Clevo W870CU graphics card upgrade.

[Bester]

Hey everyone, I am new and this is my first post.

I am upgrading various components in my Clevo W870CU (for fun), everything so far has worked correctly but my new graphics card just won't. I have swapped out my old GTX 470M (Clevo) for a newer GTX 770M (Dell). It fits like a glove, so no issues there. It has similar (if not less) power consumption then the existing one, so that shouldn't be an issue.

When I turn the notebook on, the screen remained blank/black and I hear 2 short beeps.

The GPU/CPU fans start to spin and the screen continues to remain blank/black but then the beeping starts up again, this time it becomes continuous until the notebook powers off after sometime has passed.

Concerned I replaced the older graphics card to see what would happened and it works perfectly first time.

I then tried uninstalling the older device and its drivers so that Windows is forced to see it as "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter".

I try the new card again but the same issue repeats.

I get the feeling the screen is prompting me for something but because it is blank I don't know what to do.

Any suggestions?

CLEVO 870CU
BIOS 1.00.18
EC 1.00.11

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

If you still have a user manual with that laptop, it should have beep codes in it. If not, try searching the manufactures website for them (for your model)

 

[alucasa]

It's most likely BIOS related. You will need to mod BIOS of the GPU to be compatible with BIOS of mainboard.

 

[Bester]

If you still have a user manual with that laptop, it should have beep codes in it. If not, try searching the manufactures website for them (for your model)

I do have the service manual but it doesn't say.

Looking for the same symptoms elsewhere I discovered the 2 beeps is POST error and should (if the screen worked) display some information.

The continuous beeps is obviously connected to the new graphics card but again I cannot see what the notebook is displaying.

It's most likely BIOS related. You will need to mod BIOS of the GPU to be compatible with BIOS of mainboard.

I was prepared to do this but because I can't see anything I can't modify it.

Any suggestions?

 

[dorsetknob]

" Upgradable graphics Cards for laptops are a Nightmare"
Part of the Motherboard Bios is Reserved for the graphic's Card bios"
that means you have to upgrade Motherboard bios from the Manufacture
This only works if the manufacture supports the "upgrade" you intend or are trying to fit
while the MMX format of graphics cards means they may Physically fit
Your Existing Bios is wrong for the Card you are trying to use and therfore will not work

Your probably going to have to contact the Manufacture Support People

 

[Bester]

My notebook appears to have the latest BIOS version intended for it.

There is an update for the EC but I have not been able to do that yet.

Am I limited to that or could others be used that weren't intended to be?

 

[FR@NK]

I had to use a custom modded unlocked BIOS to get updated hardware to work on my laptop.

 

[INSTG8R]

Most if not all Laptop GPU's use a vender specific BIOS. Not surprised the "Dell" doesn't work.

 

[Bester]

I had to use a custom modded unlocked BIOS to get updated hardware to work on my laptop.

Where did you get it from?

 

[Bester]

Update: I worked it out in the end, summary here: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/clevo-w870cu-gpu-upgrade.273489/post-4403954