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    Help with booting a HD7970m in M15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by MZWiZard, Dec 10, 2012.

  1. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Hi.

    I just tried to install a hd 7970m in my alienware m15x. I had to grind the backplate to make it fit. Otherwise everything went smooth. However, system cannot boot. Its stuck flashing caps lock and another. I tried draining by removing battery again and cmos battery, but no luck. I then reinstalled my gt240m and after a drain it booted. Removed it, mounted the hd7970m again. Drained but still stuck at black screen, flashing caps lock.

    Please advice what to do from here. I paid 520$ for this... :(

    Jesper

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
    MZWiZard, Dec 10, 2012
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  2. chrisjohnharden

    chrisjohnharden Notebook Geek

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    That is the faulty video hardware flash code, meaning the 7970m is DOA. Can you have it replaced by the seller?
     
    chrisjohnharden, Dec 10, 2012
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  3. nakednakedguy

    nakednakedguy Notebook Guru

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    Maybe you should ask for a refund and return the card, btw have you done a blind flash of the vBIOS?
     
    nakednakedguy, Dec 10, 2012
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  4. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    240m backplate won't work, it will lay on the capacitors on the back of the card.
     
    svl7, Dec 10, 2012
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  5. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    No, I havent tried blind flashing. Could this be the answer - and is there any tutorial?

    I know, thats why i grinded it and covered it up with rubber sealant afterwards so that it would fit.

    I think yes. He seems a to have a good reputation in here. Its upgrademonkey (laptopmonkey) :)
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 11, 2012
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  6. chrisjohnharden

    chrisjohnharden Notebook Geek

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    Well contact him and see if you can get a replacement. I have a feeling that your home modded backplate may have had something to do with the failure, but it could also be a genuine DOA card.
     
    chrisjohnharden, Dec 11, 2012
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  7. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    I am pretty sure the backplate didnt make a problem. I spend lots of time making sure it would not make contact or apply pressure to any capacitors on the HD7970m. I am currently in the process of getting a DOA replacement, hopefully... :)
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 11, 2012
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  8. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    I think you should get a replacement card man.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Dec 12, 2012
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  9. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, I hope I will :)
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 12, 2012
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  10. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Could the Intel GMA HD onboard the i3-330m interfere in some way? Has anyone tried a 7970m with a dual-core processor with integrated graphics in the AW M15x?
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 13, 2012
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  11. sangemaru

    sangemaru Notebook Deity

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    Yea, most people. Any issues from the GMA HD would be driver related and fixed with driver-sweeper. This is clearly not.
     
    sangemaru, Dec 13, 2012
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  12. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, but mr. Lee from upgrademonkey suggests that this i3-330m maybe will not boot with the 7970m? :confused:
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 13, 2012
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  13. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone in the EU who wants to lend me a quadcore i7? :D
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 13, 2012
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  14. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, now I will try one last time to mount this card... Mr. Lee hasnt been very positive about replacing the card. :(
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 18, 2012
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  15. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Nope, same results... Did I miss something regarding the procedure?

    First unmount the GT240m. Then clean heatsink, mount new, thicker thermal pads, apply thermal paste, carefully mount backplate with the cutouts for the capacitors. Mount the card, 2 screws. Mount heatsink, securing it by fastening the 4 screws in their specified order. While doing this, all power and batteries are disconnected. I press the power button some, before remounting cmos battery followed by main battery and power. Then pressing power button..... Nothing.... :cry:
     
    MZWiZard, Dec 18, 2012
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  16. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    I can;t imagine it should. Simply send it back for replacement and for good measure purchase a compatible backplate. Not costly.

    Good luck!
     
    King of Interns, Dec 19, 2012
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  17. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    After some fighting with upgrademonkeythingie... I got my money back. As I cant seem to find another reasonably priced 7970m, I have just bought a GTX560m from another NBR member. Where are the 7970m's gone to?
     
    MZWiZard, Feb 4, 2013
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  18. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    I wouldn't worry about it. Soon the 8970M will be out :D

    Seriously though I look forward to it. Tweaking the 7970M is a pain. I think the card suffers periodic voltage fluctuations that exceed the voltage set on the card. This means that even if it is for a split second in the M15x the circuitry throttles the card.

    The 6990M was much more stable. I used to run it at 1V at stock clocks and I played BF3 with cpu OCed heavily at max settings with never a stutter in sight. I believe the 8970M as a second gen GCN card will be better made than the first.

    Wait it out mate :)
     
    King of Interns, Feb 5, 2013
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  19. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    Still a bit sad, but I guess the 560m will be a decent upgrade that gets me gaming again :thumbsup: That is, until the 8970m ;) So I guess youre right, I will wait it out. Thank you for comforting me :D
     
    MZWiZard, Feb 6, 2013
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  20. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    No problem man. The M15x is a little gem. I have high hopes with the next gen.

    If we are able to push the cpu hard once again then the cpu won't be a bottleneck for years. When it does then a simple hardvolt mod can be done to boost the cpu some more :D
     
    King of Interns, Feb 7, 2013
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  21. MZWiZard

    MZWiZard Notebook Consultant

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    - Me like! :D Just like old times, but would need some custom watercooling setup... hehe
     
    MZWiZard, Feb 8, 2013
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