Graphics card upgrade from Dual 860M to Single 1070

[Noobie Wan]

Hello everybody,

 

Looking for detailed steps, so can upgrade my Alienware 18 video card.

 

Found an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, MXM 3.1, 8GB DDR5 (see attachment). I tried to install it "plug and play" and all I had was an 8-beep code & blank screen, so I had to place again the original video cards.

 

I've been doing research for a while, but I'm sure I'm missing some middle steps, so I humbly ask for help.

 

Thanks in advance, people.
 
MACHINE:
Alienware 18
i7-4940MX CPU @ 3.10GHz, 
32GB
Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (SLI)

[runix18]

4 hours ago, Noobie Wan said:

Hello everybody,

 

Looking for detailed steps, so can upgrade my Alienware 18 video card.

 

Found an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, MXM 3.1, 8GB DDR5 (see attachment). I tried to install it "plug and play" and all I had was an 8-beep code & blank screen, so I had to place again the original video cards.

 

I've been doing research for a while, but I'm sure I'm missing some middle steps, so I humbly ask for help.

 

Thanks in advance, people.
 
MACHINE:
Alienware 18
i7-4940MX CPU @ 3.10GHz, 
32GB
Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (SLI)

I hope I am not mistaken, but this are the dreaded zotac cards whom even if you flash it with dell/msi vbios (to enable display output) you will still have error code 43.

 

Maybe an ALienware owner like @ssj92 knows better of this upgrade.

 

[ssj92]

Make sure you are on unlocked bios. Go to bios and look for video configuration. Change from PEG to SG. Then try again 

[Maxware79]

Yeah, you're going to need to be on SG mode. There could still be issues with the Zotac card though. 

[Noobie Wan]

Hi guys, I read all of the answers. I downloaded the unlocked A12 BIOS for my 18. Currently it is flashed with A15, so I will downgrade to original A12 and then apply the unlocked one, right?

 

Couple more things:

1) It might be better to get another non-zotac video card for the whole process to be easier and guarantee system stability?

2) The 1070 should be placed while the i7-4940MX is handling the video? 

3) The current heat sink for the 860 will be enough for the 1070?

 

Thanks a lot for the help, your knowledge and your time.

[runix18]

3 hours ago, Noobie Wan said:

Hi guys, I read all of the answers. I downloaded the unlocked A12 BIOS for my 18. Currently it is flashed with A15, so I will downgrade to original A12 and then apply the unlocked one, right?

 

Couple more things:

1) It might be better to get another non-zotac video card for the whole process to be easier and guarantee system stability?

2) The 1070 should be placed while the i7-4940MX is handling the video? 

3) The current heat sink for the 860 will be enough for the 1070?

 

Thanks a lot for the help, your knowledge and your time.

1. Yes, MSI

2. Yes, SG means Switchable Graphics, essentially video output is routed through Intel gpu, so you can actually have a video output

3. No, you will need the 100w heatsink.