Precision 7540 & Precision 7740 owner's thread

[Aaron44126]

Yes, you have to boot into safe mode once for the system to “realize” that the disk controller has changed and thus not BSOD at boot with “inaccessible boot device”.

[TunaDog]

11 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

If it is set to RAID mode, are you able to switch to AHCI/NVMe mode and see if you can boot install media? This is in BIOS setup in the storage section.

 

If it works, to switch your existing Windows install, you will need to take some steps.

https://www.nbrchive.net/forum.notebookreview.com/threads/precision-7560-7760-owners-thread.836381/page-64.html#post-11112315

 

That was it!  Thank you.

 

The BIOS setting is under "SATA Operation" and the options are "Disabled", "AHCI", and "RAID On".  There is no mention of NVMe, but since the goal was to turn off RAID, I changed it to AHCI.

 

I do not know for sure if the boot to Safe Mode was required.  I assumed it would be, so proactively used msconfig.exe to configure for safe mode boot along with "Make all settings permanent".  Then msconfig.exe after rebooting to turn safe mode off.

 

Two summarize the steps I took in case somebody else stumbles on this:

 

* Used msconfig.exe to enable boot to safe mode

* Change BIOS "SATA Operation" from "RAID" to "AHCI" (or whatever "not RAID" is called)

* Installed two new drives

* Boot.  This went into safe mode.  No problems.

* Used msconfig.exe to disable safe mode

* Restart.

* Profit.

[Kitje]

So I had to purchase a new keyboard, as a just in case because after a while I found some keys becoming rattley... I haven't received it yet, but I thought one of the keys needed to be reinserted so I gently pried it off. I clipped it on but sometimes it feels like it's gonna come back off any moment again and again. The scissor and the key itself look physically OK, though so I don't know what has happened.

[Aaron44126]

Fortunately in this case, the keyboard is cheap to purchase and easy to replace.  That "easy to replace" part at least is no longer the case with their newer 2022/2023 systems.....

[heikkuri]

Have some updated to he latest BIOS version 1.27.0, release date 10 Aug 2023?

Your dock WD19DC still works with both USB Type-C cables?

 

[SvenC]

Yes, both LEDs turn on with my WD19DC after installing BIOS 1.27.0 - installed on 14th of August, no problems so far.

 

So, for me nothing got worse with the Dock, but a "sometimes failure" has not disappeared: when Windows turns of the display after x minutes of inactivity, sometimes (seldom, like once a week or less) only my builtin display awakes when I start using the laptop, but my two external displays connected to the WD19DC stay black. I have to disconnect and reconnect the dock to get the external display working again. I wait a few seconds before reconnecting, as I had BSODs with Windows 11 if I unplug and plug without a delay. Seems some driver is not happy when device changes occur too quickly...

 

[heikkuri]

I have updated several devices with BIOS 1.27.0. No problems so far. I cant say the same Dell Precision 7X50 and 7X70 latest BIOS updates.  Dell has lately published new BIOS versions to almost all Latitude and Precision models.  Too much work compared to the BIOS group's resources. No time to do testing and quality control before new version release.

 

About unplug and plug the cables, I agree. You must have a bit patient. Some delay is always required.

[PHVM_BR]

Could anyone tell me if the heatsink assembly for Precision 7540 model M2F8R (RTX 4000/5000) is exactly the same as the RX1Y7 model for Precision 7530?

Even the fan specs are the same?

[Aaron44126]

14 minutes ago, PHVM_BR said:

Could anyone tell me if the heatsink assembly for Precision 7540 model M2F8R (RTX 4000/5000) is exactly the same as the RX1Y7 model for Precision 7530?

Even the fan specs are the same?

No, it is not. The 4000 and 5000 series GPU cards have screw holes in a different place than the lower level cards. Precision 7530 never had 4000 or 5000 series GPU cards offered. You can fit this heatsink (M2F8R) in a 7530, but only if you also install a RTX 4000 or 5000 GPU from the Precision 7540. If you are thinking about using that heatsink in a Precision 7540 (RX1Y7), it would only work if you have a RTX 3000 GPU or lower.

[PHVM_BR]

1 hour ago, Aaron44126 said:

No, it is not. The 4000 and 5000 series GPU cards have screw holes in a different place than the lower level cards. Precision 7530 never had 4000 or 5000 series GPU cards offered. You can fit this heatsink (M2F8R) in a 7530, but only if you also install a RTX 4000 or 5000 GPU from the Precision 7540. If you are thinking about using that heatsink in a Precision 7540 (RX1Y7), it would only work if you have a RTX 3000 GPU or lower.

The image of the RX1Y7 appears to have the screws in exactly the same position as the M2F8R.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195934322011

[Aaron44126]

Then either the image is wrong, or that is not the 4000/5000 GPU heatsink.

[PHVM_BR]

1 hour ago, Aaron44126 said:

Then either the image is wrong, or that is not the 4000/5000 GPU heatsink.

You are right!

 

The image is of the M2F8R, but the model for sale is the RX1Y7 which is for the RTX 3000 and has a different appearance, both in the shape of the heatpipes and in the position of the screws.

 

Thank you!

[PHVM_BR]

@Aaron44126

 

Is the Precision 7540 motherboard compatible with Precision 7530?

[Aaron44126]

1 hour ago, PHVM_BR said:

Is the Precision 7540 motherboard compatible with Precision 7530?

 

I am not 100% sure on this, but I believe so?  All that would really be needed would be that all of the screw positions are the same so that it can fit in the chassis, and I know that is the case for the screws that attach to the heatsink... and then things like the display+camera cable would need to have the same pinout, which is a reasonably safe assumption.

 

(I have heard of Precision 7510->7520 upgrades by swapping out the motherboard because they are physically compatible.  I don't think I have ever heard of a 7530->7540 upgrade in the same manner, but I can't think of anything that would stop someone from doing it.)

 

Note that if you install an "unsupported" NVIDIA GPU / motherboard combo, then you will find yourself in a position where you have to do INF mods to get the NVIDIA driver to load (unless you are using Linux).

[PHVM_BR]

5 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

 

I am not 100% sure on this, but I believe so?  All that would really be needed would be that all of the screw positions are the same so that it can fit in the chassis, and I know that is the case for the screws that attach to the heatsink... and then things like the display+camera cable would need to have the same pinout, which is a reasonably safe assumption.

 

(I have heard of Precision 7510->7520 upgrades by swapping out the motherboard because they are physically compatible.  I don't think I have ever heard of a 7530->7540 upgrade in the same manner, but I can't think of anything that would stop someone from doing it.)

 

Note that if you install an "unsupported" NVIDIA GPU / motherboard combo, then you will find yourself in a position where you have to do INF mods to get the NVIDIA driver to load (unless you are using Linux).

I believe there may be problems with webcam and fingerprint sensor...

[htfan]

While in Device Manager the other day on my 7740 I saw this conflict for Dell Data Vault Control Device.  Driver version shows as 2.0.4.0 dated 5/19/2020, couldn't find any update at Dell.

 

Anyone ideas on what's the matter?

 

I haven't tried Uninstall or Disable device yet, should I?

 

Thanks

 

[heikkuri]

Hi,

From where are you looking the drivers? Here is the Dell official page

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/precision-17-7740-laptop/drivers

 

Dell Control Vault3

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=8chrt&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-17-7740-laptop

 

Version 5.14.10.10, A26
 ------------------------

 Release date 07 Aug 2023

 

 Fixes & Enhancements
 - Fixed the issue where the Windows error message is displayed during driver installation when Microsoft
   Smart App Control is enabled.
 - Fixed the issue where the German eID cards do not authenticate when you use the AusweisApp2 software.

 File Name: Dell-ControlVault3-Driver-and-Firmware_8CHRT_WIN_5.14.10.10_A26.EXE

 

This has it's own branch in Device manager

 

 

 

Older models like Dell Precision 7X20 are using Dell ControlVault2 driver.

[htfan]

Thanks for the reply.  I was looking for the drivers at Dell's support page after entering my service tag.  I did see the Dell ControlVault3 driver v.5.14.10.10, A26 you linked to, I had already installed that but went ahead and re-installed it and rebooted. 

 

I still get the conflict in Device Manager.

 

I have the two separate entries listed in Device Manager: 

The Dell ControlVault w/ Fingerprint Touch Sensor under ControlVault Device, similar to your picture

 

 

 

and the Dell Data Vault Control Device under System devices, where I'm seeing the warning.  Should they both be there?  What's the difference?  I don't really know

 

 

Thanks

[snclawson]

Anyone know of somewhere to get a reasonably priced heatsink (<=$40?) compatible with the RTX 4000/5000 series cards in a 7740?  It looks like the only model that fits is the FHD64 (AT2KA005ZAL/NV-256) and even banged up models are over $50 on eBay, new ones are $90 and up! =(  For whatever reason (late night looking at too many pictures on eBay I think) I had come to the conclusion that the 7730's 7JV64 heatsink (also labeled `nv-256') had the same screw layout as the FHD64, but after buying one it's definitely not. =(

 

What I'm trying to do is upgrade a 7730 that I just bought that came with a P3200 and the D1HY2 `nv-192' heatsink.  I was initially really excited to get an RTX 4000 for about the same price as an RTX 3000, until I went to install it and noticed the difference in the mounting screw locations. =(  I did see that someone on notebookreview modified their old heatsink to work, but I couldn't tell if all that meant was that they only screwed in the two mounting screws that line up!

 

Anyhow...I shifted from Lenovo to Dell (from a W530 to an M6700) because of the upgradability of the GPU and the fact that they also had a trackpoint (I'm old enough that I got used to using one _before_ trackpads existed!  So that's a problem...).  But I seem to have run into the end of the line for both now with Dell. =( 

 

 

[Aaron44126]

20 minutes ago, snclawson said:

I did see that someone on notebookreview modified their old heatsink to work, but I couldn't tell if all that meant was that they only screwed in the two mounting screws that line up!

 

If there is not a heat pipe in the way, you could probably just drill a hole where you need to put a screw ...?

 

I don't know the details of this situation.  I was under the impression that high-end NVIDIA GPU heatsinks were cross-compatible between the 7730 and 7740.  If the two screws that line up happen to be opposite from each other, it might be fine; you just need "good enough" contact with the GPU die, these GPUs are so power-limited that it is pretty hard to overheat them.

 

You can try calling Dell spare parts dept. in your region and see if they will sell you a heatsink.  They sometimes have parts like this for very reasonable prices.  When I got a M6700 heatsink "upgrade" (two-pipe version for the CPU vs. the one-pipe version that mine came with) the price I got from them was something low like $12.  Granted, that was like ten years ago...

 

I believe the phone number in the U.S. is 800-372-3355.

 

Otherwise, you are looking at aftermarket sites like eBay, PartsPeople, TaoBao, ...

[PHVM_BR]

I finally bought the motherboard with i9-9880H for my Precision 7540.

I paid 300 USD for a new one in the original packaging.

 

I also bought a “new” RTX 4000 open box also for 300$ and the appropriate set of heatsink with fans for another 50$.

When it arrives and everything is in place I will post here the results and the comparison with the original specifications (i7-9750H and Quadro T2000).

[PHVM_BR]

On 6/30/2023 at 11:05 PM, Chalybion said:

That's unexpected - "Unlock Adjustable Voltage" was disabled in Throttlestop on BIOS 1.24 until I changed those variables.  I am on Windows 11 22H2, if that makes a difference.

I finally updated the BIOS from 1.24 to the latest available 1.29 and the undervolt is still unlocked.

 

This confirms what I wrote some time ago, from an old BIOS update (1.08 or 1.09 if I'm not mistaken) the undervolt was blocked but just reset to factory default in the BIOS and it is released again.

[TheQuentincc]

Hi, I got myself a cheap 7730 that I wanna upgrade with an RTX3000/4000/5000 of 7740. I was wondering if anyone here have one of those card that's defective and willing to sell it to me, more info in my "Want to buy" thread : 

 

[SvenC]

13 hours ago, PHVM_BR said:

I finally updated the BIOS from 1.24 to the latest available 1.29 and the undervolt is still unlocked.

 

This confirms what I wrote some time ago, from an old BIOS update (1.08 or 1.09 if I'm not mistaken) the undervolt was blocked but just reset to factory default in the BIOS and it is released again.

 

In my experience its Windows 11 which blocks undervolting, not the BIOS of the 7740.

 

With Windows 10 and Throttlestop or XTU I could undervolt, with Windows 11 I can't.

 

Here are some hints to changed virtualization features of Windows 11 which disable undervolting: Undervolting with hypervisor / virtual machine for WSL2 - Microsoft Community

[Aaron44126]

32 minutes ago, SvenC said:

With Windows 10 and Throttlestop or XTU I could undervolt, with Windows 11 I can't.

 

Hyper-V blocks undervolting on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.  I believe that it is enabled by default in Windows 11 but not in Windows 10.  You can disable it by either removing it from "Turn Windows features on or off" or by passing a BCD boot parameter, but then you forego some features that rely on it, like VBS and WSL2.