M18x R1, GPU failed, replaced, SLI issue

Hi @crimsom 

1. Check that both old and new GPUs are identical (a matched pair), so that they both require and use identical computer resources.

Both GPU's are identical.

1. Make sure your video cards are properly seated and that the SLI bridge is installed correctly. 
   Sometimes, swapping the slots your cards sit in, does the trick. 

Both GPU's are definitely properly seated & have been swapped. The SLi bridge has just been replaced to rule that out as an issue. 

1. Verify that Windows Device Manager is showing two identical graphics cards in the Display Adapters section. 
   

Both display adapters are shown with no errors and are fully functional.

1. Ensure that SLI is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. 

My laptop runs Bios A05 and I cannot see an option to enable the SLi. The only areas I can make changes to are time & date. The other options are greyed out. I do see the GPU's in the Bios, but unable to do anything. I may be missing something. Any advice here would be appreciated.

• If you have an older motherboard, you may need to configure your jumpers to enable SLI. Consult your motherboard manufacturer's manual for instructions.
  The Motherboard is the original that came with the Laptop and there was no issue with SLi prior to one of my GPU's going defective. 
• Make sure you have an adequate power supply. Power supply is working great. No issues to report there.
• Get the latest drivers for you BIOS and video card. 
  Bios has been reflashed and GPU drivers were uninstalled with DDU then reinstalled.
• One of your graphics cards may not be functional. Try installing them one at a time to make sure they both work.Both cards have been tested individually and both worked with no issues.

Hi @scotsman79  When don't see a configure SLI option, it's likely that there is an issue with video card configuration not being acknowledged by the M18X. The following suggestions may help clear up these issues. 

1. Check that both old and new GPUs are identical (a matched pair), so that they both require and use identical computer resources.
2. Make sure your video cards are properly seated and that the SLI bridge is installed correctly. 
   Sometimes, swapping the slots your cards sit in, does the trick. 
   
3. Verify that Windows Device Manager is showing two identical graphics cards in the Display Adapters section. 
   
4. Ensure that SLI is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings. 
5. If you have an older motherboard, you may need to configure your jumpers to enable SLI. Consult your motherboard manufacturer's manual for instructions. 
   
6. Make sure you have an adequate power supply. 
   
7. Get the latest drivers for you BIOS and video card. 
   
8. One of your graphics cards may not be functional. Try installing them one at a time to make sure they both work. 

Hi @crimsom 

Nvidia Control Panel > 3D Settings > Show Physx Visual Indicator is all that is available.

There is no option for SLi in the Global Settings for me to enable.

Both cards are recognised as surely if one wasn't it would not show as working in the device manager with no errors or conflicts.

Once I get the settings back, if I can of course, I can set SLi up no problem. It is just the issue of having no way to enable it. It is like having a very basic version of the control panel.

Hi @scotsman79   please check that the previous SLI settings persist and update as necessary. 

Enable SLI. Go to Nvidia Control Panel > 3D Settings > Configure SLI, Surround, Physx.

• Select “Maximize 3D performance” and click Apply.
• The screen will flash several times as the SLI configuration is enabled. You will be asked if you want to keep these settings.
• If the option is not there, your system is most likely not recognizing one or more of your cards. The cards need to be made by Nvidia but not necessarily the same manufacturer (e.g. Gigabyte or MSI) and be the same model and memory amount. The cards do not need to be the same clock speed, though you may see a decrease in performance output if the speeds are not the same. 

Turn on SLI. Click the Manage 3D Settings link in the left menu. Under Global Settings, scroll down until you find the “SLI performance mode” entry. Change the settings from “Single GPU” to “Alternate Frame Rendering 2”. This will turn on SLI mode for all of your programs.

• You can make adjustments to individual games by clicking the Program Settings tab and then selecting “SLI performance mode”.

Turn on the SLI visual indicator. In the NVidia Control Panel, open the “3D Settings” menu. Enable the “Show SLI Visual Indicators” option. This will create a bar on the left side of your screen.

Hi @scotsman79  thank you for sharing an image. The Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) has seemingly not worked and you have a very basic version of the Nvidia Control Panel.

Download Revo Uninstaller Free, open and uninstall the Nvidia Control Panel. When the uninstall window appears activate the Advanced scanning mode setting. Then click on Scan and when prompted select and delete all files, you might get a second prompt to select and delete more files. Restart so your system responds to these changes. 

After restart, you can clean install the Nvidia Control Panel, as if for the first time. Hopefully the full version of the Nvidia Control Panel will now be installed. 

Hi @crimsom 

I will carry out your advice and let you know the result

Hi @scotsman79  we know that the Revo Uninstaller is 100% successful. If the full version of the Nvidia Control Panel is not installed, there must be a system fault. Looking at Dell's Product Support for Alienware M18X there is no SupportAssist application for deployment and Windows 10 is not supported. What is your Alienware M18X's Operating System?

Have you updated OS to Windows 10 so that we can run Win10 system diagnostics?

Which Dell disaster recovery options for home user do you have? 

Top Solutions for your Alienware System 

Hi @Cadmium 

I am running Windows 10 64bit and is fully up to date.

I have stripped my laptop down and only have the GPU I replaced in my system. Windows is not currently detecting the GPU and I am trying to resolve this issue. One thing I have noticed is I am unable to enable dGPU in the Bios. I am running Bios A05 and there is no options for me to make any changes, it is a dire bios, all locked out. If I could get a Bios that's been unlocked for my system that may help.

Hi @crimsom 

I installed the Nvidia Control panel and it reported that it was not compatible with the current driver. I then went on to install a DHC driver and again that did not work. As mentioned above I only have the replaced GPU in my laptop at the moment. Nvidia driver states it cannot detect compatible hardware. I have contacted the seller so hope to have a resolution with them.

Hi @scotsman79  have you downloaded the SupportAssist application? Guess that its Dell source is irrelevant since it runs on Win10 x64? Then run SupportAssist to see if it offers a fix. 

Hi @Cadmium 

I will agree with you that Dell reported that Windows 10 is not compatible with many systems including mine. Now I installed it no problems. When it came to the GPU's I had to disable driver signature to install the Nvidia driver. Once the driver installed, all options were available for my GPU's and SLi worked like a charm.

Where there is a will there's a way. I firmly believe Dell only reported such to push people into buying a new PC/laptop. Granted, there will be some systems that cannot run Win 10.

I made the move to Win 10 as support stopped for Win 7. Never had any issues until one of my GPU's died and left me where I am now.

I am good with computers and build them, but this is a new fault to me. One I look to resolve with the help of others as I am running out of options.

The one thing that is annoying is the Bios is locked down. I cannot go in and enable discrete graphics. All graphic options are greyed out. I look to keep this laptop alive and look to sort this issue out.

After testing each GPU individually I rebuilt the laptop and had both GPU's installed. I installed the driver  and both cards are recognised in the device manager, but what I have noticed is, the replacement GPU will not start, it is inactive. There has to be a fix for this and I just cannot see for the wood in the trees.

Hi @Cadmium 

Yes I have support assistant installed and it has not found any issues. Everything passed. Carried out tests on both GPU's and no errors.

With regards to the replacement GPU i wonder if a GPU bios flash will resolve the issue.

Hi @crimsom 

Odd I saw someone called Cadmuim post as well, maybe misread something

Anyways, I have contacted the seller about the GPU. Told them it seems likely there is a fault with it. I am hoping they will replace it. Just waiting to hear back from them.

Hi scotsman79 2 Iron

Its just me that has been offering advice. 

crimsom 3 Cadmium