M17x R3, graphics card upgrade

Hello, the only officially supported cards are the Nvidia 500 series and Radeon 6990M. 

The 780M will work but you need the unlocked BIOS and a modded Nvidia driver. 

Once you get the unlocked BIOS flashed you need to disable HD audio and change the video mode to PEG. Once the card is installed then you can enable HD audio again but some people find that they no longer get the sound working again. 

Hi mattyb3 
Many thanks for your prompt response
One clarification more if you please:

Where do I get the unlocked BIOS version and the modded NVIDIA driver? 
(Let's just say that I am an average user that happens to love his Alienware so much that is willing to spend days reading how to fix it )

Best,

ZT

Unlocked BIOS' are available from TechInferno. Unfortunately to download them you either have to make 5 posts on the forum and wait for your account to be opened for download or pay a small fee to upgrade your account.

You can also try the forum at NotebookReview and ask if someone has the file there. I did have most of the unlocked BIOS' on a USB drive but I have no idea where it has gone. 

The modded driver is a little easier. Below is the guide that I used to lean how to do it or I can make one for you.

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

Hi Matty,
many thanks for that, much obliged.
Two questions if I may:
techinferno doesn't have the M17x3 available but the M11x3. Is that going to have major differences?  

With regards to the drivers, I tried to go through the link you provided but I have to admit that it's probably more scientific than I can cope with. Would it be possible to ask you to make one for me ?


Many thanks

ZT

Actually, I came across this:

Alienware_M17x_R3_BIOS_A12_[unlocked]_&_'SATA_fix'

Am I correct in assuming that this is the BIOS in need?

(I know I am a pain, sorry for that!)

ZT

Yes, that is the BIOS you need. 

Once you get everything ready and have your GPU then I can mod the driver for you. It doesn't take very long to do. No need to donate any money on my behalf but that's entirely up to you if you'd like to do it.

Once the GPU is installed in the laptop I will need the Hardware ID to mod a driver. To get this you need to go to Device Manager - Display Adapters - Right click on Microsoft Basic Display Adapter - Properties - Details - Select Hardware ID from the dropdown list. I just need the first or second line.

In the unlocked BIOS you will have to disable HD Audio and change the Video mode to PEG. I believe it's best to do this with before you install the new card. Once you have successfully installed the card with the modded driver then you can enable HD Audio again. Some people still find that they have no internal audio for their laptop and have to use external speakers. This is a little glitch with this upgrade that occurs sometimes. Others say that they didn't have to disable the HD audio at all. 

EDIT: Series of Events below - NOTE: Do this at your own risk. Messing with BIOS' and the internals of laptops can cause major problems if not done correctly. 

1. Flash Unlocked BIOS 

2. Change BIOS settings (Disable HD Audio, Set Video to PEG)

3. Power down laptop, remove power adapter and physically install the 780M (You will need new thermal compound and possibly new thermal pads)

4. Install DDU (Use in Safe Mode to remove old Drivers)

5. Download and Install modded driver (Needs to be installed with Disable Driver Signature Enforcement)

6. Restart laptop into BIOS and enable HD Audio

Hi mattyb3
I got the BIOS from Eurocom and had it installed.
While I have no problems with the installation, when accesing BIOS afterwards, the BIOS mentioned is A12.
Is that nornal?
I am asking as following that, I cannot find anywhere the option of setting the Video to PEG

Any ideas as to what I am probably missing ?

Thanks in advance

Hey mate. If it’s the unlocked BIOS then there should a second Advanced tab and the video mode setting will be in there. If it doesn’t have two Advanced tab then it’s not the unlocked BIOS. 

BIOS and Card installed.
Sound disabbled,
Mode switched to PEG.
Display adaptors-->Microsoft Basic Display-->Location PCI bus 1
Device Description: Microsoft Basic Dispaly Adapter
Device instance path: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_119F&SUBSYS_04901028&REV_A1\4&361D66C5&0&0008

Hardware IDs
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_119F&SUBSYS_04901028&REV_A1
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_119F&SUBSYS_04901028
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_119F&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_119F&CC_0300

I hope that this helps!

Hi mate and a Happy New Year!
I tried to build the drivers following your advice but let's just say that I wasn't successful
I would appreciate it if you could send me the file as long as it's not too much of a hassle.

Best,

ZT

Hey, Happy New Year!

Sorry, I haven’t been online much over the holidays but I’ll try to mod a driver for you tomorrow. As soon as I do, I’ll post a link for you. 

Here is the Dropbox link

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vkphrt452o3xu02/AABdarytm7OEGd_O4RrqXriFa?dl=0

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement directly before trying to install the driver or it will not install. The Setup.exe is in the International folder.

Good luck!

Hi mate and many thanks for that.
Much obliged.
I got the drivers yesterday and here is what happened next:
Last I checked, I had set the Primary Display to PEG.
Got the info I posted earlier and switched off.
I tried to switch on yesterday, and after the BIOS, when reaching Win10 I get a black screen!(Bonkers!!)
What is more crazy is that when accessing BIOS, I see the Nvidia GFX in Discrete Graphics 1 position but no Integrated Graphics! (says Not Detected).
I kept PEG as primary display and always Enable PEG as enabled in BIOS settings but no luck!
Any ideas as to what am I doing wrong or has my machine developed a way of saying enough is enough, put me to rest? 

PEG mode will disable the Intel graphics completely so the bios won’t even recognise it. That’s 100% normal. 
Have you still got the HD Audio disabled? The good thing is that it does show the splash screen or bios before going black. Usually if it’s a GPU failure then you’ll get a beep code before the splash screen. It could be a problem with Windows but it’s hard to know without being able to test myself. Is it completely black or is there a flashing cursor in the top left corner? Try booting from the Windows USB and see if it starts the install process again. 
Also run the diagnostic from the F12 Boot menu. 

Hey ZacTzam I don't know if you are still struggling with this, but to add to what Mattyb3  said, the only reason you get a blackscreen after the Alienware logo on the POST is because you haven´t disable HD Audio.

When you performed this upgrade on windows 7 there was a way to only disable de S/PDIF interface, which was the cause of the blackscreens, due to the lack of communication from your new graphics card, that the interface with said port expected.

Nowadays when performing the upgrade in windows 10, you have to disable HD audio or else power will be sent to the S/PDIF and a blackscreen or any color for that matter, will appear, you can check this behavior by looking directly into the the port which is the one located before first USB on the left side of your laptop. you will see that as soon as that port lights red, the blackscreen will appear.

So please check if, in the custom BIOS you have High Definition Audio disabled, and if you ever get to the point where you get no image, then you will need an external HDMI capable monitor, or Displayport if you happen to have an adapter for mini-DP to DP, so you can again see the image and edit your BIOS settings.

My other 2 cents are that since I migrated windows 7 to Windows 10, I lost the integrated audio speakers and the integrated microphones, so if I ever want audio in my laptop I have a pair of wireless headphones with a USB dongle to connect them to the computer. You may also use a bluetooth speaker, that works as well.