m15x with no discrete graphics?

I originally posted this in the dell/alienware section by mistake, so if a mod could delete my other post, that would be great.




I just purchased a "fully functional" (as advertised) m15x, it has some blemishes, scratches, and some undisclosed screen imperfections, but was an otherwise great deal and is obviously a high end unit, as it has WUXGA screen and X9000 cpu, but I was surprised to see it only has Intel graphics. I looked in the bios and can't see any mention of graphics, or ways to enable them. I was warned that some people remove the defective nVidia cards, so I popped the cover and both fans and heatsinks are present, so I'm not sure what to think.

Here is a photo

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1446/img0538bw.jpg

I also see it has a couple unused miniPCIe slots, will this support an Intel Turbo Memory chip?


I'd also like to know if the bios supports overclocking, I assumed since it has the X9000 that it would, but I saw no such options to adjust the multiplier.


Thanks in Advance

 

To enable the dedicated GPU, press Fn+F7 when you're in Windows. Make sure the OSD utility is running as well. It will prompt you to switch to external graphics and reboot the system.

The system does support turbo memory, up to 1 Gb if i remember correctly

 

Hi, I'm on this beast now and when I press "fn" and "F7", nothing happens. I don't believe OSD is installed, or at least I can't find it in the start menu. I looked on the drivers and support site, but I only see OSD driver for the M17 series.

I suspect someone may have removed the descrete graphics and removed all drivers and apps to hide the fact, but I need to confirm this one way or another.

Device manager only shows the Intel graphics, and windows search for hardware finds nothing.

Can you tell me how to launch OSD, and where to download it if I don't have it installed? and I was also surprised that there was nothing in the bios setup screen regarding the graphics, is it really possible I got a unit built with only Intel? that would seem really strange for someone to order a $1000+ cpu option, and a full HD screen, and no descrete graphics. I probably should pull the heatsink and look whats under it, but I'd prefer not to disassemble it if possible.

Thanks

 

http://aliendl.alienware.com/Mobile/m15x/m15x_OSD_Win7_x64_driver_2.7.exe

OSD Download there

 

The card is obviously in there (the two gray square mosfets are visible under the heatsink).
From the looks of it (size of the heatsink), it would be an 8800GTX... these cards are known to be faulty, you can try and find a replacement or try and "bake" the card, there are a few posts about all of this around here.

In my m15x, when the IGP is turned on, Windows doesn't detect the discrete card so this is normal and I don't believe that an Alienware could be bought without a real graphics card

But first you should indeed install the OSD correctly and try to switch between cards.

 

Yeah, I thought I could make out the card somewhere in there.
I suggest you follow the link Gearsguy posted and do what you need to do there.

 

Thank you to all that have replied. I just tried to install OSD, and got an error "utility msi" not found. I'll google it and see what I can find out, but it sounds like I need to update my mcrosoft installer.

I'll check back and report as this progresses.

osd for vista 32bit

http://aliendl.alienware.com/Mobile/m15x/m15x_OSD_Vista_00020.exe

Ok, I got my answer...

Installed OSD, switched to dedicated graphics and no video.... The system did boot, could hear windows start, but no screen, so I pressed "fn" and "F7", then hit enter, waited and hit enter again, and it restarted in integrated graphics.

I'm going to assume the seller had no idea someone tampered with this (for now), he doesn't accept returns, so I'll ask him to help pay for a new graphics card. Worse case it will cost him some bad feedback.

I see the cards sell starting at $100-200, anyone know where I can get a good used one in the $50 range?

 

The cards selling at 100-200 are already used... That's the price range. There are also a few posts around here about the alternatives for the m15x.

Also, I don't think there was any tampering involved, these cards just have a short life span (bad solder under the chip).

What you can try to do is reseat the card, because it's strange that the pc boots with it. That however would require you to buy some thermal paste (I use Arctic Silver 5, it never let me down).

 

Actually I know about the nVidia defect well, I have many thinkpads. The problem isn't the solder under the chip, its the "bumb" material within the chip. The Lead substittutes used proved unreliable and have been failing in all high-end notebooks of the era.

I do think there is deception here because the OSD was obviously removed to hide the failed card, and the machine doesn't boot (no video) when it's enabled.

I was able to find an auction for a similar model that sold with the same defect disclosed for $144 less, and the seller asked me how much would make me happy, so that was my answer. I have high hopes we can settle this, and I'll probably look for a good deal on a card, and just use the integrated graphics until I do.

Please let me know if you hear of any low cost source for a card. This is a budget machine so I don't want to put a lot of money into it.

Thanks

 

Well, that's kind of the definition of booting there was just no video...

Anyways, if you want to avoid the same problem in the future, you may want to buy a radeon 3870, about the same performance and no problems
The only thing that could be a problem is that the heatsink would need a little mod because there's an additional mosfet on the 3870.

 

That sounds like a good option. Is this a card proprietary to Alienware, or is it a standard type?

Do you have a model number I could look for, or know of a good supplier?

 

There are certainly a few of these on eBay, the MXM socket is some kind of a standard so theoretically you should have no problem with cards of other brands.

In fact, I think that every single 3870 I've seen so far is for an alienware m17. You'll see them listed as master and slave, for you it shouldn't matter which one you take because you can't have crossfire anyways. The card will only be listed as 3870x2 in the device manager.

Alienware M15X ATI Radeon M88 HD 3870 512MB Master Card | eBay here's one as an example.
as you can see, there are 3 grey mosfets on the bottom of the picture, the upper one isn't present on the 8800GTX, that's where the heatsink will need some cutting.

 

Do you know if an ATI 5870 slave card will work? I'm guessing it won't, but I did find a deal on one of them. Would be really sweet if it would fit.

Seems the cheapest 3870 I've found is about $140, or 150 for a manufacturer refurb.

I don't mind doing some cutting on the heatsink. Are there photos of how it's done posted anywhere?

 

It would be sweet wouldn't it... Unfortunately a 5870 is a MXM Type 3 socket while the 3870 is a Type 2, they aren't compatible...
Some say that the 4850 could work (never seen it happen though) but they are very hard to come by.
benfclark on this forum tried the 4870, it kinda worked then it didn't so there are probably bios limitations too...

As for pictures, I haven't seen any but you can look on the links below and you'll have an idea:

here's what you have: Alienware Area-51 m15x MD2THERMMODULE1 Heatsink | eBay

here's what you should have: New Alienware Area51 m15x Thermal Module Heatsink M88XT | eBay

I guess a dremel would be useful in this case.

 

Update, when I first contacted the seller, he seemed concerned and asked what it would take to make me happy. I looked at the cost to fix it, and also found a similar system that sold for less because this exact problem was disclosed. The difference in sales prices was $144, so that's what I asked for...

I can't fix it for that, so I thought it was more then fair.

Now suddenly the "non-returnable" item is returnable, but only after I paid to ship it to me, investiment for diagnosis, and to ship it back, so I replied that I want to fix it, can we please work this out.

Now I got no reply. I suspect he knew about this and just wants to try to scam the next person.

It's not a matter of money, I'll fix it solely myself if I have to, but if he doesn't at least offer to help with the cost, then it will cost him his reputation. I don't know if an ebay dispute will win or not, but I'll definitely use feedback if needed.

 

Contact eBay if he doesn't respond, he sold you a "fully functional" laptop and it obviously isn't. It won't harm to try and get at least some money back.

Explain to them what is Alienware and how the lack of a discrete graphics make it crippled. Emphasise the fact that the card is in there but doesn't work.

If you paid by PayPal, you may also try to get a refund that way, if you explain everything (and also the fact that you have already tried to reason with the seller), there's a chance you'll win the dispute and at least get some satisfaction.

You've got nothing to lose I think