mariussx

Edited - removed the link to the drivers.

Nothing, all should be good to go. You might want to force Windows to recheck your laptop for Windows 10 compatibility: Win+X, then a (it will open cmd as admin), paste this: schtasks.exe /Run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" Hit enter and then open 'get Windows 10' app, it should have a new report waiting and saying you can install windows now. You might need to check for available updates in Windows update.

Uninstall the modded driver from device manager and restart the PC. I had the exact same error when upgrading from 8.1.

New inf for every driver release. Your laptop model number would help to advise which inf is required for you. I am using the same for optimus and dedicated on R4.

I know you already flashed with different version of nvflash, but that is how you do it the old way: http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/8560-nvidia-maxwell-vbios-mods-900m-series-overclocking-versions-37.html#post123356

Here you go, mate: http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/8560-nvidia-maxwell-vbios-mods-900m-series-overclocking-versions.html

I am using svl7 vbios. These kinds of clocks and scores are unachievable with stock vbios.

By the way, I forgot to mention that I tested the latest drivers both in Optimus and Dedicated mode. 353.49 with @J95 modded inf files does not throttle in either mode. Optimus: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 Dedicated: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 (a bit higher clocks)

Hope I done this right - ASIC 72.4%: Edit: +nVidia 353.49 driver Firestrike: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/7712933? *nVidia 353.06 driver Firestrike with the same settings: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/7711849?

Sorry, i am on holiday and I don't take my laptop with me, will post when I am back home.

I have an issue with using GTX 980m in dedicated mode. I can get it working fine without throttling in Optimus: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 But if I switch Intel GPU off with Fn+F7, remove all the graphics drivers in safe mode with DDU (they are missing anyway, but just to be safe) and then install 335.06, card throttles. At all times, even without any overclock - just svl7 vBIOS. I tried setting the card on maximum performance, multiple drivers cleaning (enabling Intel, clean all GPU drivers with DDU), disable Intel, clean the drivers again and then install with no luck. The drivers always install fine, I have no issues with that, but the card throttles every single time regardless of what I do. Is there any real benefit in having the nVidia card in dedicated mode performance wise?

Firestrike with the new drivers (1.156V): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 I can't mark GPU clock and CPU memory clock like you did in Run details. I am guessing this might be caused by Optimus. Both options are greyed out for me. I ran Heaven first as per your advise and the card did not throttle in Firestrike even the first time. Thank you for keeping us up to date with the latest drivers and great advises.

I wil give these new drivers a go tomorrow. Or this evening if I have a chance.

There could be an easy fix for this. See the post below (please ignore it's posted by HP, this works for any computer with Windows 8): HP PCs - Black or blank screen with blinking cursor after entering Windows password | HP®*Support

Driver installed the first time with no issues on R4 with optimus (980m). At first the card was badly throttling, but after the second all graphics drivers wipe, it works fine. No more throttling at least in the first 3d mark Firestike test. Performance seems pretty much the same as with 350.05. 980m can keep the same clocks as with 350.05 too. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 - 350.12 whql NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M17xR4 - 350.05 beta

Yes, I only used older dll and sys files with 347.88 drivers, all stock on this one except your modded nv_disp.inf

Thank you so much for this. The driver installed fine on the first try on my R4. No black screens or any other problems it seems, Windows loaded fine the first try. GTX 980m does not seem to throttle on the first 3D mark Fire strike run, but 3d mark has problems validating the score online with this driver.I was also able to use the same clocks as with 347.88 (with your inf and some files from 346.xx driver). So far 350.05 is great, will need more testing in the actual games Edit: My bad, I was not logged in into the website. http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/6532679

How do you switch to Intel on R4 with A13 BIOS? I think Fn+F7 only switches off Intel so that dedicated is the only GPU in device manager. If I install this driver following the usual modded inf driver install procedure, after Windows loads I only get the black screen. All the drivers install fine though (second time I tried checking 'Perform a clean installation' with the same result):

Thank you so much slv7 and ohnksssfor all the hard work and effort you guys put in these vbios mods. A very big thank you to slv7 for all the work with earlier GPU vbios. I was using a modded version on 680m and it was great. I was pretty scared to brick my card using windows version of nvflash as it looked like it was always just freezing. This looked wrong, since DOS version is almost instant in providing some kind of feedback after you type the command in. I did the following to complete the flashing: rebooted enabled legacy in bios booted to windows 8.1 saved backup vbios with gpu-z (had to wait for a few minutes, it looked like it was freezing at first, but just continue waiting) disabled gtx 980m in device manager ran cmd as admin and typed in the commands from OP. At this point it looked as if nothing is happening, but I kept waiting for at least 1-2 mins and finally saw some feedback. cmd showed my gpu and offered to continue loading new vbios. And the flashing was done! rebooted and changed back into uefi, secure boot on, saved and booted into windows I was quite scared that in windows something might go wrong, but it's just as easy as in DOS. So it will work, you just have to be very patient, which I wasn't at first. First 3d mark 11 run with stock clocks (it was crashing with original vbios): http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9448077

I tried flashing the card with unlocked BIOS. This is how far I get, but it gets stuck at this point. The card is disabled in the device manager before the flashing. What could be wrong?

You only need to mod the drivers if the card is not officially supported in your laptop. For example if I installed GTX 980m/880m/780m into my R4, I would need to mod the drivers. However, if you can buy the laptop from Dell with that particular GPU already installed, the configuration is officially supported and you do not need to mod the drivers. This applies even if you updated your VBIOS. I updated VBIOS for my GTX 680m and never had to mod the drivers, since this card is officially supported by Dell in R4.

Dell 680m - 80.04.5B.00.02_'OCedition'_revised_00 - This is the latest version of BIOS, which enables GTX 680m to boot on UEFI systems. Another version is the older vBIOS for the same card as far as I am aware. I tried both on my laptop in the signature. 5b version can boot into Windows 8.1 in full UEFI mode when Intel GPU is disabled. When 680m is flashed with 33 version, card does not boot into Windows in full UEFI - laptop just reboots and re-enables Intel GPU and Optimus and boots into Windows using Intel card. 5b is better is you do not want optimus for some reason as it allows UEFI systems to run fully on nVidia GPU and have Intel GPU disabled. 33 is better for overclocking as some versions have OV, which allows higher stable OC. Unless someone adds the same OV options to the latest vBIOS

To be honest I would not accept a repair on a brand new notebook, I would push for a new one if I were you. Of course this could result in delays building new one to your specs... Ok, things to check - touchpad, touchpad buttons, sound, mic, webcam and then go into device manager and check if there are any unknown devices. Then stress test the system since replacing the mainboard means they had to remove the heatsinks from CPU and GPU and might have not done the best re-pasting job. Check the built quality - if it does not feel loose somewhere, move the screen and check if you get any picture distortions/picture corruption at any angle. And then check all the ports on the notebook If the technician is coming to your house make sure he cleans old thermal paste completely from both heatsinks and CPU with GPU and then applies new thermal paste. I had one tech trying to put the heatsinks back without cleaning old thermal paste and my reported fault was overheating...

Hi, my name is Marius. I live in UK and am a proud owner of last gen AW. This seems to be a good place for extending my quite limited knowledge of overclocking and learn from pros.

Alienware all the way. You will get much easier disassembly and better cooling with AW. AW also lets you disassemble and upgrade your laptop yourself, which is so much cheaper than using their upgrades. This does not void the warranty either (unless you brake something and parts you fit comes with their own warranty and are not covered by AW). I did not have a chance to use the newest generation of AW and saw mixed reviews and impressions, but you really can not go wrong. I guess it comes down to money - how much extra do you need to spend for AW design (including not only looks and feel, but general architecture of the machine) and can you justify that expense considering you will have to live with it for at least 2-3 years. Later new GPU, CPU, SSD or something else will come out and eventually you might want to sell AW and get the new machine. That's another benefit of owning AW - you will surely get more for 3 years old AW than 3 years old Origin/Clevo/MSI etc.