Problems with 8935G upgrade to HD6770

I just got an HD6770 to upgrade from the HD4670. After installing it I don't get anything on the screen and don't konw if it's booting or not. I also upgraded to a Core 2 Quad Q9000 from a P8700. I am still using the heatsink that came with my laptop which I know wan't the one that came with the quad core 8935G models but I would think that it should at least boot up with the stock one. I'm running the latest BIOS for the motherboard as well. I don't have any more thermal paste as I just ran out when I installed the new CPU and GPU. They do have enough on them though but I can't swap out the 6770 to make sure it's not the CPU until I get some more. On the heatsink, there is a black liner that I would imagine was there to make sure the heatsink wouldn't short out the GPU. My only concern with that was that on the HD4670, the GPU was rotated 45 degrees from what the HD6770 is. The 6770 has a smaller core than the 4670 and it looked like the open square in the liner on the heatsink should fit the core from 6770 in it. I also transferred the bracing and heatsink pads from the back of the 4670 to the 6770. I don't think it would sit high enough without that though. It also doesn't show anything on an external moniter.

 

8935G has to have the right motherboard to support the quad cores, there is a good chance if yours was originally dual core then it does not. It's likely that causing the issues.

 

I think you are right too. Looking at my motherboard part number and comparing it to a source for a new one in the UK it shows that I have the 35W motherboard and I imagine I need the 45W motherboard for the quad core... which is another $322 CAD for my upgrade. Hmmm. At least I got a smokin' deal on my Q9000 and should be able to make a little money on it if I sell it.

 

I would recommend getting a nice X9100 and maybe the cooler from the 45W model and just ocing it.

 

Ya, that was kinda my plan. I picked up the Q9000 because it was about half the price all the other Q9000 were going for. I figured I'd sell it to upgrade to a Q9200 after trying it out for a bit but now I'm thinking that might be my best option by going with an X9100 instead. Spending probably $400 after shipping plus another $150-$200 to upgrade to a Core 2 Quad doesn't really make sense.

So after putting my P8700 back in and leaving the thermal paste on the heatsink and scrounging every last drop out of my empty thermal paste tube I have it up and running with the HD6770! Haven't tried it out with any games yet though but it should be a good improvement. Thanks for your advice on my motherboard not being quad core capable.

 

Q9200 does not work in the quad core mobos either, they only take the Q9000 and dual cores lol.

The 7738g is the only acer laptop to ever take a Q9200.

 

Good luck with the card, I did create an owners thread for 6770M users.

 

I actually meant the Q9100 and not the Q9200. My bad.

Thanks for your help. I am pretty impressed with it so far. I tried out Starcraft 2 at 1080p resolution set to all Ultra settings and it ran pretty good. FPS wasn't as fast as it would by turning it down a little but was definitely pretty playable. I also had a second monitor hooked up as well to monitor the GPU and CPU usage and heat. The GPU only got up to 75 degrees with the dual core heatsink I'm using right now. I don't play any other games so that's the only one I can comment on.

 

Starcraft 2 is very CPU bound.

Also the same applies to the Q9100 and QX9300, only the 7738G will take them.