Alienware M18x R2 and HP Quadro RTX 3000 6GB MXM

[Jerryzago]

This is a complete guide on how to upgrade your M18x R2 with the HP Quadro RTX 3000 from an HP ZBook 17 G6 with the blue PCB.

 

 

1) Before you start.

 

It is mandatory to install either swicks A11 unlocked BIOS to be able to use SG mode, since M18x R2 dowsen't support GPUs later than Maxwell aka 9XXm series. Files and methology are here in this forum. Having a version above A11 officilal, will require a downgrade and then unlock. You can do this process before you dissasemble your laptop. Keep in mind, setting SG with both GPU slots populated, results in a no boot condition. Unlock your BIOS and set the system to IGFX and verify your BIOS dispays the IVY Bridge as GPU ONLY in the fist page. Lastly grab an X-Bracket, beacuse the HP pegs are too short for the heatsink. You can use your old one from the gpu you are removing.

 

Familiarize yourselfs with the NVCleanistall software. You can install drivers for unsuported GPUS easily without modding inf files. Physx Software will have to be installed seperately after the driver installation. So grab both NVcleaninstall and Physx installation software.

 

2) Mod the heatsink.

 

I got myself an extra heatsink, in case I mess my original one. The mods needed are, trim the colling fins, as the core is offet both vertically and horizontially to the standard MXM cards. I advice trim and test fit the heatsik when you will have the laptop apart. Also the notch in the center of the left side where are the VRMs are, and a section of the RAM heatsink, needs to be grind down to accomodate the new VRMs. Picture is from an AMD heatsik, but the same applies to the Nvidia heatsink. 

 

 

Also a small part from the top, needs to be removed. Look below.

 

 

 

3) Mod the MXM Slot

 

 

Though the mods are permanent, I will not make your motherboard unable to accomodate MXM GPUs in the future. Just make sure you store safely the small metal notch. You will have to trim down the top notch, and remove the metal pin inside. The lower notch can stay in place, but the metal pin needs to be removed. I marked a hole that I used to make a small bracket to hold the GPU in place, since none of the screw holes, aligh with the motherboard. So it is best to insulate them with tape and keep the nylon cover of the GPU (if it still has it on).

 

4) Install the heatsink

 

Install the heatsik to the GPU. Take extra notice if it sits flush, and extra trim might be needed to the section where the VRMs will take place. Put thermal pad accordingly. I used 1mm pads all around and some PTM 7950 on the core and on top of the two VRMs that had clearense issues with the heatsik.

 

5) Install the GPU

 

Place the gpu in the slot. As I said, none of the screws aligh, so I made a small allouminium bracket and screw it onto the motherboard. I place some thermal pad to apply pressure to the GPU and insulation. 

 

 

 

The core is offset, and doesnot aligh with the chassis hole.

 

 

This is what holds the GPU in place, along with the lower notch fro the MXM slot. I used a short screw, because the hole is used from the other side. That area where the GPU is installed, will have a small bulge on the keyboard.

 

 

The fan shroud no longer makes contact with the heatsik. You can install some insulating tape to keep the air from escaping, but I haven't and it really has no problem.

 

 

 

6) Boot the system up

 

Boot into BIOS and change from iGFX to SG in advanced settings. Enter BIOS again after reboot and check if BOTH Ivy Bridge and NVidia GPU are present in the front page. Procced to Windows. Best to change to Full UEFI boot and disable secure boot. I haven't tested if it works in Legacy mode, so I cannot say that it will not be an issue.

 

7) Drivers

 

Use GPUz to find yout GPU id and see if it shows in the device manager. Install the Intel Drivers first if you haven't already. I used the ones from Dell's site. Reboot and start NVClean install. Install the drivers you want, adding your Hardware Id and GPU name. After that, install the Physx software too.

 

😎 Run a benchmark

 

Run a benchmart to see if everything works like it should. Temps should be at around 75 degrees for the GPU core and 80 for the hotspot. Above that, might need some attention. Power draw for the GPU is 80Watts due to vBIOS limitation. vBios is flashable so in the future, if someone might have the skills, maybe help push this GPU further.

 

 

Maximum Power draw for my system is 300Watt with my overclocked 3940xm.

 

Results are below.

 

 

 

Please let me know if I have forgot something to add it.