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    Removable GPU?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Mobius 1, Jul 23, 2011.

  1. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    So we know that you can order mobility GPU off mxm-upgrades

    Does anybody know that i can remove the gt555m and fit a better card?
     
    Mobius 1, Jul 23, 2011
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  2. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    The GPU is soldered onto the MOBO, therefore no GPU upgrades.
     
    TitanGod, Jul 23, 2011
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  3. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    does a m17x have removable gpu?
     
    Mobius 1, Jul 23, 2011
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  4. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, the m14x has the best graphics available that doesn't use a socket IE it's built into the board. The next level up 460m, or 560m uses a dedicated board plugged into the motherboard and also has a dedicated fan where the 555m doesn't because it's integrated into the motherboard. Even though the m17x graphics can be upgraded you are limited to certain cards.
     
    clienterror, Jul 23, 2011
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  5. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    The gpu's in most gaming laptops, m15/17/18x, asus g series, msi, are actual pci cards. They have their own dedicated fan, and require huge amounts of room to operate. They are fully modular, in the sense that they can be physically replaced and upgraded with a different mobile pci card, though that doesn't guarantee that it'll work.

    The m14x, because of its small frame and power output, has a graphics chip, not a card, directly soldered on the motherboard along with its memory, with a heatsink over it. Unfortunately, it is not removable, and even if it was, it doesnt have a modular design, it's custom built for the m14x, the most you could have done is replace it with the same gpu, but of course, that isn't the case, it's not user removable.

    Mobile pci cards, also called mxm cards, look like this. (This is not what the m14x has, instead it takes the individual components and strategically places them for a smaller overall design and to share the same fan as the cpu)

    http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/371753279/Nvidia_MXM_II_Graphics_Video_Card_GeForce.jpg
     
    niko2021, Jul 23, 2011
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  6. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    will a next refresh have a better integrated card?
     
    Mobius 1, Jul 24, 2011
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  7. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well currently, there is only the nvidia 500 series, probably would have to wait for the 600 or next sucessor gpu's. But for the current lineup, they probably wont be able to fit anything better into it. It's not a bad card for the computer its in.
     
    niko2021, Jul 24, 2011
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  8. everythingsablur

    everythingsablur Notebook Evangelist

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    QFT
    Likely. However...

    The next refresh shouldn't happen until there is new technology to even refresh the laptop with. That would likely be when Ivy Bridge and a new line of GPUs is released. Since the Nvidia 500 series and the AMD 6000 series GPUs only came out within the last couple months, and Ivy Bridge isn't expected in volume realistically until Q1 2012, you probably aren't looking at an R2 model until next spring.
     
    everythingsablur, Jul 24, 2011
    #8