LVNeptune

That won't work. I'll prepare something when I'm back home. Got some days off and spending them in the mountains.

*waits patiently*

@svl7 Is it safe to use this to flash on an Aorus X3+ V3 970M 6GB? The BIOS version is 84.04.22.00.0F Here's a copy of the vBIOS from my stock.

aorusx3plusv3orig970.zip

3 pipe heatsink x-bracket it came with.

I need a custom vBIOS for the Razer Blade 2014's 870m. The one available in the Kepler page actually gimps the GPU. It will flash successfully but it locks the core at 233~Mhz even though the core itself is set higher and shows that it is set higher in NVInspector for example.

RazerStock870m.zip

The modified rom on page 1 gimps the GPU. It'll say 900~ Mhz for the core but it only works at 200Mhz. Flash back to stock and it works no problem. Here's my stock 870m from my Razer Blade, would appreciate it being unlocked. Thank you. [ATTACH]13781[/ATTACH]

Hi, I am using the 1.025v one and can run most games at +230mhz giving be a boost clock of around 980mhz. It does flake out over that and I generally game on +220 for a speed of 967mhz. Big improvement. BMAO bench is currently giving me 57 fps

PM me if you want a link to everything you need (and my own instructions).

Edit: Temps on full OC are in the 70-75c range.

Boosted +220 and Memory +100 (not sure if memory was needed or not, should I bother?) getting 56-57fps using the 1080p Arkham test with max everything (no AA) so looks like I might be good. ran it a few times and didn't see graphical glitches. Temps are definitely not close to what you were getting. I'm in the upper 80's lower 90's. Even have a cooler on. Just repasted too.

Noticed there was an unlocked vBIOS for the 870M as well. Is that for the 3GB or 6GB version? Was going to reflash my Razer Blade...

Thanks. I'll test with the 1.025v one. I should still be able to figure out how to flash based on the instructions here

What's the best achievable OC's on an M17x R4 w/ my 680M. I was testing the unlocked vBIOS back in the day but haven't messed with OC'ing recently. I have the older mod installed that caps out at around +135 bringing me up to around 888 on the core. Did an Arkham Origins benchmark and gained 5fps bumping it up from stock. Before OC 33 fps average, after OC 38 fps average. Would like to go further, if possible.

They also don't provide any discount on parts. Their discount is on laptops or upgrades only. =/

Yeah I figured it was M17x.

Well he have posted many pictures in the thread as well as Assassin Creed benchmark/gamplay, so his 980M upgrade is indeed legit

The day Alienware use soldered GPUs AND CPUs, they will be dead to me.

The Clevo MXM 780M got another chip on the PCB than Dell 780M?

Peter from Notebookreview said he may try the unlocked BIOS today and try

Aw m18x R2 Dual 980m SLI upgrade!! - Page 3

So they are dead to you now, right?

NVIDIA *ALWAYS* gimps their drivers. Their driver team is the nazi's of the internet. No joke. It started with SLi years ago when only "compatible" motherboards could use SLi until someone cracked the driver and got SLi working on non certified boards. After someone proved that magically the next generation of boards ALL supported SLi. Amazing!

Both those links say they are 3D panels. That second one I believe is LCD only, no assembly. In any case don't worry about it. It's over the $100 I'm willing to spend to swap my 120hz panel to 60hz. This situation is turning me off from ever buying another gaming laptop and just dumping what I have. Alienware and NVIDIA are the Nazi's of the gaming world. NVIDIA gimps their drivers all the damn time. "Oh you are using 3D on an unsupported projector? BANNED HWID. Oh you are using 3D over dual-link DVI using the Apple Mini-DP->DLDVI adapter? BANNED HWID. You are using a non certified GPU with your 120hz 3d compatible lcd? BANNED HWID."

Thanks but that's the 3D panel.

I can get the panel for <$60. I want the whole assembly. I don't want to mess with removing the plexiglass and getting dust in the screen. I've worked on iMac's and it's impossible to prevent dust if you aren't in a clean room.

And yes, I do agree. There's too much I tried this then this then this then this especially between here and NBR. I found a thread that I swear said the 120hz panel DID work but I can't find it anymore. It said you just needed UEFI. I can do that, I don't care. They also said that the MiniDP works for display but the LCD doesn't display anything. Which honestly, to me, is fine! IF this works. I just can't confirm it myself. If that's the case the R4 should technically work without a dGPU with 120hz using the MiniDP but I can't find anyone that's tried that.

really need a sticky with all these findings tabulated cos trying to follow all this is quite the difficult thing to do.

Serious.

I still don't know if the 980m is compatible with my R4 w/ 120hz. It sounds like everything is working on the 60hz panel though. I don't even care. I am buying an external monitor for 144hz. If I need to get a 60hz panel please send me a link to a cheap one <$100 preferrably the whole panel and not just the lcd so I can do a straight swap out.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion I was just throwing that out there. At least you aren't one of the crazy people who is refusing to move off of XP. You are seriously limiting yourself on that OS. In any case Windows 7 will eventually be discontinued and not supported like XP is now and you will be forced to upgrade. Yes, some benchmarking utilities have issues on Windows 8, even 3DMark confirms they've had issues and have issued updates to address that. Eventually you will need to upgrade to Windows 8.1+

You should distinguish Windows 8 and 8.1 for the simple fact that Windows 8 is discontinued and non-supported and no updates are being issued for it anymore. It's a complete kernel rewrite, Server 2012 = 8, Server 2012 R2 = 8.1

I moved all my customers off of Server 2012 as soon as R2 was released because it was very buggy as was Windows 8. I reported an issue with a GPP drive mapping bug that existed in a beta revision and it took them SIX months after RTM gold to actually resolve it. Ridiculous.

Microsoft is failing hard and it's going to get worse. They are opening their own stores and going the way of Apple. When Windows 10 releases OEM will be unavailable except for top-tier dealers such as Dell, HP, etc., my company will not even be able to resell Windows X because of their ridiculous attitude towards the channel partners.

I have installed hardware - took off 7970m and installed 980m .

but I cannot find and install working drivers for it

pls help

does anyone have the hidevolution drivers which are supposed to work on m17x R4 ?

or any drivers that would work ?

Have you successfully got a 980M working on your M17x R4 with the 120hz panel? HidEvo claims that it does not work in that configuration

EDIT: You need to update your signature. You keep saying you don't have a 60hz panel but your signature says otherwise. Fix it to fix the confusion among everyone =/

If you do a side-by-side comparison of the 880m and 980m on the nvidia site you will see the features they dropped. 3DVision was one of them .

Confirmed incorrect by NVIDIA rep. It's supported on supported laptops or through external display.

don't get it from RJ Tech then.... pick someone else.

Messaged HIDEvo on ebay and they replied pretty quickly. They say the R4 w/ 120hz screen 100% does NOT work at all. I don't know what to believe anymore

- - - Updated - - -

So, what guys? It's gonna suck if 980M only works with Windows 8 on Alienware, cause Windows 8 is a piece of crap OS.

Windows 8 is crap. Windows 8.1 fixed all the issues with Windows 8. It runs better, driver support is better, boots faster. It's an all around better OS compared to what Windows 7 was. I would never go back to Windows 7. I've used Windows 8 since it released on my MSDN account. Take the time to learn the minimal UI changes and it will be fine.

Well. I just found my other heatsink. I ordered a secondary one because I was under the impression I had the "old" heatsink before they started using the 3 pipe one. Turns out I already had the new one so I have a spare X-Bracket and heatsink.

EDIT:

Just FYI Squaretrade covers Video Cards and it is $100 to cover this card valued at $720 for 3 years.

If someone can confirm with certainty that I can install this in my M17x R4 and it works I will purchase it from RJTech.

Who knows if that bracket is compatible with the current screws/heatsink though? Also I am 99% sure it would still need to be reflashed with an Alienware BIOS for thermal control but possibly not. RJTech stopped taking any returns on GPU's so I am not willing to beta test it.

Check this https://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=309

USPS Express TAX/CIF, warranty Sager 3 months.

Well that sucks, they are in NV so they are charging sales tax =/

Still, almost $100 cheaper than everywhere else but only 3 month warranty? hmm....

Does it include the X-Bracket and does it work on the M17x R4? Would I need to move over my current X-Bracket? Can I just order a new one? Where would I get it? Thanks.

All right. I spoke to HIDevolution and kudos for them for doing this. This is what they are telling me.

"our team is working on creating a compatible vbios so that alienwares will recognize the 900m series cards"

"we hope to get this done by next week"

"

New message from: upgradeyourlaptop (1317Red Star)

17 is Optimus based

GTX 980M doesn't support 3D internal display, but LCD works in 120Hz mode"

I guess I'll order it *shrug*

Will see in a little while, I suppose. No reason to feel compelled to hurry up and do anything. My gosh, with 780M there is no reason to have any kind of sense of urgency and 980M is still new. Just let the little panty-waisted Ultrabook jockeys have some fun on the stage for a little while with their turd HQ BGA abortions. They won't get many chances to feel good about their wimpy machines. They'll get their teeth knocked out soon enough. Like Serious Sam always said, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye."

@LVNeptune - exactly the same people I have been communicating with and waiting to hear back on the offer to help with testing.

680m here