Difference between the 6970 and the 6990?

Is there much difference?

 

In the reviews I've seen anywhere from 15-30% faster...so I wouldn't say insignificant, but not overwhelming either.

 

It has 17% more shaders, and about a 5% increase in clocks. So, around 20% faster, give or take.

 

If you are buying new get the 6990. If you are buying used a mildly overclocked 6970 will equal a 6990, so you probably won't be missing much. There are a lot of great deals on used 6970 M17s right now, so you can save a bit of $$$ getting a 6970. For a new unit the 6990 is easily worth the extra $100.

 

I agree with Valkerie, for an extra $100 I'd go with the 6990 as well

 

ValkerieFire is selling his R3! check it out. it's a good deal.

 

for games the difference is minimal. the 6970 can oc quite well taking it to stock 6990 clocks and beyond.

 

6990 can overclock also

 

Yeah, I really wonder why people seem to overlook that fact when comparing the 2 cards...

The ONLY reason the 6970 would get props for its competitiveness with the 6990 when overclocked would be if the 6990 CANNOT overclock, otherwise it's an apples to oranges comparison.

10+1=11
11+1=12

12>11...

So, my question: Can the 6990 overclock? And how high?

(Oh, and BTW inap, that green is awesome...wish I had the know-how to do that stuff!)

 

Saw someone at 850+Mhz and another did 800 without even trying. 16xxx in Vantage on the higher one.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/598992-580m-vs-6990-benchmarks.html

 

So what clocks would actually equal out 6970m to 6990m stock speeds performance.

If I remember right the 6990m has a couple differences besides clock speed, so an overclock would have to account for those as well to equal the stock performance.

 

Yes I know the 6990 can oc too, but there seems to be something holding it back. Right now I can take it too around 860 core, while the 6970 I was able to get around the 900 core mark. Although I haven't done any extreme benches yet I can see the difference in performance is very minimal. Maybe +1K in gpu vantage.

 

inap, if you do not me asking, you got your system all over again with the 6990m or you ordered separately? I tried calling several times the 'parts support' and they say that they do not have them in stock... Actually I think they do not want to sell it separately, atleast for a while! By the way, I am in Canada, so I do not know what is the policy in other places... Thanks in advance

 

I actually reordered new since I wanted the killer WiFi and wireless hd. I tries calling for the part Luke 2 weeks ago with no luck either.

 

Well someone else said in another thread you could order it for the m18x. They will not allow us to by them yet.

 

A Dell rep has told me the same thing. Cannot order the 6990m or 580m with a R3, but if you have a 18x you can.

 

The reason a 6990 won't overclock as high is because your supplying the same voltage as a 6970 but more shaders so naturally it won't go as high. I just wish you could up the voltage on the cards

 

They have told me also that I cannot order the wireless hd separately (though I knew the part no.). I can only have it when I order the system.

I specifically mentioned the sales guy that I want the wireless hd card in the system like it comes for the 14x and 18x and not the 'widi'. He asured me that the card comes in the system and there will be nothing to worry about it.

I guess, I can call them again and argue a bit with them, probably they may accept doing something or ignore me. Really speaking they always have been very helpful, maybe if I push little more, I can get either an upgraded card (even at a cost I wouldn't mind) or an wireless hd card. I just hope they will not replace the system I have, I have no issues what-so-ever as of now...

 

I did manage to get them to sell me the wireless hd but they wanted like $200 for the card and antenna, so I ended up cancelling.

Your right Dr650 the voltage is the problem same as the 6970, hoping there is something we can do to bypass this, benching is no fun without it.

 

Also the 6990m has more texture units...everyone seems to have forgotten this.

 

Yeah...I really wish laptop OC'ing was a bit more common so there would be more people working on getting around the obstacles. We have a 240W PSU - it can definitely handle a bit more!

 

I took a look at the cards and with a slight modification you should be able to increase the voltage, but I haven't had time to do the soldering so far. Also need some trim pots, haven't got any laying around atm.
I let you guys know when I've done it.

 

Hello Alienwares

I have a question for you, do you think that these 6990M will work in M17x-R2 in CF ? I have a lot of people asking me
http://forum.notebookreview.com/computer-components/598812-fs-6990m-brand-new-free-heatsink.html

 

No, they wont work. But if someone wants to upgrade their cards they can just use their current heatsinks, that's no problem...

 

Actually, I wasn't asking about the heatsinks neither the CF cable (of course they will not fit with Alienxare notebooks). I was asking about the cards themselves. I know that the Clevo 6970M worked in the M17x-R2, even better than the M18x cards. And I was wondering if these new Clevo 6990M will be the same case...

 

Sorry, dunno what I was thinking, lol
Most probably the cards will work flawlessly in the r2, they have the same PCB layout as the 6970m, same voltage, only more shaders. I'm pretty sure they will work just as fine as the Clevo 6970m, but of course I can't guarantee this until someone tried it.
But there's no reason for the card to not work in the r2.

 

Not unless you have a huge power brick like the M18x.

 

I heard about that in the forum here, but don't the 6970M & 6990M have the same 100w DTP?

 

The 6970m and 6990m have almost the same power draw, it's not significantly higher when you look at the 6990m. Check out widezu69s M15x with the 1120 shader 6970m...
The power draw is a bit higher because of the additional shaders, but the GPU runs at the same voltage. And as the r2 runs the 6970m fine in CF and still has headroom for some oveclocking, the 6990m won't have power issues, at least not at stock clocks.

It's a different story when it comes to overclocking... an overclocked 6970m/920xm combination can push the r2 PSU above the limits and make the system struggle, this will be the same with the 6990m.

 

Eventually it's going to come down to someone just trying it out.

 

By the way the X7200 has 300w PSU, what PSU each of M17x-R2 & M18x has?

 

M17x = 240W PSU. I've pushed over 280W from it before, all depends on heat, too much and it will throttle.

M18x = 330W PSU.

 

Now if only we can sort out a way for the M18x PSU to work with the M17x-r2 then all our dreams could come true...well all our dreams about providing more power to the M17x-r2 anyway

 

Anyone know if the Clevo 6990m will work in the R3?

 

Check out my posts on the previous page, all those points are valid for the r3 as well, so I'm pretty sure it will work flawlessly. (Can't see a reason why it shouldn't).
But as always with GPU upgrades, it's impossible to say if for sure until someone tried it.

 

The problem with graphics cards is I never leave them overclocked. I overclock for benching and thats it. Its not like the CPU where you get a massive boost. Plus outside of rare instances you can't increase the shaders through software.