17 R1, GPU upgrade, #6

Question

Hi all--

As the title states, I have an Alienware 17 R1. I was running an Nvidia GeForce GTX 860m (Kepler) until it stopped working a couple of weeks ago. I'm getting a Code 43 and no amount of driver rollbacks seems to help. SO, I'm coming to terms with replacing it.

That being said, if I'm going to be replacing it I'd mind as well upgrade it. Can the system fit a more powerful GPU? How much more powerful? All the lists I've seen don't even include the GPU I purchased it with as "compatible."

Mary G · Answer

This is an old thread but still applies.

Alienware Laptops forum search = 17 R1, GPU upgrade

You cannot run any of today's high powered cards with your 240W PSU. That should save you money. Get a card for under $50. If it were me I would take this opportunity to replace the old computer.

pgaaanj214 · Answer

Thanks for the prompt reply. I didn't think I would be able to make a major upgrade, but figured I could do something modest from circa 2014.

If I bought a GTX 970m, GTX 980m is it basically just switching out the cards or is there something else I'd have to do?

mattyb3 · Answer

A 980M would be a great upgrade but you can also install a GTX 1060 or 1070.

Anything newer than an 880M will need a modded driver to work. You can learn how to mod your own or head over to forum.notebookreview.com and one of us there can mod one for you.

EDIT: The 970M will also need the modded driver but the 780M is very close to the performance of the 970M and will not need a modded driver as the 17 was released with the 770M and 780M. Just plug and play.

I believe the 10 series cards will need the unlocked BIOS but you can also grab that from Notebookreview.

You will need the 100W, 3-pipe heatsink for all of these cards. Your 860M may have come with the 2-pipe heatsink.

mattyb3 · Answer

Hello, Here you go

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/msi-1070-in-alienware-17-r1-ranger-success.797893/

Just note that this was done with the MSI GTX 1070. This card has a different form factor than a standard MXM 3.0b card so some modifications need to be done. If you find a standard 1070 then these modifications aren't required. The upgrade will be easier with the 120hz display but it can still be done with the 60Hz. Performance is generally better with the 120Hz though as Nvidia Optimus can hurt performance.

MSI GTX 1070

Standard GTX 1070

JMRMEDEV · Answer

Are you saying that I might mod my 17 R1 notebook to use a GTX 1070? If so, can you give me documentation on how to achieve this successfully?

pgaaanj214 · Answer

You'll need to make sure you have the 240w power unit and will need to upgrade to a larger heatsink, but I'd say overall the whole process for me was pretty easy.

Most difficult part was figuring out the drivers and eventually I just found someone else that had done it before me and copied theirs.

JMRMEDEV · Answer

I'm kind of ignorant in matters about gpus, apart from the shape, what are the differences between the standard and the msi 1070 cards?

JMRMEDEV · Answer

Also, the link that you provided has all the files 'broken'.

mattyb3 · Answer

Well, most people say that the MSI card is a little stronger and less likely to fail. I have the standard 1070 in my M18x.

Didn't realise that the link had been broken sorry. Try the guide on TechInferno for the M17x R4 and GTX 1070 (google it). The process is basically the same for the M17x R4. I can't post the link because it apparently has a swear word in the title and Dell won't let me post it here

If you have the 120Hz display then all you really need is the 100W GPU heatsink (or even the 75W will work ok) and a modded driver. I can easily mod the driver for you or you can learn how to do it.

https://null-src.com/posts/nvidia-notebook-driver-inf-mod/post.php

If you have the 60Hz display then you'll need to find the 17 R1 Unlocked BIOS and switch the video mode to PEG to run the card. You will also need the heatsink and modded driver.

halos · Answer

I've similarly have installed a 970m from aliexpress in my AW17 2013 Ranger from a failing 860m. Had to mod the NVIDIA Driver 460.89 for the 970m.

The fan's function however seems a bit erratic...

Im usung speedfan to load the GPU fan (right hand) to 100% to ease up the CPU fan (left hand).. targeting around 40-50% due to fan noise.

I reckon the vBIOS might need modding...

Im usiung AW17 motherboard BIOS, and the card's vBIOS is 84.04.85.00.0C. Nothing's unlocked.

The power supply I've ben told from a number of boards that 180W is fine for the 970m.

Any advice pertaining to tweaks to the vbios would be appreciated

mattyb3 · Answer

@halos The vBIOS I found worked well for me is 84.04.88.00.31

I had fan issues with all the other ones that I tried. Flash at your own risk though and always make a backup of the old vBIOS before you flash.

JMRMEDEV · Answer

Hi guys, I already asked some stuff in the past in here. @mattyb3 Was kind enough to answer some of my questions but I'm about to purchase some of the pieces (is going to be a remarkable investment), so I want to make a final check on this matter. If anyone has experience on the matter, I would appreciate guidance.

This is something I asked @mattyb3@ by email, but I did not succeed on reaching him out, so I will post my questions and later I will attach the thread.

Actual questions and doubts:

Sorry for bothering you again, but I am about to buy my parts and as they are expensive, I want to be 100% sure that at least the things might work as expected.

With the help of some OEM Dell distributors, I found out the exact model of my motherboard is 041W46, with . Identified by Dell itself as Alienware 17 R1 .

You told me in the conversation about improving the cooling with CFM > 10. I already purchased the GPU fan. I will most likely an i7 4910MQ processor this week. Probably next week, I will also buy a GTX 1060 or 1070 you told me that for better performance with this, you would recommend at least a 3-pipe heatsink. I took a look at the guy that makes 5-pipe heatsink in here: All copper for DELL ALIENWARE 17 R1 M17X R5 R6 P18E GPU COOLING HEATSINK | eBay Can you confirm that it is compatible with my notebook?

Also, about the GPU, you told me that the performance would be better with a 1 20 Hz 3D display (glossy). I found the official model from a Dell Seller on the US ( Refurbished Dell OEM Inspiron 17R 7720 LCD Screen GN36T (parts-people.com)) with model GN36T in there, after placing my service tag, the site says that the display is not compatible, which concerned me. After giving you my motherboard model do you still think it is compatible with the display? (I know in parts-people site says it is out of stock, but I found it in some other sites for sale, i want to confirm the part model) You talked about the display cable ( eDP), does anyone should work?

Regarding the CPU, by changing it, I guess I will have to cool it down more, so I guess I also need a better fan, is that right?

And finally, the guys I talked to about my motherboard, told me that if I wanted to make these upgrades, my power consumption would increase. It makes sense to me, would you recommend a specific wattage for a new power adapter?

I would really appreciate your help with this.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @JMRMEDEV welcome to this free user to user Alienware laptop discussion forum. This is not Dell Support. Please Note:

Users with official RockStar role have Code of Conduct that does not allow them to offer advice using Private Message (Email), user to user discussion shall be conducted in the public forum. Customised upgrade of Alienware 17 (R1) is undertaken at your risk. Dell Community forums have no liability for user to user content within any user's public discussion.

When you joined the Dell Community you agreed to your user account's Code of Conduct. For your protection, your private Service Tag shall be removed from your public post.

JMRMEDEV · Answer

Well, I didn't mean any harm. Sorry I didn't have the terms presents I subscribed some years ago. And looks like I can't edit or delete the post after 15 minutes. So sorry.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @JMRMEDEV

User Forum Code of Conduct - Dell Community Paragraph 15 Not allowed ...

Service Tag numbers should not be posted publicly, these would be requested by Dell Technologies employees and would happen via Private Message only

The Forum Moderator will remove your private Service Tag from your opening post.

Hope this helps. Please keep using the Dell Community forums. Thank you.

Alienware

17 R1, GPU upgrade, #6

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