ALIENWARE M17X r4 - 2012 GPU UPGRADE

Hi I was reading the forums and just wanted to ask ya'll for some help regarding my AW M17xR4.
My processor is Intel Core i7 - 3720QM @ 2.60GHZ and a 16 GB RAM, with a Intel 4000 GPU and a
Nvidia GTX 675M 2GB GDDR5. My problem I believe is with my GPU, I think my Nvidia card has fried.
Im not too good with computers, so just keep in mind I ordered this from Dell factory in 2012, so im not sure if its different from the current ones being released in regards to the compatibility of the GPUs. When I spoke to Dell they told me the GTX 680M is the best GPU thats compatible with my laptop. I read on some forums, with a GPU upgrade, one has to get a new heat sink etc? Please let me know whats the best GPU thats compatible for my laptop for gaming purposes, and if I would need to get a new heat sink for it? I would prefer one that would just "plug and play" and not have to do tedious things for it to work, updating drivers and simple things are fine, but nothing too complex. I would really appreciate this as im not too educated in computers and would prefer not to purchase the wrong product. THANKS.
Pkr 0f d3th

 

Well I can give you my experience. Unless you have the laptop in warranty (supposedly they don't have any 680m's in their parts or warranty department inventories as of 2 weeks ago).

First see if you have 3 copper pipes on your 675m (I don't know what they did on the 675 but it appears it is only a 75 watt heatsink, the 680m requires a 100 watt heatsink - this watt is in reference to usually the wattage the card is drawing and the "heat" that will be generated). So you will have to buy a 100 Watt version of the Heatsink.

Note the Geforce GTX model needs to have the "m" after the model number, to avoid confusion with desktop versions.

The 680m is the highest model number you can go on your laptop without "modifications". You could even put a 9xxm model in, but it is complex so that defeats your desire to keep it simple.

If you don't want to do the work, there are places that will sell you the kit and do the work, but that adds cost. Check out Eurocom so you can see what your laptop can be upgraded to. If you are under warranty you should get most of this except the upgrade at no cost (but be wary of the service, make sure you really test your laptop in depth after the work).

You will also need to worry about the ac adapter you have. Once again I don't know what they included with your model, but you will need at least the 240 watt.

* So will you need a new heatsink? Yes if you go with anything greater than your 675 or you switch to the 7970m.

*Will getting a 680m be easy plug and play? No, not if you are comfortable with removing and installing parts and drivers, however sites like this, techpowerup, techinferno and others are great resources for helping you install, also view videos on youtube so you can see what would be involved to see if it is something you can handle)

I would also remain within the normal channels of upgrades (meaning Dell, Eurocom or other "noted" companies that do this) so avoid e-bay and amazon (in most cases) as you will have to do the work yourself and you aren't promised an actual Dell card with all of the parts you need.

So post if you are in warranty or out. If in warranty, contact Dell to find out the cost of the change (see if they will replace your 675m with 680m as a courtesy/goodwill gesture). That would be the safest way as your warranty (depending on what time is left on it, will at least help you - but don't count or bet your life on their support, just warranty will force them to at least have to respond if you can bug them). If out of warranty I am sure there are many on here who can give you suggestions.

Also post the amount you are willing to spend on the upgrade as that will be important.

 

Just FYI, the 675m heatsink and the PSU (240w) that came with that model do not need replacing when upgrading to a 680m. There are two 680m cards out there. 2gb and 4gb. The 2gb versions are Dell branded, the 4gb are clevo/sager. I have seen both used in an r4 without a problem, even the drivers install without any problems. No bios changes either...

Good luck.

 

Wouldn't the heat sink be insufficent, based off what Dell/Nvidia say of the 75w Heatsink being insufficent for the 680m, since I thought that was the advantage of having the 100w heatsink, you don't have to go buy a new one. Of course I have seen so many websites these past 2 months I could be suffering number fatigue! But being serious, I thought it was okay best to use the 100w unless you were in an environment that would help it keep cool or you use the more higher quality thermal pads and paste.

Also floating around out there, is a PNY 2GB 680m. It is essentially the mxm card removed the HP-Z1 Workstation PNY 680m (without PNY full knowledge, some in their tech department deny they produced any 6 series graphic card for any system and any pdf on their site must be false - felt bad for them, they even refused to search their own site and are banned from Amazon, Ebay and even some company websites). PNY says you can tell if it is one, as it should have a PNY emblem on it, even though it doesn't exist. That is what I have been dealing with, who is who on my 680m I bought from Amazon (I thought that was a reliable site, when I reported the problem to Amazon, they said we will forward your message to the merchant to look into on their page - great self regulation instead of oversight by neutral party, oh well).

However wouldn't staying with the original bios on the clevo/sager limit your driver version, especially without custom drivers/inf since the reference drivers exclude most of the mobile cards. Maybe it is just easier if you have better luck than I did.

 

The 675m is a re-badged 580m and does cone with the 100w 3 pipe heatsink, as well as the bigger PSU. It was the highest CPU available until the 680m came out.

Weird stuff about PNY?? I've been following everything on 580m/675m/680m and never come across anything but Clevo (4gb) and Dell (2gb). Both have worked out-of-the-box for those I have seen (around 10 I reckon). What you say about the Clevo ID being rejected by the driver installer could be correct but I believe they both have the same card ID and the sub-ID might be different? I can't say for sure as I went for a 2gb model from an MX18 so I could be sure my 3D still worked - and it did! I also can use all the prema vbios files on it without worry - currently using the max overvolt with +200mhz stable and never hits more than 73c . Best card I have seen from NV in years as far as overhead goes.

The driver problems arise if the card ID is not listed somewhere in the bios code (EDIT: This only applies to 3D models to get access to the 3D options) , nvidia Inspector shows the card ID and vendor string.

I'd be inclined to think somebody made a bad ID of the card when they got it? You're probably not get any sense from them, sounds like a box-shifter of used parts, haven't the faintest idea what they are selling apart from a label when they got it? Or maybe it's a dell one that someone had put in the PNY before it ended up stripped?

FYI, I'm fairly sure I have seen a PNY card problem somewhere but maybe that was you?

 

MIght have been me as it has been a b (word - sorry I don't swear) to get working. I have been without a fully working laptop since May 12th. Sure the Intel card can still handle most, but I don't want to reinstall all my software if the hardware isn't all working (since you knows I might buy a new laptop or save up for one).