Alienware M17x R4, Struggling to get 3D Working

[Durabat]

I have a R4 with the 120hz 3d screen, but the emitter isn't picking up or something. I'm sure I'm missing something, hopefully just software related but I've hit a wall and can't figure it out. I tested the screen on the R3 before moving it over to the R4, it worked fine. The screen itself is working fine, I have it set to PEG in the bios and it's running at 120hz currently. However, Stereoscopic settings are not showing up in the control panel and I even tried 3D Fix Manager but it shows emitter not detected and also says panel doesn't support 3D, when it just did fine prior to swapping it over. The R3 was on Windows 11 at the time, just like the R4 is. 

 

It shows up in device manager as Nvidia 3D Controller, I assume all is good there, and it shows working fine. I'm on the lastest driver that supported 3D vision, 425.31 or whatever it is. Still nothing. I don't have the integrated graphics driver installed so it only runs on the 680M. I've reseated everything multiple times, just to be sure but still... no 3D. 

 

I do have a 2nd 680m in another R4, I'll try swapping it in just to see what happens. I will say, for some reason I had to do modified drivers even on the 680m because the Nvidia installer said it couldn't find compatible hardware. Maybe something is wrong with this 680m, idk.

 

Any thoughts or ideas are much appreciated.

[Durabat]

I did just read in an old thread from Tech inferno that the R3 screen is not compatible with R4 for 3D. If that's true, that's unfortunate, but explains everything. 

[ssj92]

I don't remember if 3d was an issue, maybe @Maxware79 remembers if R3 3d panel works for r4 with 3d. I know the AW logo doesn't work 

[Durabat]

Interesting, I didn't pay attention to that but you are correct, "Alienware" below screen is not illuminated. I ordered the correct screen by part number off ebay. I'll install it once it gets here. Looks like I'll upgrade my son's R4 with this panel so he has 120hz and throw a newer card in it eventually.

 

I never experienced 3D gaming(though I'mone of the few that really like active 3D tv's years ago and still have one), so I've been trying to get this up and running. I plan to do an older desktop build with a supported hardware if I enjoy it. Crazy the panel works great, 120hz works flawlessly yet no 3D. I've spent hours taking it apart, putting it back together, reseating everything and doing modded drivers and clean installs of Windows. Only to see the most logical thing was something isn't compatible haha.  But that's the fun in working on these old rigs. Hard to beat the esthetics of these, especially in Nebula Red though, and the ability to tinker and upgrade everything.

[Durabat]

I didn't think about it, but I guess it makes sense where the Alienware logo isn't lit up. If it's controlled by the AlienFX chip just like the emitter and all that, something just doesn't jive right with the R4 AlienFX chip. Maybe if I flashed it with the R3 chip info or something, but I'm not going through all that. Hopefully I have the fix, using the correct screen and everything will work shortly.

[Maxware79]

Sorry, I've had many R3/R4 laptops over the years and I've definitely swapped screens around but I've never once tested the 3D on any of them. I still have a few pairs of Nvidia 3D glasses but I've never tried a 3D game. I'm assuming you have the small emitter cable plugged in. Must be a compatibility issue but I never knew this to be a problem, maybe nobody tested it. 

Yes, Nebula Red was hard to beat in the looks department. 

[Durabat]

Yep, 3d emitter plugged in, both motherboard and emitter in the lid. Which oddly enough looks to be the same part number for both. Hopefully the new screen will solve it.