J95

In the BIOS try disabling the integrated sound card (IDT).

Yeah Kombustor included, it seems that the latest system BIOS addresses this issue or dell will repeat itself 580m all over again....warranty Dell will cover it since everything is included, from defective parts to user stupidity, so we start paying for the other guy burned cards, systems sudden death when a new revision is released all happily covered by dell, overpriced ? no..no..bad mood, dell w. lately ? :D

That's a hardware protection implemented by Nvidia and AMD, never use Furmark w/ mobile cards even more with the 780m, just flash the unlocked vBIOS as Khenglish said.

Modded nvdmn.inf v326.80 Alienware M17XR2/R3/R4 3D + M18XR1/R2 Nvidia GTX 680M / 780M NVIDIA DRIVERS 326.80BETA

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 Graphics Score 10201.....

Follow these instructions http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/4132-alienware-m17x-r3-upgrading-gtx-780m.html#post57970 6 beeps, check if the card is properly seated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vEk_ZFAzLI#t=3m51s

Enter the BIOS and disable the integrated sound card, same issue with the M17x-R3 http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/3702-m17x-r3-gpu-upgrade-gtx-780m-9.html#post61496 http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/4509-m17x-r3-gtx-780m-bricked-beeping-6-8-a.html

Yeah I only discovered this when reinstalling the OS, before it was fine too.

No, the issue is the IDT chip not the board, but the R4 MB with the creative sound card has no issues.

You mean upgrade the board (R4)? Dell will not do that, maybe the ex-tech...

Hi, enter the BIOS and disable the integrated HD sound card, the IDT chip is not compatible, instead use an external usb sound card http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/3702-m17x-r3-gpu-upgrade-gtx-780m-9.html#post61496

I reduced the copper plate without exposing the heatpipes, double pipe cpu htsnk will not cover the die so exposing them will increase the temp difference between cores. Better cover that chip, when stressed it reaches 120C with htsnk contact. The overclocking potential of this vBIOS with those temps is highly increased only limited by the 240W PSU 780M/XM temporarily...

Reduced both copper plates, GPU htsnk doesn't need that much reduction and molded the mosfet Fujipoly pads specific size increasing the gaps between them, basically more warm air gaps for better heat dissipation than the htsnk itself and let it rise (lower density) I will post pics after upgrading the MB...did you use the mosfet AL strip ?

3DMark11 1050/6000 OV 1.050V temp 68C htsnk mod, thermal limit...

This Game Ready driver offers the best gaming experience for Splinter Cell: Blacklist and is also a recommended driver update for the Windows 8.1 Preview. GeForce R326 drivers also provide performance increases for a variety of different games. New in GeForce R326 Drivers Performance Boost – Increases performance by up to 19% for GeForce 400/500/600/700 series GPUs in several PC games vs. GeForce 320.49 WHQL-certified drivers. NVIDIA DRIVERS 326.80BETA Second option w/ restart Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) V5.1.1 Here is a list of some bugs which are fixed in driver 326.80. For additional info, please download our 326.80 Release Notes: http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/326.80/326.80-win8-win7-winvista-desktop-release-notes.pdf -Some 27" 1440p monitors with Korean B grade panels are not detected. [1329305] -The NVIDIA Driver fails to install on some systems. [1329909] -TDR error may occur when the system is idle for 36 hours. [1330455] -[Metro: Last Light]: Game performance drops with latest PhysX software. [1316114] -[GeForce GTX TITAN][sniper Elite V2]: The benchmark crashes when Advanced Shadows is turned. [1253786] -[GeForce GTX 650Ti][surround]: When three displays connected in 2D Surround mode, the Windows Start button cannot be clicked. [1299351] -[sLI][sleeping Dogs]: The game crashes when played with SLI enabled. [1327315] -[NFS]: There is corruption on the screen when playing the game. [1315717] -[surround][Far Cry 3]: With 3D Surround enabled, the system hangs when changing the in-game Surround resolution. [1256120] -[sLI][Windows Magnifier]: With SLI enabled, the application crashes when attempting to close. [1339556] -[NFS]: There is corruption on the screen when playing the game. [1315717] -Faceworks demo shows DIgital Ira character with yellow beard [1338771] -Far Cry 3 severe FPS drop in performance in SLI mode sometimes while gaming [1349607] -GRID 2 minimum FPS is much lower in SLI mode than in single GPU mode - 1349581 Please note we have updated the Geforce SLI Profile Tool with this release. After updating my display driver, I no longer see NvApps.xml. Did something change? Here is a list of bugs that are targeted for next major driver branch. I will be continually adding more bugs to this list: 1328590 - Black artifacts on screen in Battlefield 3 when playing with Ultra preset graphic setting in Golf of Oman map 1295996 - [surround]: 320.18: Dragon Age II exhibits lower performance after driver update 1343087 - If Desktop Refresh Rate change to 120Hz and open and close any 3D stereo app, refresh rate switch back to previous refresh rate 1351276 - Severe flickering observed if we launch any Stereo app in full screen from Desktop when other Metro stereo app is running in parallel in dual view mode with the external 3DTV set as primary. nvdmn.inf_M17XR2_R3_R4_3D_M18XR1_R2_GTX680M_GTX780M_v326.80.zip

A08 M17xR3 UNLOCKED A08 BIOS.rar

Single step, three uninstall options works for both Nvidia/AMD, removes display driver from device manager + services and all current/previous drivers from the Windows Driver store. Tested versions 3.9.1 - 4.3.2 Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)

Its not a driver issue probably hardware/firmware, we could try to flash a dell vbios to rule out clevo but still I will upgrade the MOBO (R4) it uses the same connectors, even the eDP screen connector is a 50pin one plugged to 40 pin cable (120Hz samsung screen), someone swapped an R3 120Hz screen to the R4 w/ no 3D support but it worked and the first R4s came with sandy bridge processors, I don't know if the OC options are compatible.

This was before CPU htsnk mod, GPU htsnk mod Max 68C 1.025V (GTX 780M) based info [Conference Call] Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M 78C° Throttling [sEE POST #191 and later] - Page 29 3DMark 11 (mistakenly disabled GPU power) GPU htsnk works better with the copper plate, heat is constant, Gelid extreme is the best thermal compound for the CPU not that much difference w/ GPU. Here are some tests, not perfect but still pretty accurate [eXtreme-roundup] 26 Thermal Compounds tested - hwbot.org

Removed c-clips/black isolating tape, sanded both metal parts reducing it as much as possible, used an even steel plate with rice paper and ink to look for imperfections. Finished using thin sanding paper, polished it. Reduced temps 8-9C, the best solution would be singled piped htsnk without any plate in between, pipe die contact. I'll wait and see Dell making the same 'mistake' all over again (M18x cpu/GTX 580M htsnk) with the new m17 and extreme processors option, many threads "M17 CPU throttle" "CPU overheating" then a couple of months later a 3 piped redesigned htsnk will become available(R3/R4 perfect fit), any publicity is good publicity.

P9201 1006/6000 win7 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 P9175 1006/6000 win8.1 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 Win8.1 improved performance, 240W PSU limiting factor higher Physics Scores w/ 680M, finished modding cpu htsnk so 4.3GHz 85-90C is stable now, next 330W PSU mod. No sound thanks to IDT'sh + so MOBO upgrade (R4) first. Clevo card. +157 = 1006MHz (1007) +500 = 5997MHz +12.5mV = 1.012V Max temp 68C

P9150 1006/6000 stock voltage NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3

P9160 1006/5985 OV 1.025v Win8.1, just to check temps NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 P9150 1006/6000 stock voltage NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 Reinstalled windows, sound card compatibility issue detected, only disabling IDT in the BIOS worked, tried swapping GPU's, installed IDT (the same crappy sound card Dell used for the cheaper Inspiron models) but still no go windows loads IDT or microsoft drivers and screen turns white; solution external sound card or MOBO upgrade. Multitasking IDT.....

@toto GTX780m (Clevo) flash rev. 02 http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/4132-alienware-m17x-r3-upgrading-gtx-780m.html#post57970

Use the eDP connector / cable - 3D Vision emitter cable / camera. BIOS>set display to PEG.