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    Can the M17X R3 video card be upgraded?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by sticky, Apr 28, 2011.

  1. sticky

    sticky Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry if this is a stupid question.

    I'm considering holding onto my R3 instead of getting an M18X simply due to the insane pricing on the M18X.

    The main thing I wanted the M18X for was the ability to upgrade to dual videocards down the road.

    Now, if the M17X videocard can be upgraded I don't even need to mess around with dual cards later on.
     
    sticky, Apr 28, 2011
    #1
  2. simonmpoulton

    simonmpoulton Notebook Deity

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    The R3 uses the current MXM Standard and can handle high wattage and temperature cards. I dont see any reason why there wont be a newer card which doesnt work.
     
    simonmpoulton, Apr 28, 2011
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  3. sticky

    sticky Notebook Consultant

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    Thank you!

    Now I feel I don't need an M18X.
     
    sticky, Apr 28, 2011
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  4. Felixz1

    Felixz1 Notebook Guru

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    While this is true, I dont think you can upgrade from a single card solution to dual cards in R3. I could be wrong. i'll let more knowledgeable folks answer this for you.
     
    Felixz1, Apr 28, 2011
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  5. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    physically yes(and sometimes not even IE: heatsink won't fit or never produced), but let me give you the most important one:
    BIOS support!!
    It's not that simple as in desktop world :rolleyes:
     
    katalin_2003, Apr 28, 2011
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  6. juliant

    juliant Notebook Deity

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    Ofcourse you cannot upgrade to dual cards as you only have 1 mxm slot for the GPU.

    Eventually in the future you may only be able to upgrade to a better SINGLE GPU, then the once you are already holding in your system.

    I think based on the model of the GPU we are having in the R3 should hold us for atleast 6 months.

    Just my thoughts...
     
    juliant, Apr 28, 2011
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  7. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

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    I was under the impression that a MXM slot was like any other computer slot (e.g. old AGP), whatever card you decided to upgrade to, as long as it fitted the slot specs would just work.
    This doesnt seem to be the case with MXM laptops. Which kind of sucks. Why does the BIOS need support for a different card?
     
    T2050, Apr 28, 2011
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  8. sticky

    sticky Notebook Consultant

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    I was asking about upgrading the single card in the future, not going to dual.
     
    sticky, Apr 29, 2011
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  9. macaddict84

    macaddict84 Notebook Consultant

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    Bios support is the main thing to worry about. Without bios support, new cards either won't work or they won't work to full capacity. Example would be the thread on getting the 485m to work in place of the 460m. I would work but the 3d option was not working at all. Then there is the fact that the 6970 won't work inplace of the 460m. If bios updates are released for new cards then you could upgrade without any problems.
     
    macaddict84, Apr 29, 2011
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  10. DARCODER

    DARCODER Notebook Deity

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    In a easy way: MXM 3B
    for 120Hz screen: gtx460m or gtx485m
    for 60Hz screen: gtx460m or gtx485m or HD6850m or HD 6970m

    that's all for now^^
     
    DARCODER, Apr 29, 2011
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  11. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Agreed. Without BIOS support, you are dead in the water.
     
    BatBoy, Apr 29, 2011
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  12. Tapakidney

    Tapakidney Notebook Evangelist

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    This all begs the question: why can't someone here just write or mod the bios? Are the Dell programmers any more skilled or talented than some of the people on these boards?

    It's something that's always bugged me, being so limited by bios. There seems to be a 3rd party solution for everything computer related except for bios limitations!
     
    Tapakidney, Apr 29, 2011
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  13. Simplified

    Simplified The Most Awesome

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    The bios support only limits the automatic fancontrol right?
     
    Simplified, Apr 29, 2011
    #13