TheSin Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 This Alien will soon drive me crazy. Today I decided to try more video cards in SG mode. After pulling out the GTX 980M, I installed the GTX 670MX - and the laptop booted successfully! Ok, the next card was the Quadro K4000M. And... no, it doesn't work in SG mode and behaves like the GTX780M - the laptop just stucks with the Alien head logo. I pulled it out and installed the GTX 870M - and again no luck and stucked laptop with Alien head. So, some GK104-based cards work in SG mode, but most of them don't. Probably VBIOS matters here, maybe I'll test it. After pulling out the GTX 870M I decided to install P106M. And the laptop was able to initialize and boot. Initially I tried the nvidia 556 driver version. The driver was installed normally without any errors in the Device manager, but the laptop declined to use the card for rendering - exactly as in ssj92's experiment with RTX3000. Then I replaced the nvidia driver with the 425 version. The card started rendering, but with a terrible performance. GPU load jumps between 0% and 50%, and FPS changes accordingly. It's impossible to play, but the card formally works. It's interesting how regular GP106-based will work in SG mode cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 15 hours ago, TheSin said: I am able to select 980M as a high-performance GPU, but in any case, all rendering tasks are performed by the HD6990M - exact as in your case with HD3000. After disabling the HD6990M in the device manager, the 980M starts to render, but with very low performance. This seems to be a driver issue. Probably BIOS\VBIOS combination is the reason? I could flash your BIOS version and check if something is changed. This is the BIOS I am running: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15hcq2MfaAzIDGlualq35v-MBnji9MXB4/view 49 minutes ago, TheSin said: This Alien will soon drive me crazy. Today I decided to try more video cards in SG mode. After pulling out the GTX 980M, I installed the GTX 670MX - and the laptop booted successfully! Ok, the next card was the Quadro K4000M. And... no, it doesn't work in SG mode and behaves like the GTX780M - the laptop just stucks with the Alien head logo. I pulled it out and installed the GTX 870M - and again no luck and stucked laptop with Alien head. So, some GK104-based cards work in SG mode, but most of them don't. Probably VBIOS matters here, maybe I'll test it. After pulling out the GTX 870M I decided to install P106M. And the laptop was able to initialize and boot. Initially I tried the nvidia 556 driver version. The driver was installed normally without any errors in the Device manager, but the laptop declined to use the card for rendering - exactly as in ssj92's experiment with RTX3000. Then I replaced the nvidia driver with the 425 version. The card started rendering, but with a terrible performance. GPU load jumps between 0% and 50%, and FPS changes accordingly. It's impossible to play, but the card formally works. It's interesting how regular GP106-based will work in SG mode cards. Something was changed in newer drivers, that do not play well with HD 3000 GPU it seems. We need to see what changed. Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 I ran 419.67 driver and GPU is now being utilized. But I am getting VRel & VOp limitations in GPU-Z. Performance is bad: Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) @TheSin I tried 980M but it gets stuck at AW logo. It is G-SYNC Clevo model so it seems it may be vBIOS related. Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSin Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 On 7/24/2024 at 3:15 AM, ssj92 said: This is the BIOS I am running Unfortunately, 780M doesn't want to initialize in SG mode even with this BIOS. Checked with Dell and MSI VBIOSes. On 7/24/2024 at 4:25 PM, ssj92 said: I tried 980M but it gets stuck at AW logo I've got the same results with non G-Sync VBIOS. And I'm very surprized that M18X R1 is able to work with Tesla M9 which uses the same GPU but with disabled outputs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 3 hours ago, TheSin said: Unfortunately, 780M doesn't want to initialize in SG mode even with this BIOS. Checked with Dell and MSI VBIOSes. I've got the same results with non G-Sync VBIOS. And I'm very surprized that M18X R1 is able to work with Tesla M9 which uses the same GPU but with disabled outputs. I can use 880M, RTX 3000 so it's weird how yours doesn't work. So far these GPUs we know boot in SG mode and work somewhat: RTX 3000 GP106 (no outputs) Tesla M6 (no outputs) Has to be vBIOS issue. I just wonder how we will get it to work fully though. In SG mode only DX11 and older works. In PEG, with 880M in primary and RTX 3000 in secondary, everything works even DX12, but for some reason it's stuck at 55w. I wonder if I can do resistor mod to M18xR1 same as I did to AW 18 R1. I didn't see the R006 resistor though easily on M18xR1 motherboard. Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSin Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 15 hours ago, ssj92 said: I didn't see the R006 resistor though easily on M18xR1 motherboard If you mean this mod, it looks like you are replacing a shunt resistor to trick an onboard power monitor: Spoiler According to M18X R1 schematics, there also should be such resistors (also each one for every MXM slot): Spoiler For the secondary slot, it's a PR120 resictor. It should be located on the bottom side of PCB near CPU cooler protective film. Spoiler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSin Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 Hmm... But according some more photos of a18 PCB, you are modding PR703 Spoiler This is a system power monitor shunt: Spoiler It matches resistor PR45 in M18X R1 Spoiler This resistor is located under the film covering secondary MXM slot Spoiler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 On 7/21/2024 at 8:05 PM, TheSin said: 5 hours ago, TheSin said: Hmm... But according some more photos of a18 PCB, you are modding PR703 Hide contents This is a system power monitor shunt: Hide contents It matches resistor PR45 in M18X R1 Hide contents This resistor is located under the film covering secondary MXM slot Hide contents i wonder if that would fix the 55w issue I am having Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 RTX 5000 in M18xR1:[SG mode] Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) RTX 5000 in M18xR1 [PEG mode 880M Primary, RTX 5000 Secondary]: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) 1 Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.bakar Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 On 8/3/2024 at 6:47 AM, ssj92 said: RTX 5000 in M18xR1:[SG mode] Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) RTX 5000 in M18xR1 [PEG mode 880M Primary, RTX 5000 Secondary]: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) this results are better then the 980m SLI in the 18 i think you should make one new thread dedecated for this upgrade with the steps required and the compatible bios Virgen... i am very interested in this ... i bought the alienware 18 because i couldnt update the graphic cards above 880m SLI and i upgraded the a8 to the 980M SLI i prefere the M18X R1 over the 18 and i would like to be able to use it over the 18 in the day to day tasks + some extra rendering machine if i need an assistance next to the area-51m Alienware M18X R1, i7 2960XM @ 4.4Ghz, Nvidia GTX 880M SLI , 32GB RAM , samsung 840pro + samsung 860evo ( THE BEST I EVER HAVE) Alienware Area-51M R1, i9 9900K @ 5.1Ghz, Nvidia RTX 2080, 64GB RAM, samsung 980 Pro( LOVELY MACHINE WITH BAD BIOS ) Alienware 18 , I7 4930MX @ 4.2Ghz , GTX 980M SLI, 32GB RAM ( MAY REST IN PEACE) (CAME BACK TO LIFE) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcoil Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 On 8/3/2024 at 12:17 AM, ssj92 said: RTX 5000 in M18xR1:[SG mode] Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) RTX 5000 in M18xR1 [PEG mode 880M Primary, RTX 5000 Secondary]: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) Generic VGA video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2960XM Processor,Alienware M18xR1 (3dmark.com) On 7/27/2024 at 6:56 AM, TheSin said: Hmm... But according some more photos of a18 PCB, you are modding PR703 Reveal hidden contents This is a system power monitor shunt: Reveal hidden contents It matches resistor PR45 in M18X R1 Reveal hidden contents This resistor is located under the film covering secondary MXM slot Reveal hidden contents Wow... Well done on troubleshooting! I may have surface level knowledge on what you guys are doing but I'm quite impressed on what you guys have accomplished. Looks like newer MXM Cards are soon to be used in R1s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 I have a M2000M on the way to solve the old driver issue. Going to replace 880M primary with M2000M primary so I can use the latest Quadro drivers. only thing left to fix is the heatsink. It doesn’t fit into the slot in the secondary MXM area. Needs to be bent or something. Also hits subwoofer a bit. Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX @ 5.0Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Alienware 18 : Intel Core i7 4930MX @ 4.5Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 5000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 NVMe More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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