HP Elitebook 8570W - is it still good ? Hardware modifications

[Daedalus]

 @GuitarG interesting to see the zbook units can work, although we hit the same cable problem.  That said could we run the IPS version (dreamcolour equivalent) of whatever the zbooks have? Assuming Zbook cables are more plentiful of course. 

RE: Cooling  can never have enough fins.  Plan to run two fans (basically 2 8570W fan assemblies "with fins 🙂 " , just one flipped to point back towards GPU) similar to your idea earlier in post.  May unsolder the big heatpipe arm and try a custom shape or other machine heatpipe that fits (worst case raid Aliexpress for straight pipes (i know sintered ones are best).  once i have that it will be multiple to take either heat from CPU/GPU sources. intake will be via hole in DVD Bay chassis and a custom access panel vent then exhaust out a DVD drive cover with vent holes. Also looking at custom GPU spiders as 980M has VRAM underneath which doesnt connect to spider to remove heat, just the copper pads on the Mobo. Will share designs / parts used etc so anyone on here can duplicate as required.

[Vladka76]

20 hours ago, GuitarG said:

Feeling better, so if I get little more free time will make schematic for edp cable

It's very nice to read this!

[Daedalus]

@Vladka76 seen some apparently genuine 1866 hyperx sticks, never tracked down 2133 ones, not seen one in the wild (yet). Did you OC your 1866 ones to hit 2133?

[Vladka76]

7 hours ago, Daedalus said:

Did you OC your 1866 ones to hit 2133?

No, it's not possible OR not easy. IMHO. 🙃

[Daedalus]

On 5/3/2026 at 12:02 AM, Vladka76 said:

No, it's not possible OR not easy. IMHO. 🙃

No worries, i know Bios (.71) doesnt have OC options or an advanced setting page 😞 , not sure if CPU boost apps allow OC or MSI overclock for GPU) seen a few 1866 pop up since RAM got uber expensive. 2133 exist but not seen any for sale. would 2133 make a noticeable difference? i mean proper 1866 aint that bad. Did anyone manage to get Coreboot working (and did it unlock anything not already available in HP's version) , i know there was a 8770W build.

[Dink]

@ Vladka76

 

Hi , I am wondering if you can help , not sure if this is exactly the right place on your forum but I see you are discussing the HP Elitebook 8570/8770 w and Video cards with Dreamcolor displays.

I have a HP Elitebook 8770w , i7 3920XM , 32GB RAM , Dreamcolor screen , BIOS F71 , Win 10 x64

I am running Legacy boot not UEFI if that matters .

Initially I had an AMD Firepro M4000 video card and have changed it to a Nvidia M3000M with appropriate heatsink , however I cannot get past POST , I get no HP logo or " esc " choice to show BIOS on the Dreamcolor screen , it seems to stall at end of POST and waits , as a quick tap on power button turns it off .

There is no VGA or DISPLAY PORT output  , I have tried disconnecting the video cable to screen to force a VGA output but that gives me a hard stop and shutdown at end of POST.

Reverting to old AMD card everything is fine.

 

This is all the info I know about the video card , it looks perfect physically even the stickers are white and show no signs of heat  :
 

Nvidia M3000M from ZBook 17 G3

 

Video BIOS version :  84.04.8D.00.04 
                     

                     ( 900-52754-0300-000  G ) or ( 699-52754-0501-400 N )
                      Quadro M3000M S/N 03238 16027699
                      N16E-Q1-A1
 

HP Assy No : 806269-001    SPS 827226-001 ( Date Code : 7J16A0 )

 

My question is simple , should I be getting at least the HP logo or BIOS screen with this card on this VBIOS , I appreciate that I will have driver issues for Windows , but at the moment I am at a loss how to fault find what I have .

Hoping someone can shed me some light on this or at least give me some pointers.

 

I see there are ways to flash the VBIOS from a USB key using nvflash ( https://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/34/10 )

 

and a VBIOS file here ( https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/220986/220986 )

 

But I am not sure if this is my problem , or if it will work as I can't get display .

 

.

 

[Daedalus]

Welcome Dink, glad to have you here,
as someone who had similar fun when i tried to upgrade to a 965M card, i too got no POST, just a blank screen,  its sounding like your VBIOS isnt correct.  If the older card you had in previously worked then the system Bios should be ok.  I too have .71 advised by HP when i upgraded, that said others on here run earlier system bios versions.  KBX on here runs a 980M but with a earlier SBIOS. 

if you can get output on any (VGA/DP/main screen you can use NVflash) if not then worth trying either a CH314A USB flash tool or find another machine which has IntelGPU so you can get an output.  Unfortunately the 8770 and 8570W cant run intel's IGPU as no pins from CPU even though the CPU has it built. 

I'm running a k1000M but tried a 965M before going down the 980M SLI path. 

[JadeRover]

On 5/20/2026 at 11:00 AM, Dink said:

My question is simple , should I be getting at least the HP logo or BIOS screen with this card on this VBIOS , I appreciate that I will have driver issues for Windows , but at the moment I am at a loss how to fault find what I have .

 

Hello, yes I think I know what the problem is.

 

You 8770W with dreamcolor screen connects directly to the GPU in the MXM slot meaning that the GPU must be configured to have eDP output to the dreamcolor screen (dreamcolor LCD uses LVDS but all laptops from that era with DC screen use an internal eDP to LVDS converter -> GPU needs eDP output to be set on the correct lane for it to work)

 

Your 8770w had eDP on lane "D" of the MXM slot *, the signal then goes to the LCD connector, then to the eDP to LVDS converter and finally to the LVDS DC screen.

 

See schematic of your 8770w, eDP are on the last 10 pins of the LCD connector, signal are named DPDx_Dx = DP_D

 

 

The issue is that the zbook 17 g3 you got the card from uses eDP on lane "C" ! So the card is configured to output eDP on the wrong channel compared to your 8770w = no display. (I know this from my first hand experience getting MXM cards to work on my 17 g3 and getting no display as well because of eDP lane mismatch)

 

The fix is simple, you need to flash a vbios that has the correct display configuration to the card.

 

This dell vbios has eDP on DP_D (as it is from a precision 7710 that has eDP on DP_D): https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/221521/221521

 

They are several ways to flash the correct vbios. I recommend getting a CH341a programmer with 1.8v adapter, it costs 10 dollars max.

 

Good luck and ask away if you have more questions

 

* This is good news as this is the standard for MXM gpus, you could even upgrade to an RTX card by x-vision or other brands that come only with a vbios configured with eDP on DP_D !

[SuperMG]

3 hours ago, JadeRover said:

 

Hello, yes I think I know what the problem is.

 

You 8770W with dreamcolor screen connects directly to the GPU in the MXM slot meaning that the GPU must be configured to have eDP output to the dreamcolor screen (dreamcolor LCD uses LVDS but all laptops from that era with DC screen use an internal eDP to LVDS converter -> GPU needs eDP output to be set on the correct lane for it to work)

 

Your 8770w had eDP on lane "D" of the MXM slot *, the signal then goes to the LCD connector, then to the eDP to LVDS converter and finally to the LVDS DC screen.

 

See schematic of your 8770w, eDP are on the last 10 pins of the LCD connector, signal are named DPDx_Dx = DP_D

 

 

The issue is that the zbook 17 g3 you got the card from uses eDP on lane "C" ! So the card is configured to output eDP on the wrong channel compared to your 8770w = no display. (I know this from my first hand experience getting MXM cards to work on my 17 g3 and getting no display as well because of eDP lane mismatch)

 

The fix is simple, you need to flash a vbios that has the correct display configuration to the card.

 

This dell vbios has eDP on DP_D (as it is from a precision 7710 that has eDP on DP_D): https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/221521/221521

 

They are several ways to flash the correct vbios. I recommend getting a CH341a programmer with 1.8v adapter, it costs 10 dollars max.

 

Good luck and ask away if you have more questions

 

* This is good news as this is the standard for MXM gpus, you could even upgrade to an RTX card by x-vision or other brands that come only with a vbios configured with eDP on DP_D !

I'm curious.

 

So his GPU has HDMI in DP_D then? If it has simple DP in DP_D, it should have worked. As "eDP" HDP are just DP signals.

 

I think the RTX Turing will work (if all ports are DP/DP++) on the Zbook G3 17. Sadly not with the X-Vsion nor with ZRT cards 😕

[Daedalus]

On 5/21/2026 at 2:58 PM, SuperMG said:

I'm curious.

 

So his GPU has HDMI in DP_D then? If it has simple DP in DP_D, it should have worked. As "eDP" HDP are just DP signals.

 

I think the RTX Turing will work (if all ports are DP/DP++) on the Zbook G3 17. Sadly not with the X-Vsion nor with ZRT cards 😕

With the Zbook, arent they "different" Dreamcolor boards so could be a different issue? how the output is displayed? if I recall, Zbook G5 are P/N L28742-001 (been trawling the heck out of HP manuals lately to find P/N for the 8570W ( i find 653278-001 or 690626-001) for ours.

 

[SuperMG]

3 hours ago, Daedalus said:

With the Zbook, arent they "different" Dreamcolor boards so could be a different issue? how the output is displayed? if I recall, Zbook G5 are P/N L28742-001 (been trawling the heck out of HP manuals lately to find P/N for the 8570W ( i find 653278-001 or 690626-001) for ours.

 

As long as the LCD input is an eDP signal then it can work. But it can depend in the dreamcolor boards. Someone needs to try it.

[Dink]

Thank you all for the replies and ideas .  I didn't reply earlier as I hadn't ticked notify me of any replies on thread via email , of the joys of getting older 😁

I agree that its probably an eDP/LVDS issue related to vBIOS but how can I find which vBIOS will 

work with M3000M on my HP 8770w with a Dreamcolor screen .

 

I have tried another card from HP with vBIOS version 84.04.9B.00.07 , still exactly the same as before , returning to the AMD Firepro M4000 everything works fine.

I get no crazy fan activity , it seems to act exactly as it should .

This vBIOS is what I have seen suggested , even EUROCOM replied to my email and suggested this vBIOS number 84.04.9B.00.07 , I have emailed back and said " Dreamcolor compatible " hoping they can maybe help with a different version number .

 

TechPowerUp who host some video bios files suggest compatibility with Hp 8770w ( But never mention Dreamcolor ) they have vBIOS for the M3000M but its a Dell 84.04.9B.00.07 not an HP one,

they also have a Boosted up version of Dell vBIOS  84.04.9B.00.07  with better specs etc that mentions it works on HP 8770w but DO NOT mention DC screen 😐

They are it seems a lot of the time using that vBIOS  with a Dell M3000M  ( Are Dell cards physically different ? )

There are also Dell 7710 cards that have vBIOS   84.04.9B.00.14 on eBay that some have working on the 8770w , but I can't find anyone that specifically says :

HP 8770w + Nvidia M3000M + Dreamcolor = vBIOS number xx.xx.xx.xx.xx   😤  

 

 

I don't have a clip and IC program to change vBIOS or a Desktop , and would prefer not to go that

route if possible , and having no display whatsoever means using NvFlash from a USB key would have to be done blind , which I definitely ain't confident to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone got some ideas on which vBIOS version I need or whether it is better to be a Dell card or HP , or is it get a Dell card with  84.04.9B.00.07 or 84.04.9B.00.14  and try them as neither HP ones I've tried work ? I was just hoping I could get a real HP card to work so drivers would be easier to do.

HP says the M3000M will work in a 8770w as shown below , but they do not mention DC screen might have an issue , without a specific vBIOS , so is it the DC thats causing me issues or just the fact its a M3000M with wrong vBIOS for 8770w , irrespective of screen ?
.................................................................................................................................................................
TITLE: NVIDIA Video Driver and Control Panel
VERSION: 385.73 REV: T PASS: 1

DESCRIPTION:
This package provides the NVIDIA video drivers and Control Panel for the supported notebook model that are running a supported operating system.

PURPOSE: Critical
SOFTPAQ FILE NAME: SP82366.exe
SOFTPAQ MD5: d56de020bd6f245c603e005b4acb6920
SUPERSEDES: SP82365
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 20, 2017
CATEGORY: Driver-Graphics
SSM SUPPORTED: Yes

PRODUCT TYPE(S):
Notebooks
HARDWARE PRODUCT MODEL(S):
HP ZBook 17 G2 Mobile Workstation
HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation
HP EliteBook 8770w Mobile Workstation
HP ZBook 15 G2 Mobile Workstation
HP EliteBook 8570w Mobile Workstation
HP ZBook 15 Mobile Workstation

OPERATING SYSTEM(S):
Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
Microsoft Windows 8
Microsoft Windows 8 Professional
Microsoft Windows 8.1 

 

LANGUAGE(S): Global

 

DEVICES SUPPORTED:
NVIDIA NVS 3100M
NVIDIA NVS 5100
NVIDIA NVS 510M
NVIDIA Quadro 1000M
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M
NVIDIA Quadro 3000M
NVIDIA Quadro 4000M
NVIDIA Quadro 5000M
NVIDIA Quadro 5010M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 380M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M
NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M
NVIDIA Quadro K1000M
NVIDIA Quadro K1100M
NVIDIA Quadro K2000M
NVIDIA Quadro K2100M
NVIDIA Quadro K2200M
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M
NVIDIA Quadro K3100M
NVIDIA Quadro K4000M
NVIDIA Quadro K4100M
NVIDIA Quadro K5000M
NVIDIA Quadro K5100M
NVIDIA Quadro K610M
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M
NVIDIA Quadro M4000M
NVIDIA Quadro M5000M
NVIDIA Quadro M600M

ENHANCEMENTS:
- Provides enhanced security for the graphics driver.

PREREQUISITES:

HOW TO USE:
1. Download the file by clicking the Download or Obtain Software button and saving the file to a folder on your hard drive (make a note of the folder where the downloaded file is saved).

2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Copyright Copyright (c) 2017 HP Development Company, L.P.

 

.............................................................................................................................................................

 

[Vladka76]

3 hours ago, Dink said:

which vBIOS version I need or whether it is better to be a Dell card or HP , or is it get a Dell card with  84.04.9B.00.07 or 84.04.9B.00.14

Last year, I bought a brand new, sealed M3000m designed for Dell Precision 7710/7720, which came with the stock BIOS 84.04.9B.00.14 (exactly the same as in the link to technopowerup site above), and it works on my 8770w without any issues. However, my screen isn't a DreamColor at all - it's ordinary N173FGE-LA3 (HD+, LVDS 40-pin).
Are you sure you have a DC screen? What's the hardware ID for your screen (look in Device Manager, string MONITOR/xxxyyyy)?

[Dink]

I think this was the right screen shot you meant , PC loads the " HP Mobile Display Assistant " for Dreamcolor displays , and that only loads if you have a DC , it has the sticker on the screen trim saying HP Dreamcolor and I can flip from 8 to 10 bit support in AMD driver.

 

[Vladka76]

8 hours ago, Dink said:

I think this was the right screen shot you meant , PC loads the " HP Mobile Display Assistant " for Dreamcolor displays , and that only loads if you have a DC , it has the sticker on the screen trim saying HP Dreamcolor and I can flip from 8 to 10 bit support in AMD driver.

Yes, this is it. Congratulations on the screen type. Take care of it, such LCD's are quite rare now.

[Dink]

 

Thanks , I do love the colours it gives , but the brightness can hurt the eyes , unfortunately it makes doing mods like this a pain.

 

 @JadeRover seems very clued up on how and why , reading back over the thread again , now I am at my PC.

I think I may have to bite the bullet and get another card , this time a Dell one with vBIOS :  84.04.9B.00.14 , just wish I had the time to play / learn how to use a chip programmer and try the different vBIOS files that I have .

 

@JadeRover I see a few sellers on Ali express list the M3000M with vBIOS version 84.04.9B.00.14 , they also give a choice of HP or Dell , I assume they brand the card in some way , am I better to get a Dell or HP branding , would either make loading drivers after this nightmare any easier is there a downside as I assume they can't change the PID/VID values or can they ?

 

[JadeRover]

Hello,

 

Yes luckily M3000m is getting really cheap, I got mine for 70 euros last year, now the price has dropped ! Probably the best price to performance card you can get for a working MXM card with little hassle (it also has LVDS support for even older MXM laptops).

 

I would get the "for DELL" version. I had gotten mine from aliexpress for my precision m6700 that also has eDP on DP_D (just like your system) it was branded "for DELL" as well and it did have the correct display outputs set in the vbios. It was plug and play and my internal LCD worked properly, I didn't check the display port but I assume it works as well.

 

- I think "for HP" is for the zbook 17 g3 that these cards originally came from where you have eDP on DP_C -> You would have the problem you had previously of diplay output mismatch.

- I think "for DELL" is for dell precision 7710 that these cards where shipped in as well. That laptop has eDP on DP_D -> Would fix your problem.

 

Good luck ! You can always sell your old card for probably the same price you got it for on ebay.

[Dink]

@JadeRover Yes I agree I thought that , but was interested to know your thoughts ,
if I could find a seller with an HP card that was prepared to flash 84.04.9B.00.14 onto it ,
would this correct the DP output and would I then be able to use an unmodified driver ,

I would assume yes , but am I missing anything ?

 

Some mention a whitelist on the video cards and you need a Dell card to get past it , have you 

come across any issues with this , I appreciate the Micro code in Main BIOS is relevant for it 

to recognise the card but I can't see HP putting in Dell ID's and not HP ID's ?

Unfortunately the seller listing above , confirmed he had no idea what vBIOS they had
and it was a generic picture , so the sticker is irrelevant 😥

So my quest goes on 🤣 I am predominantly looking for Dell M3000M now with 84.04.9B.00.14 ,
as you suggested , but still would be interested on your thoughts on above as you have tried 
MXM cards in ZBooks etc.