GPU fans not kicking up unless I set manually

I posted in another thread about one of my 980m's going bad in my Alienware 18. I believe this ended up being because of overheating overtime as the fans weren't kicking up when temps increased. That being said, is the only way to fix the fans turning on is by using a program like Hwinfo? I'm on latest bios (A15). Currently I just set them manually before doing anything graphically intense and it's fine, but would like the system to automatically do it. I did just repaste with Phobya Nanogrease as well so should be good on that front.

 

Yeah....same here, as I believe my GPU got cooked. The local repair shop here had my 18 for over 8 months and the tech's he conferred with said it wasn't worth fixing; I found it very odd he would tell me that, thinking, shouldn't that be my decision? And along with that, he didn't exactly tell me what was wrong or needed repaired; he knew the fans weren't operating as they should. On a whim, I fixed it myself using the Opolar laptop fan; I posted this fix in another thread that someone else started and was inquiring about their fans doing the same. The Opolar solved my issue; here is the link to that comment/thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-slave-only-aw-18.833310/page-2#post-11024338

 

providing you set it up right, you can have a custom auto fan curve set up in hwinfo. then u can add the line in the config file to were the fan control window opens up minimized along with hwinfo when it starts with windows

 

Good deal guys thanks for the help. I'll just set up a curve within hwinfo

 

Alienware 18 uses a master-slave vBIOS configuration for fan control. You said you swapped slave to master slot. You will need to reflash its vBIOS to activate native fan control. Plan you did not fry the card's mosfets. vBIOS location:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=9w9f7

n16egx1 is master vBIOS
n16egx2 is slave vBIOS.

The card installed in the left/master slot must have master vBIOS flashed to activate native fan control.

 

That it explains it. I was wondering how the gpu fans would altogether stop working like that when they were going just fine before. So what you are saying is if I order another 980m eventually to put back in the slave spot and to run SLI..I am going to need to flash it with the slave vbios? I'm assuming these cards come master vbios flashed when getting off ebay,etc.

Also, @Raidriar from what I posted in this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/psu-light-turns-off-when-powering-up-laptop.834183/

Does this mean it's a dead card? I don't see any burnt components so if there is anything I can look at to give me a sign let me know. This was the card that was in the primary master slot and is now removed from the system, so just running that slave 980m card now in the primary..which I will now re-flash per your recommendation to get fans going.

 

Yes for Alienware 18, you absolutely must use the vbios I linked.

and yes, plug light going out when hooked into computer means a short. Your troubleshooting has pinpointed the 980m as the problem short

 

EC (embedded controller) operates independently of the OS. The correct vBIOS is an absolute requirement on the Alienware 18 unless you enjoy frying graphics cards.

 

Forgive me if I'm not nderstanding what you are meaning here. I'm not sure if this answers my question I posted: The link says this vbios isn't for Windows 10. Is it still the one that's needed though?

 

Yes. Vbios is independent of any OS

 

Ahhh, good to know that then. Hmmm, curious as to why the Support Site would say this: This driver is not applicable for Alienware 18 with Windows 10, 64-bit. Any ideas as to why the site would say this then? Btw, thanks for the good info.