M18x r2 and 1070m

[alienrazer]

About 6 years ago I upgraded my m18x r2 to a 3940xm and 1070m. Or rather I bought the parts and a lovely local tech guy helped install it. However I remember that he just couldn't get the graphics card to work. I think back then there was limited info available online. I've had a look and since then (3 or so years later) there seems to become more resources available such as thread below but now many of the links etc are dead / or for some reason content not available in my region 

 

Does anyone have an updated step by step? I think my bios is the A12 version since I can see the SG option but when I restart with it and go to display options / device manager I still don't see my graphics card

 

Perhaps I just need to reinstall some drivers? Also for some reason my Nvidia control panel doesn't work think something about driver or windows incompatibility? I'm on W10 for reference can post pic later 

 

 

Also want to preface this that I'm not really massively techy expert but happy to give it a go. 

 

Alternatively anyone know where I can get a fair deal for a m18x r2 and m11x R2 in UK haha

 

[alienrazer]

For what it's worth I have the Alienware a11 bios version, can I simply get the unlocked A12 over? I can still see sg option in bios...but still need to change? Also can this be done without removing my installed 1070m?

 

Also tried downloading Nvidia app but once installed it's just perma loading....and I looked inside my Nvidia folder on C driver (wanted to do the inf edit) but it was basically empty .. 

 

Also honestly happy to just start "fresh" on this laptop if there is a how to guide. I think I bought it with windows 7 back in the day but don't even know if I have any of the CDs or USbs or w/e anymore....

[Maxware79]

If you see the SG option then you must already have the unlocked BIOS so you're most of the way there already. If you have unlocked A11 then I would suggest to flash the unlocked A12 as that's what most of us used for this upgrade.

Do you have the GPU in the master MXM slot? I don't think it will work in the secondary slot with no other GPU in the master. The master slot is the one of the left when looking down at the laptop with the palmrest removed. It has the shorter heatsink. 

If the card still isn't recognised then it's possible that the card is dead, or the MXM slot. If you get it to recognise as the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter then all you need to do is install the driver. Most people use NVCleanInstall these days as you don't have to modify the inf. I've never used this program before.