Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
13 Posts
0
42245
September 15th, 2015 11:00
Alienware Graphics Amplifier has never been connected. This key is not functional.
Hello.
My new Alienware Graphics Amplifier gives the following error message when I press the FN+F1 key: "Alienware Graphics Amplifier has never been connected. This key is not functional."
The GA *is* connected and *is* working fine with both an external USB mouse and keyboard plugged into it.
Two things to note:
1) The Alienware alienhead logo on the front of the GA does not normally light up unless the GA is plugged in *after* the computer boots. It still powers the mouse and keyboard and the fan still runs either way.
2) I do *NOT yet* have a graphics card plugged into the slot in the GA.
So I am wondering if #2 is what is causing the error and also not having the head light up as well? This worries me a bit as it may be up to another month before I get a card to try out inside the GA. I bought the GA new here from Dell.
Any thought or help would be much appreciated. I emailed support and was told just to call support - so thought I would try the forums/community here first. Thank you.
-Jeff
Game7a1
4 Operator
•
727 Posts
0
September 15th, 2015 13:00
It's most likely #2. Reason is because even though you connected the GA, the computer won't detect it as the GA without a graphics card in there. As it stands, the computer only recognizes it as a USB hub connected through PCI-E.
I haven't done FN+F1 when I first had my GA (didn't have a desktop GPU then), but I do remember it acting as a USB hub of sorts. I think that fan still runs (as you noted), but the logo wouldn't light up since Command Center doesn't detect it as the GA (sorry if I'm being redundant). You can unplug the internal fan as it's only cooling the inside and PSU, both of which should be fine without the fan.
Vedeyn
29 Posts
0
September 15th, 2015 13:00
If I had to guess I would say that #2 is the problem. It is pretty much an empty PCI-E slot at this point and usually PCs dont make much of them until something is plugged in. I dont have a GA so I could be wrong, but it would make sense.
indyjeff
13 Posts
1
September 15th, 2015 15:00
Thanks everyone! I hope this is it as well. Silly question. Mine came with a 1 TB HDD and a 256GB SSD. When my HDD is accessed at times it makes a funny chirpy noise that almost sounds like a stomach noise when you have indigestion. Ha! Any of you experience that?! Just need to make sure this is normal while my beast is under warranty! BTW.. I got the 4K model hooked up to a Dell 27" 4K monitor. It rocks!
indyjeff
13 Posts
0
September 25th, 2015 21:00
You were all right! Just got my EVGA 980 GX card today and it installed like a dream - with the Alienwware head logo glowing blue and everything! NICE! Works well and appears to run my graphics intensive apps (okay so far just Far Cry 4 - ha!) better - tho not like double performance or anything.
Next up is installing a RAID box to plug in a couple of 1.5 TB drives from my desktop that I am in the process of decommissioning in favor of of the Alienware 15 bought to replace it. So the HDDs need to be able to still be in service so purchased a Mediasonic dual bay USB 3.0 box. Going to try to using a USB port right from the Graphics Amplifier box so hoping those ports are 3.0!