Alienware M18x R2 7970 CF, best GPU upgrade option?

Is that the 980m with TEP cooling?


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I think to remember that TEP cooling module isn't compatible with m18xR2 because has not enough space to be mounted

 

I was told that as well by woodzstack666 when I purchased 2 980m’s for my AW18.


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tep? I worried about. I try, and if not fit I just use the xbracket. but the seller say to me many peope use it with the m18x r2

 

a stupid seller send me the wrong size thermal pads, so now i need to wait another 10 days, probably. or just do the upgrade with cheap thermal pads. I very worried how much the thermal pads influence the temperature or the full card and decrease the risk to burn it...

 

I give up. I try different bios original and modded, but the system dint recognize the 980m. system on with blackscreen. only one time I was able to boot with the 980 but during the installation of the drivers, black screen again. with stock bios 8 bip. with mod no beep but black screen anyway, the card became hot and fan dont start... Im on swick a11 unlocked bios right now

 

I have the same problem. System doesn’t recognise the cards at all.


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any idea why?

 

please help, right now I can be if I use only one card and only in SG mode, but after the installation of drivers windows give me boot issue... uff

 

I’m sending cards back to Germany today. So they can flash them with Dell vbios and send them back.


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I very regret to try to do this uodate. here in the forum all say that work, but dont work at all. the only way I can boot with one card is in SG mode, that is not what I need, and anyway after I install the drivers windows dont boot with "nvlddmkm.sys" error. waste of money and time.

 

I know the feeling. What bios you got on cards?


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how I see that? I use the nvflash tool for the alienware 18 sli, and the give me this number:

adapter: geforce gtx 980m (10de, 13d7, 102b, 0550) h:--:nrm s:00, b:01, pci, d:00, f:00)

warning: firmware image pci subsystem id (1028, 05ab)
does not match adapter pci subsystem id (1028,0550)

please press "y" to confirm override of pci subsystem id's:


I think about flash the cards by myself, but not sure what is the best metid and vbios..

 

Im so tired, and all information I found are nothing to do with my problem. the only chance is the problem us the vbios, many people here say 980m slli work like pkug and play, but us not at all like this. I cant advise to try this update

 

I use gpu-z for check the card without drivers installed.
but I dont know if the information wuth gpuz are reliably because for example the cards have hynix memory nut gpuz say samsung..
also gpu z say:
subvendor: Dell (so should waork, then why dont work).
bios version: 84.04.2f.00.79
at the moment the name of the card is: microsoft basic display adapter because if I install the druvers then I cant boot in windows.no one help?

 

i hope you are following all the instructions mentioned in this thread here http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/aw-m18x-r2-dual-980m-sli-upgrade.765169/

 

yes, I follow that topic and aftr i try something other, nothing! nothing! it is not true the 980m sli work on m18x r2.

also install the unlock bios was unsufulhow i was say, I use windows 10 and i dont have any need about legacy. My system is in UEFi and happy with that. the card dont boot with original and mod bios, the only way I can both and see the card in windows is to use SG mode, but it dont work with cards, and anyway i have trouble when I install the drivers, but anyway all wwrite this card can work as PEG, but I try everything and everything dont work.

 

its fake the fact 980m sli work in m18x r2, I can confirm that, seem all have this configuration let it work only with compromise, no one have the sli980m work correctly at full power in m18x r2.

 

all people have m18x r2 with 980m sli in the signature are a liars!

 

update, I found a fix!
return the cards to the seller, sell the laptop, goodbay.

 

I’ve sent mine back that didn’t work on my AW18.

Good luck to you.


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yes, theryare all liars here. no one really prove that they have a sli980m work in m18x r2.. this is my last try, tomorrow I go to buy a desktop

 

Sure some have had it work. I’ve seen proof that they work on mine. But I think the issue with mine was the cards and not my system. Hopefully now they get flashed with the correct vbios we shall see.


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right now my card haveclevo bios, that I listen dont need to be flshed for work in alienware. I can flash it in case, but I sure I spend money for buy the vbios from prema or sameone else and nothing change, then I just give up, I was aspect more help for the community, disappoined

 

I’ve noticed people do try help if they think they can help, but if they don’t think they can help they might not respond. @woodzstack666 can you help this guy?

I’ve been told my cards had the clevo vbios but my system still refuses to acknowledge the cards despite my efforts and the community’s help. I’ve sent mine back to be flashed with dell vbios so hopefully upon return should work. Can’t you do the same? Where did you buy from?


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you will not get any help with this attitude, the correct way of doing this would be making request to all those people who have gtx980 sli working, by politely drafting them an assistance pm . maybe and only maybe they will try to help you out and solve the issue you might be facing.

Edit : make a new thread in the section and ask for the help there .not all the people open the thread to see a conversation which started few days back

 

ok ok, you right, I dont want be rude, I just so frustrated... please understand I put all my saved money on this upgrade..and now I cant heat for 1 month..

Do you think I should try to flash the card that areactually probably with clevo vbios? but what vbiosI should use????

sorry again for my attitude guys...

Anyway i buy this used cards from an ebay reseller, name is klfy (or kify)

anyway, i see many people give up just like me after try everythink without result...

 

Do the gpu’s come up in your bios? If so why don’t you flash them with a dell bios.


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because I am not sure what bios i should use...

 

Is it single GPU or sli?


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Apparently you can use the clevo bios from prema which is better.

Check out this thread:
https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/8557-vbios-mods-alienware-prema-mod™/


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Ur in PEG Mode?

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I see some post from Wesley-Alex that is clearly fake is result, this is why i start to think all are fake... sorry guys

no, with PEG mode I have black scree, the only way to see the 980m in windows is SG..

 

thankyou i already check it out, but honestly i cant take this cards only another 24-48h or after i cant return them anymore, so ask for premaand maybe pay for it can be slowly and expensive right now..

 

vbios installed? Drivers Installed?

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clevo vbios, and i try dell vbios right now, all same result. I can install the drivers in SG mode, but after the reboot the drivers give me a blue screen.

i want try prema bios, but seem no download available and ask tohim became probably slowly as tomorrow I need tor eturn the cards if they stil dont working. Anyway I see a lot of topic start to upgrade the m18x r2 with sli 980m, but actually I dont see any finish it successful.. many give up like me. maybe someone know the secret how to let it work but dont share it..

 

Dont install drivers in SG.....need PEG only for SLI. There is no secret. I literally flashed my unlocked BIOS, removed 780Ms, installed 980Ms, set video mode to PEG, installed nvidia drivers. super easy.....

 

When you put the 980m’s in did they show up in bios? If so that’s what a few of us are struggling with, cards not showing in bios or device manager.


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Yes, immediately recognized in the BIOS, in both slots as Nvidia GFX

 

You don't see the cards in bios?

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No. I’ve sent them back today. Now the seller called alu*tec*de is threatening me asking me to close the case I opened with PayPal because he has messages from me that state I had an unlocked A12 bios and it may have damaged the cards. Lol. You guys with experience, isn’t this a load of s*it!


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Can having an unlocked bios damage gpu’s? I know it can’t but just want other opinions as the idiot should be reading these posts and will know that more crap comes out of his mouth than an elephants rear!


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Can damage the bios chip if flashed improperly

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No vbios would be the only thing to wreck the bios chips on the card... Unlocked bios should have nothing to do with it

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That’s exactly my point. I did try flash the cards with the bios the seller sent me which he stated was an official dell vbios.


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flashing an unlocked BIOS has zero effects on your GPUs...it doesn't even touch the BIOS chip on your video card, only the chip on the motherboard. However, flash a bad vBIOS or mishandle your card upon installation, and you can easily damage your cards.

 

Yes that’s what I thought. Thanks for your input.


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then thats mean some cards work and some not. But I cant find any information how ti buy the correct plug and play card. the only whay I can see ine card in bios is with SG. can you share information about your cards with some pictures so we undersrand the difference? and what vbios do you use? do you have throttling issue?

 

There may be problems with graphics card recognition if the settings in the Unlocked BIOS are not correct.

Example: the Alienware M17X R3 with GTX 580M upgrade to GTX 880M
If the unlocked BIOS is not set correctly, the graphics card will not be recognized.

In your case,
you got new and additionally tested GTX 980M graphics cards.
Harware ID 13D7 with original Clevo V-BIOS 84.04.22.00.12
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/181023/181023

the same V-BIOS is also used by DELL
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/182494/182494

One should better inform oneself before an upgrade,
so that such problems do not happen.

 

I want to step up as a liar. I have a 980m SLI in my system and it is working fine.
I use OSD and see activities and temps when gaming.
Games with SLI support, utilizes the GPUS to 99% and throttle when I don't do the trick to stop them.
I also have made a dual psu mod with a display to see actual wattage, and it is quite a lot.

So to sum up your problems.
980m works out of the box in the M18x R2 with clever and dell bios. Also premas v2 is compatible.

You need A12 official dell system bios and setting the system on Full UEFI Before installing the GPUS inside. If you don't set UEFI you get 8 beeps error and nothing to do.

Dont set SG with both cards in, you get 8 beeps.

Remove both your GPUS and let it boot with iGFX. Boot windows and install dell's A12 bios from the downloads section..

Shut down, remove Psu and battery and keep pressing the power button for 20 sec. That will clear any clutter in the CMOS.

Power on and make sure you have select UEFI and possibly secure boot from the bios menu. Maybe now you will not be able to boot in windows anymore (I am not so sure about that though).

Shut down and install your GPUS. Immidiatelly go into bios and check under the info screen for 'Nvidia GFX'.

If you booted and bios shows NVidia Gfx, go ahead and boot into windows. If you are successful, install drivers. As far as I can see, you have 13D7 ID which is the non gsync version and you should be good to go.