Maik

Hey Max, I do have have 60hz, it was my understanding that SG mode was a guaranteed blackscreen on the GTX 1070, so switching from SG to PEG, the dGPU could output video to the LVDS panel if the motherboard and BIOS support routing the dGPU’s LVDS signals correctly, and that is why I wanted to unlock the bios, since it is a hidden feacture (my understanding, I havent found a mb physical routing). I did the e-sata recovery but got instead infinite bips every single time. I only managed to unlock my 120hz laptop bios, non of the 60hz laptops, so it must be a specific bios. (no clue what i installed lol). I have been cheedking around and I have seen an old ssj92 post sharing some bios. I´ll probably will give a try this weekend if the card doesnt work on SG Mode. Anyhow, I’ve been digging through this forum since few days, and wow. This community rocks hard, I feel like a kid in a candy store walking among giants. I used to think that moving up to a GTX 980 was a big deal, and that installing a T1000 or a GTX 1070 was as far as I could go on a M17X R4. You guys have sparked my latent nerd skills that need to be awaken and polished once more. Thank you everyone!

Hello @ssj92, I’m planning to install a new gpu into my Alienware M17x R4 and I must thank you to make A11 AND A15 unlocked bios available. I did found another version of A15 elsewhere but it keeps bricking the laptops. Before I proceed with this one, I’d really appreciate if you could share the steps on how to safely flash the unlocked BIOS for the M17x R4. I want to make sure I do everything right and avoid bricking the laptop again. Main question would be is it a standard full bios or it is a partial? in case of full, is it the standard install? or anything special to consider? Thanks for your time, really appreciate it!

Wow, you just dropped my jaw!! Didn’t even think that level of upgrade was possible on the M17X R4. Now I’m seriously considering diving into this, thanks for opening my eyes! Would love to hear more about your setup or any tips you have for the upgrade process. Is it TGP stable? did you custom the A15 Bios? where did you get the card(mxm 3.0 b? requires pin mods?) LVDS or eDP? Oh man, so many questions rise on this, anyhow, congratz, I dont think I ever seen or heard of such upgrade before!!

Yeah, then it is definetly connected to the cpu, not gpu. (I asume you already set windows +p to duplicate/extend screen once connected and you are connecting to HDMI OUT, not IN) I would run the following tests: 1. Confirm the drivers are fully up to date (no yellow triangles around or missing the following): Device Manager/Display adapters/ Intel UHD 630 and also the Intel/NVIDIA Audio/Displays ones 2. If not working after update, try disable manually and enable again after few seconds. 3. if that doesnt work, verify in BIOS iGPU /Intel graphics are enabled 4. If you did the inf manual install of any related drivers, ensure to disable windows updates for those specific drivers, restart the laptop on “Driver Signature Enforcement Disabled mode”, reinstall drivers, and try it in this mode. 5. if not working, Try to change back to the old cpu (to test if HDMI works properly) 6. Last resort, Ubuntu usb... 7. if not working, an alternative work around would be a miracast monitor connected through WIFI.... UPDATE: I have been also checking and this would go beyond uncharted waters on a laptop, but there is another method. It would be to get a LVDS to lvds (connect laptop screen) and hdmi extention (connect external screen), there is 5v and 12v, if you get the 5V you could power it via usb 2.0. It should definetly work, then get a software to separate virtually both screens.(around 20 usd)

Hey everyone, I'm curious to hear from anyone who's done serious upgrades on the Alienware M17X R4. What’s the absolute best GPU (for gaming) you can install in this machine? What is the limit? If you love this hobby, it is your time to shine! Please share!!

Hello Xeno, Is the HDMI routed with NVIDIA or Intel? Have you tried disabling Optimus, or temporarily remove integrated graphics drivers for quick test? What windows do you have? Have you tried "share screen (Windows key + k)" maybe it is a temporal solution without the cable. Cheers

Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to review my case. I own several M17X R4 laptops and I went to upgrade them this summer. I have succesfully upgraded all components excepts the GPUs. Here is where it gets tricky: I have succesfully unlocked BIOS in 1 of them only. However the other 3 are getting bricked every single time and I have to recover them via CH341A method. Those 3 motherboards are the model: 0THTXT. They come with A11 locked bios. Does anyone know where can I find the right unlocked BIOS? Im not worried about INF files for the gpus. The objetive is to install the GTX1070 which I already have in my possesion. Moreover, has anyone tried to intall a quadro RTX 5000 (110W)? i do not worry about heatsink, i have that figured out. Im more worried about compatibility challenges and power limits.