This post is more than 5 years old
1 Rookie
•
59 Posts
0
3797
February 13th, 2018 14:00
XPS 8910, AMD R7 250E, BIOS changes to make the video card work
So, I have an XPS 8910. Been using the integrated graphics, but thought I might get a little more out of it.
I have an R7 250E (which is basically a relabeled Radeon HD 7750). It has worked successfully in my old XPS 8300, and has worked in my Inspiron Small Desktop 3647.
When I plugged it into the XPS 8910, I powered it up and walked away to take a look at something else. I came back about a minute later, and the screen was blank. Moved the mouse, nothing.
After a bit of experimenting, I found out that the video signal was still being directed out from the integrated Intel graphics. There was no way in the BIOS I could find to manually switch it. So, I pulled out the R7. I then put it back in the 3647 and confirmed that the card still worked.
Then I booted to Windows (Win 10) on the 8910. I noticed in the Windows updates that it had downloaded the AMD drivers for the R7.
What??
The 8910 will work with the GT 730 that it came with, and output video directly. But, I've never heard of a system not sending output to an installed video card, yet booting to the OS and the OS recognizing it and downloading the correct drivers.
Does anyone have any idea how I can get this R7 250E card working correctly on the XPS 8910? Thanks in advance.
(Apologies for this being a "partial" repeat - I'd posted a message on this topic some time back, but much longer and I wandered off into several questions - sticking directly to the single point on this one)
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
1
February 15th, 2018 07:00
My 8910 has CLASS 2 Bios and allows CSM.
Once you DISABLE Secure Boot the Option Rom setting can be ENABLED.
I have older bios 1.0.7
Release Date
jvahabzadeh
1 Rookie
•
59 Posts
0
February 15th, 2018 14:00
Well, it works.
In the BIOS I set the Secure Boot to Disabled, and that automatically switched Load Legacy Option ROM to Enabled.
Saved it, shut down, installed the R7 250E, and everything is behaving as expected. Installing the drivers for it now.
Thanks everyone for your help and clarifications!
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 14th, 2018 07:00
Cards that do not have OEM UEFI WINDOWS 8 or 10 Signature in bios require Secure Boot OFF and Legacy Option Roms and CSM ON.All non dell cards have the same issue in the same way.
http://goo.gl/7nA32T
If you have CLASS 3 BIOS there is no way to add anything other than DELL video card.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
•
232.1K Points
0
February 14th, 2018 07:00
Odd issue.
I am surprised that the AMD R7-250e worked in the 2013 Inspiron 3647 due to its 220w PSU. The
AMD R7-250e minimum power supply requirement is 450w. The fact that the AMD R7-250e worked in the older 2010 XPS 8300 with a same 460w PSU, logically means that it should work in the 2016 XPS 8910. We know the PCIe x16 slot on the XPS 8910 is functioning because the Nvidia GT 730 works in it. Hopefully another AMD R7-250e user will post their findings.
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 14th, 2018 09:00
Asus R7 250 works fine but CSM MUST BE ON.
https://www.asus.com/us/Graphics-Cards/R72501GD5/
Cant think of any reason why it would not work other than Class 3 BIOS.
jvahabzadeh
1 Rookie
•
59 Posts
0
February 14th, 2018 12:00
@DELL-Chris M,
Well, I did a bit of math before I bought the R7 250E for the Inspiron. The PSU is 220W, with 216 available on the 12V rail.
I think the recommended PSU levels given try to assume for a worst case scenario (overclocked top end processor, multiple HDDs, etc).
Given that my Inspiron has a Pentium G3220 processor, a single HDD, and a single RAM stick, I did a bit of math, and calculated that I should have enough headroom, given that the 7750/R7 250E has a 55W TDP rating. Granted, it didn't leave me with much headroom, but there was still enough. The Inspiron gamed happily on that at 1080p for almost 3 years.
Puzzling about how the card doesn't work in the 8910 . . gonna check into speedstep's information, and see if I can do the settings mentioned. I hope the 8910 isn't a class 3 bios! @speedstep, do you know if the 8910 is a Class 3 BIOS? I think I'm on BIOS version 1.1.0, but not home at the moment, and unable to confirm (nor am I sure if the version makes a difference)
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
•
232.1K Points
1
February 14th, 2018 13:00
Before changing anything in the BIOS, go through every screen and write down the current settings.
speedstep, I do not see a reference to CSM (Compatibility Support Module) in the BIOS? Maybe it is our Load Legacy Option Rom?
The 8910 BIOS Boot screen does list the following =
Boot List Option
Secure Boot
Load Legacy Option Rom
Questions...
If Boot List Option is set to UEFI, can you Disable Secure Boot? Can you then Enable Load Legacy Option Rom?
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
•
232.1K Points
0
February 15th, 2018 07:00
speedstep,
"and allows CSM"
Please define what you mean by CSM. As I stated above, "I do not see a reference to CSM (Compatibility Support Module) in the BIOS?".
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 15th, 2018 09:00
Compatibility Support Module is Implied with CLASS 2.3.1 BIOS.
There is no option to DISABLE Secure Boot on CLASS 3 bios.
Vic384
6 Operator
•
3.2K Posts
1
February 15th, 2018 10:00
The Compatibility Support Module (CDM) is a component of the UEFI firmware that provides legacy BIOS compatibility by emulating a BIOS environment, allowing legacy operating systems and some option ROMs that do not support UEFI to still be used. I think it is a mistake to say "CSM ON", it is not a switch in the BIOS that you can turn on or off and hence no reference to it in the BIOS. It is more a feature, either it is available or it is not available
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
February 16th, 2018 08:00
Dell is not monolithic and not one kind of bios all models all years everything forever.
SOME Bios implementations require CSM To be ON or Enabled Separately.
This DOES NOT EXIST in class 3 bios so you are in BIOS JAIL with Classs 3 because you CANNOT USE ANY HARDWARE or software that is not explicitly having a certificate from microsoft in bios.
This limitation is not just Video cards. Its ANY Hardware or Software. Which is why TV tuner cards, Raid Controllers, Game Cards, WIFI cards etc also do not load and or the Drivers must be WHQL Certified or they dont load. You arent allowed to bypass this like you did in XP and 7.
Explained here also applies to ATI
http://goo.gl/7nA32T