sitting all unscrewed from the system. im not puttng it back until i know this will work.

--- UPDATE
the secondary GPU will not operate (Be detected) unless the primary is installed!
everest wont show me anything as well. its empty.

you can push (stealth mode to enable "full power" mode but the 9400M will still be showned. Not the 280M.

bummer. well, thats that.

now back to trying to make it work in dual SLI. (i hope for no green screen)

------ update again


alright guys this isnt working! is wrong with my secondary gpu?

some conclusions:

1) primary alone will be detected
2) secondary alone can not be detected
- that means i cannot tell if its the sli cable or the card itself
3) primary with my new secondary =green screen and static screen

argh! so mad.

ill post some pictures for fun =)

 

Will the PSU even be able to handle 3 GPU's?

 

I want to know where you are going to find another pci-e slot for the third card.

 

Dont worry about that sleey0
i got a way to make it work once i get pass this card issue.

 

I believe that you had the cards. lol

I want to know where your going to get an extra pci-e slot for the third one.

 

Remember your medication is for twice a day Lemon! Don't skip it!

 

ha ha ha sleey0 i think like you but i think this is funny too we need to see something like this every day to take the stress out

 

Lol, this thread is....Beautifull.

Very much like this one. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=416179

These forums really make my days, thank you!

 

I was just reading it too! OMG i got a good laugh at it. especiall this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5307632&postcount=51

Anyways, if I get this to work, You guys will have a mightier day ^_^

 

LOL bare bones computers work better if the 280 still works ..i would use it by its self single card ... your single card is faster than your other components.. bottleneck your wasting your money ...

 

the primary is on the left under the caps and num lock ........

 

Are you going to say what the heck you were trying here lemon?

 

Trying to look up an external 280 to the MB with an external pci and a tri-sli cable.
btw, i love how you guys call me lemon.

 

Lemon. 10char

 

^ oooh, do i get a free rep for that soviet?

that sounds awesome!

 

Unless you use an external power source too for the third 280M, I doubt it'll work. The power supply in your M17x will only supply so much power, and the 280M is something like another 75W...I think there's no way your power supply will handle it without either your system crashing or blowing up.

 

And the card is powered by the PCI-e slot on the motherboard.

So an external slot (if there is such a thing) would need to be powered as well.

 

Only in these forums would someone wire in video cards that don't even fit in the system. What were you going to do Lemon, duck tape it to the lid? ROLF.

I laugh, but when he posts a Vantage score of 16K, we're all gonna go buy Duck Tape.

 

Duct tape and a box fan to cool it!

 

powered through USB or express slot. they make anything these days.

(this was done in jess. I read it again and I think someone might take me seriously.)

 

It really would be interesting if they tried something like that. A 75W card powered by USB seems impossible, but who knows.

 

USB ain't powering 75W, that's for sure. lol