AlienFX - Command Center issue after Motherboard replaced

Hi everyone, I found the thread about AlienFX issues closed.
I replaced the motherboard for my friend Alienware 18, the old one he damaged it by dropping some water on it, everything working fine after replacement except the AlienFX.
I can change the colors with a workaround and the light system is working.
The problem is there is an another Alienware M17x R3 appear in the command center, making a conflict with AW18 and some errors, I have no idea why is that, please see the picture attached. How can I remove the M17x?
The Windows 10 installation is fresh, command center v. 3.6.
If anyone has a solution please share it with me.

Other issue, I found the GTX880m's cards overheated up to 93c, and I tried everything to cool them down without succeed, when I replace them with 2 GTX780m's from other laptop, they work just fine and the temp was 75c max, is it possible that the 880's got some damage from the MB? can I flash them with any undervolted vBIOS to fix the heat problem?



Thank you in advance.
Best Regards.

 

The 880M graphics have always run too hot. You find threads in the forum about it. Not very much you can do outside use good quality pads and paste. But it will still run hot.

 

Thank you for your kind reply.
What about the command center issue?

 

Can anyone help with the AlienFX problem?
Is there is any special firmware for it, or anything I have to flash. The current BIOS is v.12.

 

C'mon guys, I really need to fix this.

 

Try:

1) removing command center
2) Reflash lastest BIOS
3) Reset CMOS
4) reinstall command center

 

Thank you, I'll try and update, hope this will work.

 

As well try uninstall Alienware On Screen Display Application. Then ACC. Reboot then install Alienware On Screen Display Application first. Be sure you have latest versions for both. You can as well try run CCLEANER after uninstall of both software.

If you still have problems, maybe talk with @Swick1981 who know the machine's firmware/software.
BTW. THis is how ACC - FX looks for Alienware 18

 

I did all that, the same problem, that M17x appears all the time, even sometime appear alone in the command center, once I try to change the theme, the AW18 appears with errors. It seems the ACC firmware has issues. hope that @Swick1981 can help me.
Thank you guys for your kind support.

 

Any other ideas before I pay again for another motherboard? is there is any firmware I can flash for it or something?

 

Why should you pay for another motherboard? Claim the current one you purchase as a damaged model.

Have you tried on a clean windows install to see if the command center still recognize wrong model?

 

This is a used motherboard purchased from eBay, no warranty.
I did a fresh windows installation and the problem is the same. I have very good history with AW18 never had this issue before.

 

And you even downloaded the correct alienware command center installation?

Try update bios to newest official from dell first.

 

I did all of that, there is a special firmware for the AlienFX I think, but I don't know how I can get it and flash it. Or maybe this is for the M18x. I'm really confused.

 

What I showed in previous post is what ACC look like for latest AW18 (Haswell chipset). Post #8

 

It's already appear in ACC, but with errors with AW17x

 

I can't understand why you get the older GUI as pict with running ACC for newer Haswell models. Tried older ACC versions for newest Aw? Tried if same happens with Win 7 ?

 

This is my problem, I have no idea why this m17x appear as the mail laptop, and the AW18 is the secondary with errors. both of them are there. Very strange, never happend to me for more than 5 years using this model.

 

Dear @Mr. Fox and @Raidriar , please support me with any ideas?

 

I reckon you have installed netfx 3.5, 4.7.1 developer pack and cleaned up Assembly or .net cached files using Dism++.

 

It's already a new fresh win10 installation , this problem was not happened with the original motherboard, it happens after changing the MB with a used one from eBay. Something on the MB has to be fixed, for the m18x I remember there is a special socket to flash the AlienFX to fix it with a special tool. I think this problem needs something similar.
I will try to do what you said and see what will happen.

 

I think something is screwed up with the firmware on the motherboard you purchased. Very strange problem. I am not sure what can be done to fix it. I have never seen this issue before. If you change the AWCC language to English is it the same?

Too bad the real laptop doesn't look as nice as the one in the picture.

 

Thank you sir for your kind reply, yes it's the same, my friend can't read English that's why the system is with Arabic.
I tried everything related to OS, ACC, Drivers and BIOS updates with no luck. It's really very strange, but I shared it here maybe someone can help me with it. Otherwise I will have to buy another MB wasting a lot of time and money as well. I bought this MB for him and I'll not let him down for any reason.

 

I saw this video on Youtube for the M??X

 

I have seen it, and there was an old post on Dell Community Alienware Club relating to the M17xR2 AlienFX flashing. AlienFX was made differently before the Haswell models. Everything was on the daughterboard for the M18xR1/R2 and replacing that could fix problems. On the Haswell models, everything is on the mainboard. I have never needed to do this kind of flash, so I do not know anything about it or if that will fix it. If someone flashed the motherboard with the wrong firmware, perhaps that caused it. Since you have already tried flashing the BIOS, perhaps it is not flashing the chip with the AlienFX firmware.

If you run the ePSA testing at boot, does it do any checking of AlienFX? I do not remember if it included any diagnostics on that or not.

 

ePSA doesn't have AlienFX light tester.

 

You're welcome, Brother. Have you tried contacting the eBay seller for an exchange or refund for the defective motherboard?

 

@Dr. AMK Contact Mr Phoenix, he can read arabic(and even you too) and can help your friend since native language speakers can communicate easily and quickly.
Does the picture you uploaded in Arabic says Accessories on right side where I can see m18x as well.

 

I will contact the seller as you said, but I think he will not accept return, I'll try to have his support with nice way.

There is a tester and it's working and changing lights, only fixed. The problem is within the ACC, I can't use any theme or changing color using ACC. I can change the color from the icon in the taskbar by right click and do fast change option.

I'll try to contact him, the language will never be the problem, the laptop already with me, I'll try to contact Phoenix, but I prefer not to waste your time guys more than that.


I'll try to replace or refund and I'll get another MB anyway.

Thank you all for your kindness and support, really appreciate that.

 

If you purchased on ebay, just claim it as not working with "persuasion" of a bad review and possible bank chargeback (some sellers love to rip off international buyer).

You should get your full money back, accept nothing less.

 

I already given the seller a good review, I never give bad review for someone to harm his account, I depend on his ethics and I try to win his support with friendly communications, it's not working all the time, but this is me, I can lose some money, but I can't take responsibility to harm someone reputation for something like that, especially that I know that he didn't mean to cheat or fraud.
I already contacted the seller and he agree to ship it back to him to check and replace if needed.

 

Sweet! Kindness is always the best approach. It works best.

 

You are my teacher Sir.

 

All the sellers I've communicated issues with on ebay generally told me to go screw myself .-.

 

Thanks God, not with me. Once they saw my good review and the way I ask their support, they switch themselves from attack and screw mode to friendly mode , like this seller, I have his motherboard for almost 4 month now, and with my way he accepted to help me with no issues at all. I agree with you some are screwing their customers but this is the exception.

 

Well, yes, there are some really bad people out there. But, I honestly think the majority of people selling things on eBay are normal people with honest intentions, just trying to scratch out a better living for their selves . If you treat most people with kindness and respect and not give them a reason to believe you are trying to do something dishonest they will work with you most of the time. I have been the victim of two scams on eBay. One time as buyer and once as seller, and it worked out fine both times. Those are exceptions. Following the Golden Rule and treating others how you want to be treated is the best policy and almost always works out favorably.

Having the motherboard for 4 months and not having any problems getting help is a great story. That is a good seller and someone I would be happy to buy from in the future.

 

Yes Sir I agree with you.
But this problem was from day 1, I thought that I can fix it by reinstalling OS or ACC>
This is the seller:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/besteparts1984?ul_noapp=true
This is my order:

 

The seller reply: I'll send him the 2 MB to check if he/she can fix 1st one instead of buying a new one, and this option is great.

 

But after all I still want to know what is the problem and how to fix it ,

 

That would be really nice. If you knew that it could save time and money as well. Plus, you could share it with us and everyone would benefit from the knowledge.

 

Will try Sir to know what coz this issue, maybe after the seller check the problem he can give me an explanation, if I have something for sure I'll update it here.

Thank you big brother, and many thanks for all kind brothers tried to support me. Really happy to be a part of this wonderful community.

 

We can clearly see the reason you have good standing. You're an amazing man, @Dr. AMK. The world would be a better place if more people was as you. +rep
Hope everything work out well

 

Thank you for your kindness, I don't deserve all of that, I hope that I can be like what you said brother, you and many members here are an example for me to follow, and I'm just learning from you all.

 

You Sir are an example. Good things happen to good people.

 

Cannot use M17x R3 command center, need to get command center from dell website specifically for alienware 18:
https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02719297M/1/Application_9T1FG_WN64_3.6.4.0_A03.EXE

If still fail, try clean install. If still fail, reflash bios and reinstall software. if still fail, possibly fauly alienfx chip on the motherboard, no solution for this as the port was removed for access after m17x r2/ m15x. I have reflashed m17x r2 alienfx chip, need special sibeam device, but sibeam did not make the chip for subsequent alienwares.

gtx 880m may need special dell vBIOS for secondary card or else fan not spin up, cause overheating and damage GPU. not sure where to find, i know this is case for 980M. good luck

 

Thank you for your kind reply, I did all of that with no success. It seems like you said it's a faulty AlinFX chip and nothing we can do about it.
I got the gtx880m vbios modified by our old friends - svl7 & Johnksss, but still have heat problems up to 93c + throttling on vram speed not the core. Fan Isn't running at full speed, but I tried to run the fans at full speed by removing the 2 wires in the middle mode, and still have the heat issue, it seems that the gpu's vram needs to be replace or something wrong with the motherboard sensors.

 

Only Gtx880M with 4GB vram worked <almost> correct. It was only a luck of draw if you could get normal working 880M (of course with minimum overclock). Nvidia milked Kepler to last drop. Gtx880M should never be pushed out.

 

The heat problem appear with stock vbios or moded one with stock speed no OC at all. Before changing the MB it was working just fine with no problems at all, the heat issue just came after changing the MB.

 

Gtx880m was always behind 780M if you oc'd. Not sure if you ever have pushed the 880M behind its 954MHz boost clocks. But most of us who had 780M saw how others struggled to make their 880M to work properly. This with stock clocks. Many of the 880M owners had to clock it dowm to 780m clock speed to have a working graphics. Oh'well

 

Can you get me any 880m vbios undervolted and clocked down?