Alienware M18x R2 7970 CF, best GPU upgrade option?

Would the custom driver be better for the 980M from Mr Fox or would the newest drivers perform better?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

new drivers work fine for gaming if you do the reboot->igpu->reboot-> peg trick. Benching is still affected.

 

IK I use newest drivers with Premas vbios no issues... I was just wondering if Mr Fox custom driver performs better in games over the latest drivers

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

Well it's not working for me, always fails no matter what I do.

 

359 might work

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I am already using version 378.49 (modded) but gforce experience says there is no updates for me :S
Also tried booting into safe mode and DDU my driver, tried to install and still failed

 

Gsync GPU has different Hardware ID. The non gsync versions seems to be included in the drivers. You probably have to mod the drivers everytime

 

well that sucks considering I have no idea how to even mod the drivers in the first place.

 

It is not that hard. Just text edit a file and add your GPU ID string. There are guides everywhere.

Techinferno has a sticky post to do it. I believe also here in NBR there is one. It is very easy and can be done to any set of drivers (desktop or mobile).

 

Just tried one guide to not success, driver install just had a fit and didn't even look for my 980m.
A few of the guides I have found don't seam to have the correct information, a few ask me to search for words within an inf file that just don't exist :S

Will keep trying until I get to annoyed.

 

I haven't done it in a long time. Unpack driver pack in a known folder.

Enter display driver folder and locate the nvdl file. The name changes a bit through the version but it is something like this.

Enter your search for the 980m or better yet, search for the string 13D70550. 13D7 is the non gsync 980m and 0550 is dell ID (if I am correct).

Replace the 13D7 in that line with the correct your GPU has. Find it from GPUz.

Ex. Replace all the lines you find with 13D70550 with xxxx0550 and only those. (possible 3 or 4 lines is a de the document).

Lastly, near the end of the file, you will also replace the string to get the correct name for the device properties.

It is a line that says something like

Xxxxxxxxxx = '980m'

Save the file and run setup.

To get it installed, you have to be in the disabled singed driver mode, if you have windows 8/8.1/10

 

I managed to do it (just) and I noticed most guides fail to mention two rather important things, and was the reason I couldn't do it the first time.
All the guide failed to mention the following, only http://voltground.com had this information which I needed as I am running windows 7.

• NTamd64.6.0 (Vista)
• NTamd64.6.1 (Windows 7)
• NTamd64.6.2 (Windows 8)
• NTamd64.6.3 (Windows 8.1)
• NTamd64.10.0 (Windows 10)

Also another bit of information missing from many guides was which file you should be editing in the first place. Again only http://null-bin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/how-to-modify-nvidia-notebook-driver.html
has the info I needed

Acer & Gateway = nvaci.inf
Asus = nvami.inf
Apple = nvaoi.inf
Compal = nvcti.inf
Clevo (Sager & other re-brands) = nvcvi.inf
Dell & Alienware = nvdmi.inf
Fujitsu = nvfmi.inf
HP = nvbli.inf
HP = nvhmi.inf
LG = nvloi.inf
Lenovo = nvlti.inf
MSI = nvmii.inf
NEC = nvqni.inf Siemens = nvfui.inf
Sony = nvszci.inf
Toshiba Qosmio = nvtdi.inf
Toshiba = nvtsi.inf

With both guides filling in the missing information, together I an now I am running 388.43 without problems (for now)

 

My problem since I edited the first time, was not knowing which OS was which. Also the file was easy to locate, because the builder string is the same in each line. Hope the newer drivers are better than the older ones!

 

So guys, for upgrade my Alienware m18x R2, from Crossfire 7970m to SLi 980m, I just need:
the 2 cards 980m NO GSYNC,
the 2 "L" bracket for cover the memory fo the down part
SLi cable
Thermal pads, thermal paste
Bios unlock (with prema?)

and not need modded drivers anymore!

OK, I think I am ready to forget about the 1xxx series for now, and go with a SLI, I just hope for some years the games still support the SLI.

Since, I think a crossfire of 2x 7970m is same as a single 980m, so upgrade with a single one have no sense... thats why I go for the SLI, and i think I can gain the 50% of better performance, it is right??

Also guys, I have my OS and games in my 512gb ssd msata connected in a sata 3 port via adapter.
I like to adding another HDD, so I think to move the SSD msata, in the msata slot, that i think is SATA 2
Do you think I loose performance in game if i do this??

 

Bios mod as in the Unlocked Bios. You should be able to find it on the forums here if not we can always link you to it. I don't think Sata in the msata slot is Sata 2 pretty sure it's 3... Someone here can confirm. I have 980M SLI and it's a tank in games even today, definitely a good upgrade.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I know msata is sata 2 not 3... but not 100% sure...

 

Yes it's Sata 2 my mistake in my last post

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

so, if I put my OS ssd from sata 3, to sata 2 msata, do you think I loose performance in the games i installed in that ssd?

 

I think SSD in games really depends on the game.... A game like GTA V would be different than say a game like CSGO or Dota...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

SSDs don't have a massive impact in games

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I mean, not about perfomrance as fps, but for example i like to reduce the loading of the game, for example the loading of GTA V.
So I see difference from HDD to SSD, but I like to understand if I notice different from sata 2 to sata 3

 

I would imagine there's a difference but it would not be as noticeable as HDD to SSD... Try to find a video on it

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I feel difference about loading in GTAV from HDD to SSD. I am just not sure if i can feel the difference from mSata to SATA3

 

I want be sure to buy the 980m that permit to install the drivers to the M18x R2 without need to mod.
i understand I DONT need to buy the GSYNC version.
But I see two different type of cards to the bay, theyre look similar but have they have a little difference, please see the picture.
I need to take care? maybe one of this not leave me to install the drivers without mod?
Maybe one is CLEVO and one is DELL? Any idea?
I want be sure to buy 2 identical cards for work in SLI, and I want be sure to buy the model that permit to install the nVidia drivers without mod.
Please help

 

Can always get the Dell Card those shouldn't have a Gsync option, Woodstakz sells them, or you can find used one cheap off ebay. If u go the ebay route ask a seller which model it is. I doubt many of them have the Gsync Cards

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

ok, but what is the difference of the cards in the pictures???
And how about if I buy both of them, they work on SLI if the memory chip is different or other difference?

 

Sorry guys, i have another question.
What about the x bracket?
I found 3 different type, the normal one, the "I" type, and the "L" type, please see the picture.
What i need to buy for the 980m for fit in the Alienware m18x R2??
Since, I see many just use the normal x type, and not the "I" and "L" type.
What improvement the "I" and "L" type offer? a better cooling???
Since many dont use it, so i can avoid the I and L type and save money?? Or they really offer some improvement??
thanks


photo upload sites

 

Pretty sure I have the Stock X plate on my 980M. The L and I would just cool the Memory on the bottom of the card you will need to put thermal padding between the metal and the Memory

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

the L type is pretty expensive. do you think is a good deal for raise the general temperature??

 

no, you will see a 1 degree difference if that

 

thankyou for the info.
And what about the thermal pads? are good and expensive thermal pads like fujipoly 17w worth it? or I can just go for cheap one (6w)??

 

Have the Stock ones on so I can't comment on that... If you have the money get the fujipoly ones

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I dont have the money, but if a good thermal pads help to decrease temperature then I try to buy it. But online someone say they are worth it, and someone say dont need to spend money on this because at best just a couple of degrees change.
So actually I need to decide from this:

fujipoly 1mm 17w: Best, but veeeery expensive

Alphacool 1mm 11w: more cheap than fujipoly, no idea about the diffrenece on perfomrance

Arctic cooling 1mm 6w: cheap, no idea if the performance is enoug for the 980m.

as you say, if the down xbracket cover just offer 1 o 2 diffrence of degree, then the some we can say for the up side??

 

please guys this is important! I dont want high temp but I dont want waste money!

 

I went through this when I was trying to figure out the core temp differential on my old AW 15 R3. I think the gist is, if you know your way very well, use the Fujipoly thermal pads as it has the best results with the caveat that it's probably going to be replaced as soon as you do some repasting. It's not malleable enough to be reused.

The alternative is, buy the Arctic thermal pads as they are very user-friendly, and they can be reused again. It's easy to do minor adjustments to the pads that way, and you don't regret spending too much on it.

I haven't used Alphacool, so I don't know how it is.

One more thing, if you are to manually figure the thermal pad thickness on your own, then I suggest you buy the 0.5mm thickness as it gives you a lot of room for error. You can stack them up to get to the 1mm level (or to any level that you may want).

 

thanks for the advise.

finally I buy the alphacool wwith a clevo downside plate with x bracket. and thermal grizzlies for the core.
I think to receve everything in a couple of weeks, and I let you know how is goes.

Another little question, I read on internet, if now the the nvidia drivers support the 980m inside the m18x r2, then dont need anymore to unlock the bios before install it... but this look strange to me... what do you think? the m18x r2 can recognize the cards without unlock the bios too? Im actually with the last stock bios.

 

I would use the unlocked bios personally for any laptop gpu upgrade...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I don't have an R2, but my R1 had stock BIOS when I upgraded to a 780M SLI setup. I just had to edit some files in the installer for it to recognize the GPUs. After that, I got my unlocked BIOS.

 

Use the latest unlocked bios it will save you a lot of headaches and tearing the machine down in the furture.

The unlocked bios lets you run the 980m with uefi and legacy and therefore windows 7. If at any point you try to boot with legacy (like after removing the cmos battery) on the stock bios with 980m's you'll have to remove the 980m's to get it to boot again and change it back to uefi.

 

Thanks kenny, but can i ask something?
I have windows 10, and I dont have reason to use wndows 7 or 8, or Linux, so thats mean I dont have reason to use uefi adn legacy.
So in this case I have no reason to install the unlock bios, and i can stay with the stock one, right? The cards are recognize without the unlock bios anyway then, right?
If I dont use windows 7, then what is the pro to have the unlocked bios?

 

Windows 10 uses UEFI

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

You can use the stock bios just make sure uefi is selected and saved before you put the 980m's in.
I just dread the 8 beep code, maybe that's because I have taken my system apart so many times in order to get around the lack of 980m+legacy compatibility of the stock bios before @Swick1981 worked his magic

 

understood. and in case after for some reasons I want use legacy, in that case I can have issue, right?
but no legacy, no issue, right? since I dont see reasons to use legacy.

also, as you guys are m18x r2 veterans, I have two issue with this laptop, and as I soon need to open it, then I want undestand if I can do something about.

1-audio hardware is missing after restart. i search on intenet and I see many have the same issue, but still i dont understand if is just a software problem or hardware.

2-whe I open my pc on winter, the display show a part of the screen all white or all in another colors, like the screen is frozen. after some minutes the pc is on this issue gradually disappear. any have the same issue?

 

you have two hardware faults, neither of which can be fixed without replacing them with a new motherboard and new LCD panel.

 

I can understand about the LCD. But about the audio i see on internet someone say it is hardware and someone say it is software, so not sure. Anyway, I can survive like this, i think is too expensive change motherboard and LCD.
The audio work wwith try to restrt sometimes, and work better with windows driver.
The lcd, give me this problem only when it is cold, and after some minutes ON the problem disappear.
The good for both problems is usually I leave my pc open 24h to acces it on remote, so this issue are not critical for me, theyre are just annoing when I need to restart.
I also time ago was burn 4 7970... I was not lucky with this machine, but I still here from the end of 2012 and I still can upgrade it. Anyway this is my last upgrade, after another 2 years is probably time to change the full machine.

 

Which audio? creative, intel hd audio or both?

 

creative

 

just waiting for the xbracket, and soon I start the upgrade..

 

Been following this post for a while, so what cards have you decided to go with?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

2x nVidia 980m 8Gb with hynix memory (NOT Gsync)

Also,
thermal pads [Alphacool] Eisschicht Thermal Pads, 0.5mm-1.5mm, 20x20mm-100x100mm, 11-17W/mK
Thermal paste: Thermal Grizzly kryonaut kouseinounetudendougurisu GS – 08
2x X-Bracket Back Copper AL Plate Heatsink Spreader
Sli cable for m18x R2
and I use the same AMD heatsink removing the black tape.