Acer MXM Models and Cards

Hey guys i have an acer aspire 5740G with HD 5650 but im thinking if i could upgrade it to HD 5870 or anything better than that what i have now

 

Welcome to the forums, mokrysedes!

Unfortunately, we haven't had any kind of confirmation that the Aspire 5740G is MXM-capable, so we don't know if it can be upgraded yet.
And even if it could, the Radeon HD 5650 would be about as high as you could go - the 5870 requires more room, thermal capacity, and power than your notebook could supply.

 

maybe some other GPU could be installed. i will wait until you have some new information

 

Hi guys, sorry i made a mistake its a 8935g not 8930g

 

That one has room for a HD5870 but even though it is not the most power-hungry of Type B cards it would most likely overheat.

 

Can 9650m gt fit for my Acer 5920g??

 

It should work.
Check this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6249336-post678.html

 

Hello everyone!

I'm a proud owner of Acer 6920G and I'm very pleased with my laptop, but as I've rushed into buying the earliest models - 69 20G - my has "only" 9500M GS graphic card.

As I've recently remembered that MXM technology was announced many years ago, I've tried to look something up on the net and found out that my model has MXM graphic card.

I looked some available MXM GPUs over Acer authorized services and also over mxm-upgrade.com website, but their prices are pretty high.

So, I seek any advice from you guys, what MXM Type II GPU is adequate for my laptop (I'm trying to get the best possible performance, but I don't want to make any huge investments) and that isn't "buggy" on my system.

Other sites suggest HD4650 or 9600M GT. Some sources say that 9650M GT is also MXM Type II, and others that is Type III. If HD4650 and 9600M are top of the MXM Type II offer, which is better between those two - I would say HD4650?!

And final question, if anybody has a reliable source to buy these cards, please let me know. I've found some on ebay that have much more agreeable price than Acer service partners and mxm-upgrade website.

My configuration is:
Acer Aspire 6920G, C2D T9300 @ 2,53 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 4GB RAM @ 800 MHz, 9500M GS with Turbocache up to 1791MB

 

Ebay and the NBR market place:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...ii-2x2gb-ddr2800-so-dimm-psu-120w-liteon.html

 

The 9650M GT is MXM-II, and people with MXM-II cards have already upgraded to it. Clearly, you skimmed the first post of the topic.
It's the 9650M G S that's MXM-III.

The Radeon HD 4650 tends to be more compatible than the GeForce 9600M GT, but the GDDR3 version of the 9600M GT gets the edge in performance.

 

I've read the first post, but I immediately saw that is the same article from mxm-upgrade web site, where I also found a few differences in specification about 9650M. Thank you for clarifying that 9650M GS is MXM Type III.

So, HD4650 is definitely more secure to upgrade to. As for performance, I've read comparisons on notebookcheck.net between HD4650 and 9650M GT and 4650 is better or way better in all of the benchmarks. The only thing is - it's not stated which type of RAM is used on the graphic card - it's most probably also GDDR3, but I haven't found any MXM-II HD4650 that is using GDDR3 memory.

 

That's because MXM-Upgrade.com uses my research with my permission. I scouted the Internet, service guides, and forums to compile that post.

Careful with the benchmarks on Notebookcheck - they average out results across a number of different test resolutions, CPUs, and video memory types; all of which skew results.
As a result, the 9650M GT results combine GDDR3 and DDR2 memory results.
The Radeon HD 4650 available from channels tends to only be DDR2; one person was able to track down an MSI version of the Radeon HD 4670 GDDR3, and it's a beast.

 

So, your recommendation is 9600M GT, nevertheless it has problems with not showing POST screens until windows is booted?

I've found this one and this looks like a solid investment:
nVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512MB DDR3 MXM II VGA Card - eBay (item 270574969832 end time Aug-04-10 02:16:56 PDT)

 

I've finally installed an ATI Radeon HD 3650 on my Acer4720G laptop. So far its performing well.Windows experience now rate my system with 5.0 in which it was previously rated at 3.1 when I was using the NVIDIA 8400m G graphics card.

 

@marky1607: So it seems. That's why I've said the Radeon HD 4650 might be the more compatible component. Also, you might need to connect an external monitor to install the right graphics driver.

@devr2k: Can't see the Facebook photo; upload it to Imageshack or Photobucket and post back here again.

 

Would the 4850 from msi work in a 8930g ? It is both mxm 2.1 type III...

 

You would need a new heatsink if your old card was type II.
Otherwise, my guess would be that it would work.
If it is throttled for some reason, you would just have to mod the vBIOS (easy).

 

Hi, my 4520G just died on me, and I took it in to Acer to get it checked out. They said that the gpu is fried, and that it would cost me >$500 to get it replaced (out of warranty).

So i did what any sane person would do, and told them no thanks, since I already have a monster desktop, a netbook and a levovo x200 at home (+ 2 more from work), so I thought my 2 year old 4520G would be heading to the recycling centre.

But, my curiosity got the better of me and i started googling, which led me here! TehSuigi did a fantastic job of summarising what MXM is and provided me with hope that my 4520G may rise from the ashes once again.

I do have one question though - will I be only be able to replace the faulty 8400GS with a 8600M GT, or can I upgrade to any MXM-II gpu? And if the latter, which is the best MXM-II GUP available today? (That was 2 questions, actually).

Thanks!

 

does the AS5745G have an MXM port or is the 330M embedded in the mobo?

 

Welcome to the forums Nazeem15, and thank you for the kind words!

The thing with MXM upgrades is that there is no hard and fast rule for what will and won't work. You're either following what someone else has done, putting in a card that the machine has been sold with elsewhere, or blazing a new trail.

The 8600M GT will be the safest bet, but if you're feeling adventurous, you could try a Radeon HD 4650, GeForce 9600M GT GDDR3, or GeForce 9650M GT DDR2.

@CVonV: Probably not. Acer's latest mode have moved away from the MXM form factor for some odd reason (it can't be because of us...can it?)

 

Hey guys,

TehSuigi, i would like to ask something from you and i hope you can give me some advice!

I have a acer aspire 5920g laptop:

Processor: T8100 2.1Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache.
Memory: 4GB OCZ2M8002G 800mhz
Videocard: nvidia 8600m gs 256 mb ddr2.
HDD: 320gb

and i would like to improve my videocard because of the new games. I am thinking about 9600m GT 512 MB GDDR3 and 9650m GT 1024 MB DDR2.
can you give me some advice about these cards? which better? which you prefer? and i heard something about the 9650m GT driver problem, can you tell anything about it? or its solved ? if i know well this 2 videocard MXM II so would be fit for my laptop. Sorry for that much question but i dont wanna make a bad deal. Thx the answers and helps.

 

Welcome to the forums, impish!

The problem with the Aspire 5920G is that the GeForce 9600M GT is totally incompatible with it - there's a BIOS block or something.
As a result, the GeForce 9650M GT is likely the better bet. That being said, comparison-shop that with the ATi Radeon HD 4650; both are compatible, and more or less equivalent in performance.

Not sure what the driver problem is - I'd imagine it could be fixed by using a modified INF (installation instructions file) from LaptopVideo2Go.com.

A word of caution, though. You should also look into getting a new laptop altogether; the most recent generation of mid-range GPUs (Radeon HD 5650, GeForce GT 335M) are capable of outpacing even an upgraded 5920G.

 

With latest driver version that problem with 9650M GT has been solved... The problem was with unoptimized Powermizer and downclocking GPU when idle...

I had that experience and now it works flawlessly... I`m very satisfied...

 

TehSuigi, what do you think about the ATI HD4670? is it compatible?

 

Arminator, how is your videocard works? can you play with it well? and is there much performance increased after the 8600m GS?

 

Impish you will see a like 10-20% if more depending on the specs of the laptop compared to the old 8600m gs

 

@ impish & hexxor93

I got very huge performance increase in games some 70-90% depending on the game I play... For expamle on 8600m GS assassins creed 2 on low details at 1280*800 had 10-12 FPS but on 9650m GT 20 FPS on medium at 1280*800 and 25 at low...

GTA IV on 8600m GS was playable on low detail @ 800*600 with 16-20 FPS and now it is playable at low with 2x AF @ 1280*800 with 20-25 FPS. When I play it @800*600 I get 29-35 FPS...

Other games work much much better too... I tried overclocking CPU a bit and I got more performance increase so I am planning to upgrade it too...

Anyway it is more than good upgrade since you can find 9650M GT for around $100 at ebay...

 

The Radeon HD 4670 should be compatible, but those things can be difficult to track down (in an MXM-II format, of course).
And as the name suggests, it's more or less an overclocked Radeon HD 4650.

 

hey TehSuigi, i see you overclocked your own laptop videocard very nice? how did you do that ? cooling is good? is not it instable?

 

I used Nvidia System Tools to do the overclock and OCCT to test the stability.
My GPU's cooling is surprisingly good - I've yet to top 80 on the GPU.
And rock-solid stable; that's what the 3 hours of testing is meant to check.

 

what kind of cooler system you have?or do you use the default gpu cooler and dont use laptop cooler? i have just a zalman ZM-NC1000.

 

Standard cooling system, nothing underneath.
I do prop up the back of my system with empty SD card cases, but that's about it.

 

Looking at the FRU the HD4670 is listed as a replacement on the 5935G even though it was never sold with it

So 4670 cards should work, though it does list a different cooler.

 

and the 9650m gt is well overclockable ? or dont you have some experience in that card?

 

No experience with it, but it's overclockable to some degree.

 

TehSuigi, can you send me a link to download the Nvidia System Tools and the OCCT programs? thx

 

Both are easily accessibly by using Google, but I might as well.
Nvidia System Tools
OCCT

 

And is there any built-in security system in the nvidia overclocking program to avoid the graphic card burning? i mean like reboot the laptop and set to default settings the videocard or the program can test the overclocking or something like that?

 

Overclocking using Ntune is quite safe... It is not BIOS based what means new clocks are not permanently applied and will restore to default every time you reboot your system...
Also when you find stable overclock you can save profile with modified clocks and make ntune to aplly it every time when windows starts or what is better to use modified clocks only when particular game/application is running... I have tried it...

 

Hmm...a cursory search on eBay found this - a Toshiba-made Radeon HD 4650 MXM-II card, with 1GB of DDR3 memory instead of DDR2.
If it's compatible, the upgrade path for MXM-II Acers just got wider.

 

So TehSuigi, when are YOU gonna go for rev. 4 of your laptop with that GPU?

 

When I'm not a poor student, wise guy.
Honestly, I don't anticipate another laptop level-up until this thing has another few months under its belt.
I'll celebrate the warranty expiring by moving up to a GeForce 9600M GT GDDR3 or Radeon HD 4650/70.

 

Nice find, TehSuigi I wonder if it's real MXM. It could be a MXM-looks-like, but without vBIOS chip, like it was in an ASUS (I can't recall the model) that was a possible source for GT 240M. BTW Is it just me or the HD4670 in mxm-upgrade.com is DDR2?

 

Oh lord he's alive! But yeah it's DDR2. Makes me wonder if they just flashed a 4650M from Acer with a 4670M BIOS.

 

Sure I am, it's just my current job it's a free-time-hog I don't know, it could bring to compatibility issues as one is DDR3 and the other - DDR2, but who knows.

 

Hello, what is the best card?
4650 with DDR3 or 4670 with DDR2?
And do someone know the 3dmark06 score of 9600m gs, 9600m gt, 9650m gt, 4650m ddr2, 4650m ddr3, 4670m ddr2, 4670m ddr3?
thank you!!

 

Notebookcheck: Mobile Graphics Cards - Benchmark List
GeForce 9600M GS videocard
GeForce 9600M GT videocard
GeForce 9650M GT videocard
Mobility Radeon HD 4650 videocard
Mobility Radeon HD 4670 videocard

That might help a bit.

But DDR2 < DDR3 < GDDR2 < GDDR3 if you're overclocking, I think.

 

I would like to see the difference score between the 4850 DDR2/DDR3 and 4870 DDR2/DDR3.

 

Woah, GDDR2 is a blast from the past! Only two series of desktop cards used these since they ran at 2.5V ! That was the FX5700 and 5800 series ^-^

DDR2 <<< DDR3 < GDDR3 <<<< GDDR5

Most modern GDDR3 runs at 1.5v (especially chips for notebook graphics cards) so the difference is pretty small between DDR3 and GDDR3, frequencies tend to range between 800-1000mhz. These are both much faster than DDR2 which ranges from 400-600mhz.

GDDR5 is slightly different. While it weighs in at around 800mhz again (except of the GTX480 mobile for heat reasons) it Xfers twice the amount of data per clock meaning that it is again much faster than GDDR3.

Please also note this is assuming bus width remains the same.

A GTS160 and GTS250 may both use GDDR3 but the GTS160 has a 256bit mem bus and the 250M only 128bit meaning the GTS160 gets twice the memory bandwidth.

 

The 4850 and 4870 were only ever equiped with GDDR3 memory.

The only other option (that was never used) was GDDR5 (for the 4870) which would have made it between a DESKTOP 4850 and 4870 in terms of performance.

That would have been legendary.

A 4850 with DDR2 would have been very sad and probably outperformed by a 4670 GDDR3 in some situations while using much less power.