Hold the D key through powerup. You should see a series of test screens. If you don't, the screen is bad. If you do - but still get the 8 beep sequence, it's more likely the GPU or mainboard has failed.
Hello thanks for replying it seems that the screen is bad because holding D through powerup does nothing the screen remains black and I was holding the button for more than 40 seconds.
If you have the 120Hz 3D display then the chances are that your GPU has failed. This display requires an Nvidia card so if the card fails, it will give the 8 beep LCD error. You'd need a donor GPU to test this.
The 60Hz uses Optimus so even if the dedicated GPU fails, the laptop display will still function so an 8 beep code will usually be an LCD failure. Yes it can also be a motherboard issue.
I have a 120hz display so maybe the gpu failed from overheating because it kind of smelled as burned plastic under the gpu when I opened the computer internals.However I don't have a another gpu to test that out so if i buy a gpu and is the lcd fault that will still be waste of money but if I buy a lcd and is the gpu fault than that too will be a waste of money that's why I am so confused right now.Also as you mention it can be the motherboard as well so I don't really know what to do.
Yes the 8 beeps continues even without the gpu however just some small detail that I don't think is that important but is weird.The alien eyes on the back cover of the display doesn't turn on when I turn the laptop on with the gpu inside of it.However if i turn on the laptop without the gpu inside the laptop ,the eyes are turning on.
The burning smell was coming from a black protective plastic sheet under the gpu witch seems that probably was smelling of burning because of the continues heating from the gpu that was place on top of it.Also I already have a 980m is possible to upgrade higher than that ?
Yeah, you're in a tough spot. My guess is the GPU but you'll have to take a gamble.
A burning smell is not a good sign and can point to a motherboard failure. You'll need to pull the laptop apart and look for anything that may have been burnt out and try to see where the smell is coming from. The smell of burnt electronics can linger for a long time.
It's possible that a MOSFET, resistor or capacitor has failed on the board. Hopefully it's the GPU as it will give you a good chance to do an upgrade to a 980M, 1060 or 1070.
Then it could have been a component on the GPU that has fried but it's hard to tell without seeing it.
Yes you can easily upgrade to the GTX 1060 or 1070. There is a Zotac GTX 1080 that is said to work but they are incredibly rare. The other 1080 cards have the GPU die in the wrong spot for the heatsink.
Did you flash the unlocked BIOS when you installed your 980M or just use a modded driver? I think you'll need it for the 10 series upgrade.
Have a read through this thread. Looks like you won't need the unlocked BIOS with the 120Hz display. I had to have it on my M18x so I could change the video mode.
You still won't get it to work on an external monitor if the GPU is dead. There are benefits of having the 120Hz display but there are downsides and this is the biggest one.
The 'bright dark' you're seeing is the LCD backlight. Does it still give 8 beeps without the GPU?
EDIT: Yes, there is a chance that an external display would work if your LCD has failed but I'm not 100% sure of this with the 120Hz. If the LCD fails the pre-boot test then it still may not allow an external display to show.
The Alien Head on the lid is lit by the backlight. That is why it's only ever white and the colour can't be changed (unlike the M17x R1 and R2)
I'm pretty certain that it's the GPU then. If the backlight doesn't come on with the GPU installed but does when the GPU is removed then it seems to point to the GPU. Again, it's very hard to say for sure without testing. I like to rebuild the M17x and 17 R1 as a little hobby so I always have extra parts to test with.
The problem is that I am not sure what to do it seems that is the gpu because when I tried to hooked to an external monitor nothing happened so I think if it was the lcd at least it could work on an external monitor.Also I tried to turn on the laptop without the gpu in it and the display turn on but still black like a bright dark if you know what i mean and with the gpu in it the display doesn't even turned on at all .
ejn63
10 Elder
•
30.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 08:00
Before doing anything, test the screen:
Hold the D key through powerup. You should see a series of test screens. If you don't, the screen is bad. If you do - but still get the 8 beep sequence, it's more likely the GPU or mainboard has failed.
rnadasanu
11 Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 08:00
Hello thanks for replying it seems that the screen is bad because holding D through powerup does nothing the screen remains black and I was holding the button for more than 40 seconds.
A51-06
5 Practitioner
•
3.1K Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 13:00
Here’s a m17x R4 screen replacement part:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-ALIENWARE-replacement-Display-Screen/dp/B00H26VU9A
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 15:00
Do you have the 60Hz or 120Hz display?
If you have the 120Hz 3D display then the chances are that your GPU has failed. This display requires an Nvidia card so if the card fails, it will give the 8 beep LCD error. You'd need a donor GPU to test this.
The 60Hz uses Optimus so even if the dedicated GPU fails, the laptop display will still function so an 8 beep code will usually be an LCD failure. Yes it can also be a motherboard issue.
rnadasanu
11 Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 15:00
I have a 120hz display so maybe the gpu failed from overheating because it kind of smelled as burned plastic under the gpu when I opened the computer internals.However I don't have a another gpu to test that out so if i buy a gpu and is the lcd fault that will still be waste of money but if I buy a lcd and is the gpu fault than that too will be a waste of money that's why I am so confused right now.Also as you mention it can be the motherboard as well so I don't really know what to do.
A51-06
5 Practitioner
•
3.1K Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 15:00
Pick your posion:
Nividia:
https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Graphics-Upgrade-Replacement-Alienware/dp/B0819S648R/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=MXM+video+card&qid=1594851823&sr=8-14
AMD:
https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Graphics-Replacement-Alienware-HD8970M/dp/B081D5KG8X/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=MXM+video+card&qid=1594851823&sr=8-15
rnadasanu
11 Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
Yes the 8 beeps continues even without the gpu however just some small detail that I don't think is that important but is weird.The alien eyes on the back cover of the display doesn't turn on when I turn the laptop on with the gpu inside of it.However if i turn on the laptop without the gpu inside the laptop ,the eyes are turning on.
rnadasanu
11 Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
The burning smell was coming from a black protective plastic sheet under the gpu witch seems that probably was smelling of burning because of the continues heating from the gpu that was place on top of it.Also I already have a 980m is possible to upgrade higher than that ?
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
Yeah, you're in a tough spot. My guess is the GPU but you'll have to take a gamble.
A burning smell is not a good sign and can point to a motherboard failure. You'll need to pull the laptop apart and look for anything that may have been burnt out and try to see where the smell is coming from. The smell of burnt electronics can linger for a long time.
It's possible that a MOSFET, resistor or capacitor has failed on the board. Hopefully it's the GPU as it will give you a good chance to do an upgrade to a 980M, 1060 or 1070.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
Then it could have been a component on the GPU that has fried but it's hard to tell without seeing it.
Yes you can easily upgrade to the GTX 1060 or 1070. There is a Zotac GTX 1080 that is said to work but they are incredibly rare. The other 1080 cards have the GPU die in the wrong spot for the heatsink.
Did you flash the unlocked BIOS when you installed your 980M or just use a modded driver? I think you'll need it for the 10 series upgrade.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
Have a read through this thread. Looks like you won't need the unlocked BIOS with the 120Hz display. I had to have it on my M18x so I could change the video mode.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m17x-r4-1070-succesfull-upgrade-2020-tutorial.833339/
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
@Alienware Area-51 ALX 2006 an AMD card will not work with the 120Hz display. It MUST have an Nvidia card.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 16:00
You still won't get it to work on an external monitor if the GPU is dead. There are benefits of having the 120Hz display but there are downsides and this is the biggest one.
The 'bright dark' you're seeing is the LCD backlight. Does it still give 8 beeps without the GPU?
EDIT: Yes, there is a chance that an external display would work if your LCD has failed but I'm not 100% sure of this with the 120Hz. If the LCD fails the pre-boot test then it still may not allow an external display to show.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
0
July 15th, 2020 16:00
The Alien Head on the lid is lit by the backlight. That is why it's only ever white and the colour can't be changed (unlike the M17x R1 and R2)
I'm pretty certain that it's the GPU then. If the backlight doesn't come on with the GPU installed but does when the GPU is removed then it seems to point to the GPU. Again, it's very hard to say for sure without testing. I like to rebuild the M17x and 17 R1 as a little hobby so I always have extra parts to test with.
rnadasanu
11 Posts
1
July 15th, 2020 16:00
The problem is that I am not sure what to do it seems that is the gpu because when I tried to hooked to an external monitor nothing happened so I think if it was the lcd at least it could work on an external monitor.Also I tried to turn on the laptop without the gpu in it and the display turn on but still black like a bright dark if you know what i mean and with the gpu in it the display doesn't even turned on at all .