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    m18x r2 video card died

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by Unprotectedtext, Nov 1, 2015.

  1. Unprotectedtext

    Unprotectedtext Newbie

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    Hello everyone.
    Had my video card die the other day. It was a 7970 CF setup and been looking around for something I could just plug and play and was hoping I could get some help.

    How can I tell if the secondary card died as well?

    If it hasn't would it be easiest to just get another 7970 and replace the primary?

    Trying to keep in a budget so this has me thinking best ask for advice.



    Thanks in advance!
     
    Unprotectedtext, Nov 1, 2015
    #1
  2. smoking2k

    smoking2k Notebook Consultant

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    http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-SELLER-7...122476?hash=item3f56147b2c:g:EU0AAOSwo0JWLV6X

    There are always a ton on eBay. I would be wary of ones from china(personal bad experiences). To see if your slave is bad you could put it in the primary slot to test it.

    Oh and make sure you have the right vbios on the card you replace it with you can dump your stock vbios using gpu z.(also tells you the bios version click button to the right to save your bios)
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2015
    smoking2k, Nov 1, 2015
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    Unprotectedtext likes this.
  3. Unprotectedtext

    Unprotectedtext Newbie

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    So my secondary card (on the right) will be plug and play if I switch it to my primary?

    To answer my own question yes it is. Now my next question. Is there a way to revive a dead card or is this card trash?
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2015
    Unprotectedtext, Nov 1, 2015
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  4. smoking2k

    smoking2k Notebook Consultant

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    I don't think you can get it refurbished... Probable wouldn't be worth it anyway the cost of a new one on flee bay is pretty cheap...What were the symptoms of it dyeing or did it just give up the ghost ? Have you considered upgrading to 780m's or 980m's? Your M18x R2 is far from absolete...
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2015
    smoking2k, Nov 1, 2015
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  5. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    I have a spare 7970M for sale pulled from my M18x, PM me if you would like to purchase.
     
    Raidriar, Nov 1, 2015
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  6. Unprotectedtext

    Unprotectedtext Newbie

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    I was looking at some 780m but I would need all the parts the spreader bars and the sli cable. Gotta keep my budget under 1500. Canadian.

    The 980m would be awesome but I am running windows 7. Didnt see anything for getting it to work in win7

    ohh and when it died my screen went black and it restarted with 2 blue columns on screen. Then when windows started there were little blue music notes everywhere then restart loop.
     
    Unprotectedtext, Nov 1, 2015
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  7. Unprotectedtext

    Unprotectedtext Newbie

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    Ok I went and bought a nvidia 780m gtx. Just one for now. Came with the x bracket. I tried a search on the 780m for some info on installing it in my beastly laptop but I get soooo much to sort thru. Felt like I been reading for days.
    My question is...
    Is the 780m PnP in the m18xr2? And if not could you please help me to find the instructions here... please

    Thanks In advance!!
     
    Unprotectedtext, Nov 2, 2015
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  8. pathfindercod

    pathfindercod Notebook Virtuoso

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    You need a 100watt heat sink for nvidia or modify the tape shrouding on a 100watt amd heat sink. Also need some 1mm thermal pads and thermal greese of some sort.

    Placement of thermal pads is critical and I will link you to pictures for that later today when I'm at a computer if nobody gets to it before me.
     
    pathfindercod, Nov 2, 2015
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