Problems with GPU upgrade in M18X R1

Now I have an M18X R1 laying around here with GTX 580m SLI. Slave card is dead. So I thought it would be easy to install to a newer generation GPU with unlocked Bios in SG-Mode. I tried 2x 870m MSI, 1x 870m Clevo, 1x 780m MSI and an Alienware 770m. But no luck with all the cards. The stuck at the Alienware Boot up Logo. The only card that is working is an old MSI 670mx. Do I need another VBios for the cards?

 

SG mode only works with 1 gpu, my r1 has a single 780m running in PEG mode. the vbios on mine is 80.04.B3.00.10 which if the boot screen is any indication its a custom vbios from techinferno

 

Ok, I think it was not clearly. I tried every card and only one in the master MXM slot. So I never tried PEG SLI.
I will try your VBios for my 780m.

 

yeah i decided to not go SLI after one of my 580m's started failing, felt like it was more hassle then its worth considering SLI support has been fazed out over time, the 780m alone puts the 580m SLI combo to shame

 

Does the BIOS show that the discrete card is recognised? It could be a vBIOS issue but usually the system will still boot but you just get a code 43 when the driver is installed.

 

so I tried your VBios. Still no luck. Hangs on bootscreen

 

I can‘t go into Bios. It Stopps at the Alien Head

 

So I tried all the cards in PEG. And what to say, they all runs in PEG but not in SG. But why? Does someone know?

 

Now often I got a 1 beep error at startup with all 7xx and 8xx cards. Sometimes the cards are working but often not. So do I maybe have to flash the newest original Bios?

 

Push come to shove you could try a Quadro K series card and chances are that it would likely work though they are slower cards they do come with some benefits mainly the drivers just install on their own and no audio issues ect.

 

I have no experience with the R1 GPU upgrades which makes it harder for me to help. The M17x R3 required the HD Audio to be disabled in the BIOS for most GPU upgrades. Is this option available in the M18x R1 BIOS? If it is, maybe you'll need to disable it before installing the 700 or 800 card.

 

not sure how to advise either since i never had such issues with mine. all i can say is that my r1 has the unlocked bios and its using a clevo variant of the 780m. it was pretty much plug and play aside from the obvious driver mod

 

So after many times of disassembling and installing the Alienware 780m is working. But I don’t know why. The only thing is left is that I can‘t open the Nvidia panel. After inf. Modding the card is working fine. Tested with Superposition. Also a reinstallation didn‘t help. I had this a several times before but I don‘t know the solution.