8770w compatible video cards

am looking to upgrade form a fire pro m4000, perhaps I can compile a working list from this thread for other peeps scouring the net for confirmed working upgrade-able cards

 

K3000M (? vBIOS)
K5100M (Dell vBIOS)
970M 6GB (Prema 1.1.1. vBIOS)
980M 8GB (Prema 1.1.1. vBIOS)

all tested personally by me (with F61 BIOS), all working fine (plug and play with stock Nvidia heatsink), visible in BIOS, recognized in Windows (non UEFI installation too), inf modding required for all except K3000M.

 

Great work! It would be nice to say DreamColor or nonDC, since some work with the DC and some don't.

 

All of them tested with standard fHD screen (nonDC) but guess what - managed to grab a Dreamcolor one (YESSSSS!) so I will test it with K5100M (only with it, rest of the cards are gone, sold them).
Will report ASAP.

 

Congrats on getting the DreamColor, it's WELL worth it. Still one of the best displays around.

That's too bad. I wanted to see how the 9x0m deal with the DC. A user claimed that someone was running 9x0m GPU fine on DC 8770w, or it was 8760w. Either way, I never found such thing and he didn't post a link either, even though I asked. Why so curious? Because it has severe grayscale issues on DC 8740w. The K5100 would run fine, no worries there.

 

I am curious about this too. It would seem that the 87*0w/85*0w bios is far more flexible than the Zbook 15 / 17 is. Did these models support graphics switching?

 

At least the 8740w didn't and I think the 8760w as well. Not sure about 8770w. None of the DC models have switching, that's for sure.

 

WOW! I knew that there will be difference in picture quality, but this is on another level! Amazing colors, amazing angles, it`s great to finally work with calibrated screen in Lightroom. Sooooooo worth it and swap itself was far easier than I thought. There is only one small con - with 8770w, you are loosing WWAN connectivity (no more space left in display assembly? problems with interference?) but it`s really a small one. Picture quality is far more important for me.
Like You said, K5100M is working with it like a charm, no issues spotted, full Kepler compatibility. I`m wondering: 9x0M issues are because of Maxwell technology (and with Maxwell based Quadros it will be the same) or is it because of GeForce nature? It will be interesting to try let say M3000M and see, anybody?

BTW - whole display assembly have exactly the same thickness as my old one (fHD matte nonDC), I though that DC screens are thicker? Maybe HP changed something in production (newer revision, mine is from 03/2016) allowing smaller size.

I can confirm that 8770w does not allow any graphics switching - Intel GPU is completely disabled and unaccessible.

 

This. All of the older DC models lack the WWAN as well.

I think that it's because Maxwell's color compression, since GTX 780m works fine with DC 8740w. Someone has to try these Maxwell Quadros. The Precisions are 8bit for sure, and I have my doubts about the new 4K DreamColors.

It's the same for HPs, Precisions have different thickness depending on the display (PremierColor or not). The DC assemblies have a concave in which the ColorBoard goes into. I you haven't seen a display assembly - the outer shell is made of metal, the internal structure out of magnesium, and this internal structure has a hole/protrusion/find-a-better-word for the CB, so no need for the assembly to be thicker. One can argue that it compromises the structural rigidity, but I can live with that and it passes the MIL-SPEC as well.

 

The new Zbook G3 Dreamcolor displays seem to be compatible with WWAN, as they are now configurable with it. I am also skeptical that the new Dreamcolor displays are 10-bit. I suppose another way to verify it would be in the Nvidia Control Panel "Change Resolution" pane. My displays (desktop and laptop) have always had a 10-bit/8-bit/6-bit dropdown selection item.

On a side note, do you guys think that it would be worth it to go from a K2100M 2GB to a K2200M 4GB for $280 (USD). Pascal mobile quadros are probably still a long way off, and once they are released who knows if the Zbook 15 G1 w/Dreamcolor will even work with one installed.

 

I'm skeptical as well, just don't blame the software, blame the one who ran it (*cough*external*cough*) The display's casing is slimmer than the one in older models, yet it supports WWAN, where in the old models, one can argue that there was space for some shielding (and it had). My guess is that it's 8bit and the WWAN is not such an issue for it.

Get the K2200m and share the result. Pascal, if it even comes is not guaranteed to be MXM-A/B, although there's no room for odd shapes, so let's hope that we'll get at least another generation of MXM GPUs.

 

So are there any 10bit panel laptops with Maxwell GPUs (be it Quadro or GeForce)?
If not, that will most probably mean that Maxwell is not 10bit compatible in general and I`m stuck with my Kepler K5100M forever - because I`m not dropping Dreamcolor for more GPU power.
It`s THAT good.

 

HP offered the Zbook 17 G2 with K2200M + Dreamcolor. Supposedly Zbook 17 G2 doesn't support Geforce cards in dedicated graphics mode, which would limit your ability to use the Dreamcolor screen with them too. However if the 8770w does support the Geforce cards in dedicated graphics mode, maybe the Dreamcolor screen would work too?

 

Ok, it`s time to uncover another truth about 8770w.

After my successful GPU upgrade to 970M, then 980M and now to K5100M (all confirmed to be working) I switched screen to glorious Dreamcolor. It`s the real deal, as you can see here:



Now there is discussion whether or not Dreamcolor 10bit screen is working with Maxwell GPUs (GeForce and Quadro). There are some reports with older EliteBooks that there are issues with this configuration, supposedly seen as banding in gray scale (?). I want to know what is the situation with 8770w and put this discussion to rest.

So I`ve managed to get 980M 8GB and I will be testing it with my 10bit screen equipped 8770w. We will know for sure, without any questions how that config works (displaying). BUT my time with 980M will be limited: I have it here right now but by monday it must be returned to its owner. So it gives us few short days only to do some test and I need your help and guidance.

@triturbo, @sinitar, @Blacky, @win32asmguy @Anybody
what game to install, what specific menu do open, what picture to display, what software to use, what test to do, what setting to use to identify any issues? What sort of issues I`m looking for: gray scale, strange patterns, banding, missing colors, flickering?

 

Wow, that is an awesome opportunity! The Dreamcolor display can run in 6bpc, 8bpc, and 10bpc mode according to the Nvidia control panel (although I get some very weird banding and flickering issues in 6bpc mode).

I would suggest trying the NEC 10-bit color checker utility. If it runs see if you get any banding. It may not work because supposedly Geforce cards can only do 10-bit fullscreen directx surfaces, and in order to do a 10-bit opengl surface you need the Quadro card.

As far as games go, I think a run of 3dmark Firestrike would be a good idea, just to see if the Dreamcolor display affects the 980M performance.

It would be good to see if the Mobile Display Assistant Application still works. It needs the Nvidia driver loaded according to Portrait Displays, but doesn't specify anything about Quadro vs. Geforce. The same application also supports the AMD driver, so hopefully its flexible enough to work with the Geforce drivers.

 

Wow! Well done mate.

 

Ok, installed 980M so...


GeForce drivers used are the newest one, 372.90. Mobile Display Assistant works, just like before. Switching to 10 bits in Nvidia control panel works, I can definitely see difference just by looking at my desktop wallpaper.

@win32asmguy
Tried to run e NEC 10-bit color checker utility and:

 

That's amazing, it works!

Well, if this card works, then its probably a good chance that M4000M or M5000M would work, too. Its too bad Dreamcolor panels are very hard to get, this seems like a very future-proof machine, the only real problem that could occur would be if the Dreamcolor LDVS board died or something (that part seems impossible to get as a spare).

 

Yes, looks like it works
I can see this unique color pop from screen so it really displays whole 10 bits just like Kepler Quadro - it`s not only fake number on screen. In Nvidia control panel I can choose between two output modes: 8 and 10 bit (it`s the same as with K5100M).
Mobile Display Assistant Application is working like before (with K5100M), so it definitely is compatible with GeForce drivers - confirmed. But what about NEC utility, it doesn`t start because it`s using OpenGL? If so, then we have another confirmation - to display 10bit surfaces in OpenGL you need Quadro.

Ok, so what next?
Firestrike is a given, I will run it later today. I`ve found old @sinitar posts about games here and here, already installed Witcher 3 and will test it and maybe Dota 2 too.
What else?

 

awesome news on the MXM cards, I also saw a thread that stated GTX 880m 8GB would work as well, also 680m not sure which brand of the cards.

 

What i tried today: Firestrike, Dota 2, Witcher 3, DOOM 2016 (OpenGL and Vulkan API), Fallout 4, Project CARS, Forza 6 Apex (DX12), even PCSX2 emu lol.
No issues, ABSOLUTELY nothing to report Everything looks and works great without banding, flickering etc. Here is a DSLR off screenshot:



Those tests reminded me why I switched 980M for weaker gaming performer K5100M - constant throttling (PerfCap reason thermal), all the time at 87C and dropping clocks to keep it. And while in this PerfCapped state it is still much faster than K5100M, I`m not gonna waste its potential and cook it. As I said earlier in other thread, because of weak cooling solution, 970M is a much better fit (but still hot).

Unless you have more ideas what and how to test Dreamcolors Maxwell GeForce compatibility, I can confirm that it is compatible, it works and it is a safe upgrade. If 980M is like that, then the whole 9xxM and Mx000M series are compatible too, I`m sure.

CASE SOLVED.

 

Sorry, was busy. Witcher 3 is the title I was going to suggest. I've always pointed at the color compression, so they might have fixed it in the newer drivers. Have you tried at both 8bit and 10bit if there are any issues (with Witcher 3)? As for the 10bit, is there a difference between gray gradients (there are PhotoShop files around the web) while switching between 8bit/10bit?

 

Witcher 3 @10bit:


Witcher 3 @8bit:


Can`t see any issues, at all. Game looks exactly the same (?).

16bit gradient raster image 10bit:


16bit gradient raster image 8bit:

There is a massive difference on screen - at 10bit mode gradients are much more smoother, non visible in some places while at 8bit mode they are very visible.

 

Fallout 4 @8bit mode (notice color banding at walls at upper left portion of the screen):


Fallout 4 @10bit mode (notice much more smoother color gradation at same walls):

 

Forza Apex (DX12 title) @8bit mode:


Forza Apex (DX12 title) @10bit mode:


Compare color gradation around lights.

 

Thank you very much for your work and time!

That's a first! Did they added 10bit support for GeForce?! WOW!

BTW Why your display is lacking the DreamColor sticker? It is obligatory for all DreamColor assemblies.

That's puzzling me as well. But obviously 10bit is working, at least in most other cases.

 

It was a little PITA to take laptop apart again, but it was bugging me so I simply I had to try. I`m just sharing my results. I don`t know who and when, if ever added 10bit support in drivers, maybe it`s a matter of never mobo/chipset in 8770w ( @sinitar reported issues with yours 8740w)?

Missing sticker - I don`t like stickers But seriously, Dreamcolor is a very rare item now, VERY hard to get. Managed to grab mine directly from HP spare parts supplier. It was manufactured at march 2016 and from what I was told, HP stopped using Dreamcolor stickers for spare parts some time ago (ran out of supplies?).

About OpenGL - let me compare DOOM in this mode, I`m posting pictures ASAP!

edit
no pictures, because DOOM is the same as Witcher 3 - absolutely no changes in picture between 8 and 10 bit modes. All is the same - maybe color width is hard coded here?

 

Maybe it's the OpenGL thing (don't know if Witcher 3 is OpenGL though). But yes, not all games are made equal, actually the only game I know to support 10bit is "Alien: Isolation". If you have some money to throw, you could give it a try

 

Alien:Isolation @8 bit:


Alien:Isolation @10bit:


Difference is HUGE!

 

Thank you for your dedication! Huge difference indeed! Now I would love someone to tell me again that I'm the only one who cares about bit depth and that it doesn't matter for games

I guess it worth another try in 8740w @sinitar

 

Seeing these results makes me wonder if the Zbook 15 G1 with DC2 would be compatible with this 965M. Or if not the Zbook then the 8570W with DC2.

 

Can't tell you with 100% certainty, since HP at some point removed the vBIOS from the GPU and integrated it in the sBIOS, thus incompatible with anything but HP GPUs and ones that came with the machine. This was only for the 15" machines (EliteBooks) as far as I know. Sorry, but you'll have to try for yourself to be sure.

 

That makes a lot of sense. A person on youtube actually tested the 965M in the Zbook 15. It worked with hybrid graphics enabled, but not with it disabled. Maybe it is because the Zbook system bios needs the vbios integrated in order to boot with the card as primary or something.

Either way, it doesn't really matter at this point for me. When my tech visited this afternoon he arrived with yet again another incorrect display, so the customer relations person handling my repair case offered me a Zbook Studio G3 (6820HQ, 32GB, 15.6UHD, 1TB NVME) to replace my Zbook 15 G1.. I hope it has a DC3 display, but the system listing doesn't show that information to her. At least it is one of the newer machines, because I am pretty sure that the 1TB SSD and DC3 options were added at the same time.

 

You can check the S/N on HP's Part Surfer if they give it to you of course.

 

It sounds like she won't know the serial number until it ships. It was originally ordered as a customized model so the product number is unique too. At least it sounds like I will get a dock with it too as it isn't compatible with my 2013 advanced dock.

 

do you peeps think a gtx 1060 mxm would work?

 

I`m 99,99% positive that it will, with inf modding of course. As for vBIOS, if there are any options to choose, Dell is the safest bet.
I would love to try it and experiment a little with 8770w as it was with i.e. 980M but I don`t own 8700w anymore.

 

It wont work with LVDS panels (means all of the standard options), only the DreamColor has pretty good chance of running it, since it is DP.

 

Hello everyone! Just purchased an 8770W after I sold my 8560W. This 8770W it's a non DC, but still full HD, has i7 3630QM and 32 GB RAM, I am wondering if I can upgrade the GPU to an Nvidia K5000M??? Currently has the ATI FirePro M4000 1GB Graphics...
Can I just switch them? Plug and play?

 

I'm getting conflicting information. I read here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/8770w-elitebook.657317/page-38

m6100 will not work but a few others here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...mcolor-monitor-for-a-dreamcolor.693276/page-4

claim the m6100 should work.

I'm looking at a nonDC panel. What about TDP. Can I reuse a 4000m firepro heatsink for a m6100?

Also its a shame no 1060 except on DC. Although the only way to get those cards are through taobao.

 

I heard someone that installed an K5100M on an 8760W, that's probably the top you could go, but they are kinda pricey on eBay, maybe Taobao has some for less... but talking to those sellers, damn...

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

 

Hi, thinking to upgrade my 8770W from ATI 4000M to K5100M...
Is this just a swap and play deal? Did you had to change the heatsink?

 

Yeap you need to change heatsink.

 

Hi all.

Just need confirmation before I pull the trigger on the K5100M... I currently have the K3000M on my 8770w... do i need get anything else for the upgrade... i see the above message mentioning changing the heatsink... but im guessing thats because its from ATI to NVIDIA. Is it simply just plug in and play?

 

Yes you need change heatsink if you have ati and want switch to nvidia but if you have nividia you dont need just plug in.

 

I just picked up an MSI GTX 980m on eBay, can anyone possibly confirm if this will work in my 8770w currently equipped with a k4000m? Thanks in advance!

 

I can sadly report that it -does not work at all- with a 8760W + dreamcolor

Nvidia M3000M 4 Gb (HP BIOS)
Nvidia 965M 4 Gb (Clevo BIOS)

with both cards the dreamcolor screen is active with the Microsoft default driver in Windows 10. (normal FHD resolution), no external screens detected
As soon as the Nvidia 390.65 driver gets installed (but I also tried the here mentioned 372.90) the dreamcolor screen goes to black and the external screen which I have on the docking station (DVI) gets active. The dreamcolor screen is not detected in the Nvidia control panel and if I boot without docking station the display stays black while I can hear the Windows welcome sound. I have installed the most recent BIOS update but that doesn't help. Cannot find any other suitable VBIOS rom to flash, so I am running out of options I am afraid.

:-/

 

Right...

Another update. As it seems impossible for me to fix the Maxwell on a 8760W DC2 display combination, I bought yesterday an used 8770W with FHD display. In another topic I am talking about the Dreamcolor transition (which was unsuccesful ) .. Here I want to report what my experience is with the Nvidia 965M 4 Gb (Clevo BIOS) on a 8770W FHD configuration.

And I have to say... It works! But not with some resistance.

I experienced some pretty heavy color banding, the whole screen looked like a disaster to be honest. Unsharp, no gradients and vertical bands which where there or not depending on the contrast/gamma setting but as I changed those settings the banding would appear somewhere else on the screen. To be in short it was bad.

I found an ICC color profile for this FHD display (AUO219D) in an Asus Splendid package. Installed color profile G750JX_10DE_AF06219D.icm @windows 10 color panel config. It made the screen a little bit color warmer, which was needed.. But.. The banding was still there.

In the end I could fix it by changing the monitor frequency to 59 Hz or 61 Hz in the Nvidia control panel! I am absolutely stunned by that because I nowhere on the internet read about that before. So anyone dealing with this problem, take a look at that.

Now I wonder if my DC2 panel also was running on 59 Hz instead of 60 Hz, I have some vague memory of that, will check it out later.

 

Hello guys,

as for the dreamcolor display mod, do I have to change the panel, or simply there is something hidden in the notebook so that when You change the graphic card, the display unlocks and thats it?
Do You know maybe, if there is any dreamcolor display for Dell, or this is only for HP?
What would be a decent upgrade from K3000m?

 

Dreamcolor is a panel upgrade. You will need not only a DC panel but also the accompanying color card. The DC panel is a 50 pin eDP panel where our motherboard headers are 40 pin LVDS connectors. The color card has a 40 pin output to the motherboard and a 50pin input for the 10bit IPS DreamColor panel. DreamColor is not video card dependent, it will work with any 8770w compatible video card.

The Dell version of DreamColor is called "PremierColor."